Esta Gray is a time-traveling thief living in modern-day New York, but her true mission is to travel back to 1902 and steal a powerful artifact called the Ars Arcana from a ruthless magical order called the Order. To succeed, she must navigate the dangerous criminal underworld of Old New York, outwit a mysterious and deadly boy known as the Magician, and uncover secrets that could rewrite history itself. The book blends heist adventure with historical fantasy, exploring themes of power, sacrifice, and whether the ends justify the means.