A dreadful curse. a city in turmoil. a beast with an insatiable appetite. The last authentic witches in a city that is transitioning from magic to industry are Marlinchen and her sisters. They spend their days treating people with antiquated cures and nostalgic charm while seeking to appease their dictatorial, xenophobic wizard father, who keeps his daughters locked away in their dilapidated mansion. They are seen as little more than tourist traps. But after dark, they smuggle themselves outside to enjoy the city's attractions, especially the recently opened ballet theatre, where Marlinchen meets a dancer who swiftly wins her heart. However, the prospect of her father's rage increases as their late-night liaisons become more passionate and regular. And even while their city is thriving, a monster is hiding among its citizens, born of intolerance and resentment and suffused with old-world power.