Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death and animal death.

The novel has three epigraphs. In the first, historical figure Isidore of Seville describes a griffin. The second features a quote from The Epic of Gilgamesh, in which the narrator describes a dragon. In the third, John Donne promises to sing the song of a soul that cannot die.

The novel opens in medias res, or in the middle of the action: A freakish, dog-like figure with sharp fangs and flames for ears (a kludde) pursues an English boy named Christopher Forrester, who runs for his life.

Malum “Mal” Arvorian has been having a good day as she flies about with the help of her voluminous coat. The coat only allows her to fly when the wind is blowing; it is too big for her and looks like it has wings when it is in the air. Mal’s lovely day is ruined when someone attempts to murder her.