The Library of Alexandria is the most powerful organization in the world. There is a branch in every city, and the librarians are influential men and women who govern the knowledge of humanity. Private ownership of books is strictly forbidden. Jess Brightwell loves books, even if he only deals with them illegally. He comes from a family of smugglers who sell books on the black market. Jess's life changes fundamentally when his father infiltrates him as a spy into the Order of Librarians. Jess travels to Alexandria to train at the Great Library. There, he uncovers a massive conspiracy – and realizes that to the Grand Masters of the Library, a single book is worth more than a human life.