Rory has known about Mannahatta—the spirit world filled with the "gods" who ruled New York City in its early days—only a month when an earthquake strikes. This is no ordinary earthquake, though—it is the island's attempt at breaking the Trap around Central Park. The Trap must open or the balance between Mannahatta and Manhattan will be destroyed—and only Rory can open it. But it will take help from Rory's newfound friends, including the band of children of the gods—aka the Rattle Watch—and encounters with some of New York's famous figures, including Washington Irving, Captain Kidd, and Bill the Butcher, to help him figure out how to do that. And the answer may just surprise him. . . .