Biltmore Estate holds many secrets. All her life, Serafina and her father have lived in its basement, sleeping behind the boiler. Her father, Biltmore's mechanic, has always cautioned her to keep well out of sight, as the Vanderbilts are unaware of her existence. And Serafina is not exactly a normal girl--she has four toes on each foot, gold eyes, and her deformed bones allow her to fit into small spaces. A creature of the night, Serafina roams the dark corridors of Biltmore as the mansion's self-proclaimed Chief Rat Catcher. She's always careful to keep out of sight, but when a cloaked creature starts walking Biltmore's halls at night and snatching up the guests' children, Serafina has to get involved.

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One of the guests at Biltmore is surely the creature in disguise--but which one? With help from the Vanderbilt's orphaned nephew, Braeden, Serafina delves into the mystery of the Man in the Black Cloak. Her search for answers takes her into the dark forest, and brings Serafina face-to-face with her own mysterious origins.