The Walrus crew is stranded, with an army of Spanish soldiers standing between them and the precious Urca gold. With their crimes against their brethren no longer a secret, Flint and Silver must join forces in a desperate bid for survival. Meanwhile, Eleanor Guthrie struggles to maintain her grip on Nassau, as a new breed of pirate arrives in the form of Ned Low, a man for whom violence isn't just a tool—it's a pastime. As blood is spilled and tensions mount, Charles Vane must decide which he values more: Eleanor's life or the respect of his men. And unbeknownst to all of them, a prize of immeasurable value has already been smuggled onto the island—one whose discovery will alter the very landscape of their world, and force everyone in Nassau toward the ultimate judgment: are they men, or are they monsters?