A gift for sorcery descends to the women of the Marsh family, but Tina’s mother doesn’t want to talk about it, so Tina is on her own and unprepared when random objects inexplicably start to disappear: a doorknob, a shoe, the kitchen linoleum, and even the huge statue of King Jagiello in Central Park. It’s just the “kraken”—a vast world-eating monster from an evil dimension—trying to grab something that Tina doesn’t even know she has. But unexpected allies show up: a touchy young violinist from the posh East Side and a shabby old street musician who is much more than he seems. It’s up to these three, using magic and music, to save New York from the kraken’s devouring ferocity.
The monster rages through the subway tunnels. Meanwhile, three thugs calling themselves the “Princes of Darkness” work to set it free, breaking the network of venerable landmarks that make up the city’s supernatural defense. Tina and her friends race desperately to find the stolen statue, to restore it to its place as guardian and champion against paranormal threats—but magic alone can’t defeat the kraken: that will take their strongest daring and creativity and loyalty to each other.