Trundle, Esmeralda and Jack are racing across the skies of the Sundered Lands, in search of the nest of the wondrous phoenix bird. There they will surely find the Crown of Fire, third of the six lost crowns of the ancient Badger Lords. Well, that's the plan, but first they must survive a terrible battle in the skies over the city of Swallowhaven, with Captain Grizzletusk and his pirate fleet. And if they do live to tell the tale -- can they be sure in the end that the extraordinary phoenix will choose to help them?