Shale is dying. A huge, chaotic, monster-bearing surprise known only as the Roil is certainly expanding, consuming the land. The final humans are fighting back again with a lot more bizarre brand-new machines, but the Roil appears unstoppable. Whole towns have been consumed – where once there were twelve, now just four remain. It’s up to decadent wastrel, a four thousand year-old man, and a young woman bent on revenge, to try to save their town – as well as the world.