Elaine and Johan are preparing to leave Golden City, with Daria and the travelers, to be able to search for the Witch-King. The Grand Sorceress instructs Inquisitor Cass to help them. But before Elaine can keep she is imprisoned by two Inquisitors on the orders from the Emperor. When she resists she is hit with a powerful spell that forces her to focus all her efforts on protecting her mind from its intrusion. Taken up to the palace she finds that this Grand Sorceress has been removed and the about Bookworm III: THE VERY BEST Laid Programs Throne has accepted an heir towards the Empire. Recognizing this has to be the work of the Witch-King, Elaine must beat the spell that’s eating aside at her defenses if she is to flee and ruin him. In the meantime, Johan, Daria, and Cass are trying to discover a way to access Elaine and break her from the cell where she is being held.

The Golden Town is still widely devastated through the disastrous battle for power that followed the death of the prior Grand Sorcerer. The recent escalating breakdown of public order can only be made even worse by the return of an Emperor and the imposition of martial laws. The Privy Councillors and Heads of the Great Houses succumb to the energy of the brand new Emperor, as he amasses a huge army. It really is up to Elaine and her friends, with some unforeseen help, to prevent an all-out battle.

The third installment in the Bookworm series, The Best Laid Plans follows immediately from the events in The Very Ugly Duckling, with Elaine and Johan joined by other favorite characters because they try to track down the Witch-King.