In the last years of Victoria's reign, London is beset by the "Touched": people — mostly women — who suddenly manifest abnormal abilities, some charming, some very disturbing. Among them are Amalia True, a mysterious, quick-fisted widow, and Penance Adair, a brilliant young inventor. They are the champions of this new underclass, making a home for the Touched, while fighting the forces of… well, pretty much all the forces — to make room for those whom history as we know it has no place.

A traumatized, alcoholic Dan Torrance meets Abra, a kid who has the ability to "shine." He tries to protect her from the True Knot, a cult who's goal is to feed off people like them in order to remain immortal.