Scarlet and Jem and the rest of the Lost Souls are now on Island X, settling themselves in the clearing and keeping an eye on the aras (the beautiful red birds that hide rubies in their nests). While Scarlet deals with her newfound ability to channel the feelings of the island's animals, and Jem tries to construct tree houses, Uncle Finn wanders the island in search of rare plants, and the rest of the Lost Souls settle in as best they can. but everything is thrown into disarray when the Dread Pirate Captain Wallace Hammerstein-Jones and his crew, including the traitor Lucas Lawrence, come back to the island. Things get even more worrisome when a troop of King's Men appears -- led by Scarlet's father! How can they keep the pirates from the rubies and the King's men from plundering the island's valuable resources? The Lost Souls have to use all their wits -- along with help from some surprising island inhabitants -- to keep Island X safe.

Sequel to: The ship of lost souls.