A young woman in Victorian Manchester grapples with a fractured identity and a mysterious nocturnal alter ego that threatens to consume her life. Edie and her twin brother, Gnome, navigate the vibrant, dangerous streets of late nineteenth-century Manchester. As they mature, Gnome embraces the night while Edie experiences unsettling gaps in her memory, waking each morning with a profound sense of unease. Driven by confusion and a desire for autonomy, Edie attempts to sever ties with Gnome, but she soon realizes that escaping someone who knows her intimately, perhaps better than she knows herself, is a formidable challenge. The narrative explores the boundaries of sexual and gender identity within the constraints of a rigidly defined era.

The novel is positioned as a bold exploration of identity and sexual equality, drawing comparisons to the works of Angela Carter, Sarah Waters, and Erin Morgenstern, suggesting a rich, character-driven narrative with a strong sense of place and historical atmosphere. Its thematic depth and literary allusions indicate a work that appeals to readers interested in complex psychological portraits and explorations of gender. The premise, with its echoes of Orlando and Jekyll and Hyde, promises a provocative and thought-provoking reading experience that delves into the intricacies of self-discovery. The book is framed as a story about the necessity of self-honesty and the acceptance of one's complete self.