Following the untimely death of their parents, Anne, Beatrix, and Violet Quigley have made a business of threading together the stories that lie at the bottom of their customers' teacups.

Days at their teashop are filled with fortune-telling intertwined with the sound of clinking china and the scent of cinnamon shortbread. When the Council of Witches comes calling with news that the city Diviner has lost her powers, the sisters suddenly find themselves being pulled in different directions.

As Anne's magic begins to develop beyond that of her sisters', Beatrix's writing attracts the attention of a publisher, and Violet is enchanted by the song of the circus-and a mischievous trapeze artist threatening to sweep her off her feet-it seems a family curse that threatens to separate the sisters forever is taking effect.

With dwindling time to rewrite their future and save the cosy and much-loved tearoom, the Quigleys set out to bargain with Fate. But in focusing so closely on saving each other, will they lose sight of themselves?