Thrown out of her children's home, all orphan Sparrow has is a single clue to her real family. Sparrow travels to Stollenbach where she is taken in by Gloriana, a strange and colourful street girl. She thinks she has found a home in the 'nest' – a hideout for homeless girls. There she is taught to make matches and stay quiet – but all is not as it seems. As Sparrow uncovers a web of strange and suspicious secrets she finds herself at the heart of an undercover smuggling trade – with a price on her head!