A mass ritual suicide, the notorious puputan took place on Bali in 1906. In 1942 the Japanese invaded. In 1965 there were terrible disturbances. Before each of these disastrous sets of events clouds of yellow butterflies were seen in the skies over the island. A coincidence? A terrible omen? Or is there another explanation?

Victor Mason's cultural thriller delves into a secretive civilization where a roll call of strange characters including a witch, a whore, an old Hindu priest, a village idiot, a beautiful woman and an old piano all interact to create a powerful and unforgettable tale of adventure, mystery and magical encounters.