The novel picks up Lara's journey immediately following the game's ending. Haunted by what she was forced to endure in order to survive her first adventure, Lara Croft® wants only to put her horrifying ordeal on Yamatai island behind her. Her modest wish shatters as she's plunged into a frantic race to save her best friend Sam from a toxic overdose. Desperate for a remedy, Lara searches for anything that could help Sam. A wisp of hope arising from a myth gives Lara purpose: the story of an ancient and mysterious artifact that could heal her dying friend, and possibly help explain the supernatural events she witnessed on Yamatai.

However, Lara is not alone in her pursuit of the treasure. A nefarious magnate, a shadow society, and lethal henchmen will stop at nothing to exploit the powerful relic for their own ends. The hunt drives Lara across the globe, through a twisted web of conspiracy, suspicious contacts, and life-or-death intrigue, as she seeks salvation for her friend and the truth behind the legendary talisman.