All is not well in the Eight Kingdoms.

In Lyonya, King Kieri is about to celebrate marriage to his beloved, the half-elf Arian. But uncanny whispers from the spirits of his ancestors continue to warn of treachery and murder, and a finger of suspicion points in a shocking direction.

Meanwhile, in Tsaia, the young king Mikeli grapples with unrest among his own nobility after granting the title and estates of a traitorous magelord to a Verrakaien―who not only possesses the forbidden magic but is a woman.

The controversial decision and its consequences put the king's claim to the throne in peril. But even greater danger looms. A dragon's wild offspring are sowing death and destruction, upsetting the ancient balance of power. A collision seems inevitable. Yet when it comes, it will be utterly unexpected―and all the more devastating for it.