The story begins after the villains have already won.

The great war is over. The kingdom of Evermore has fallen. The legendary hero is dead.

Princess Briony Rosewood is captured when her castle is overrun. Stripped of her magic and freedom, she is sold at auction alongside the survivors of her kingdom. The highest bid comes from Toven Hearst, heir to one of the most feared families in the conquering empire—and someone Briony has known, hated, and secretly been fascinated by for years.

As Briony struggles to survive inside enemy territory, she begins uncovering secrets about the war, the magic that was stolen from her people, and the man who purchased her. What begins as a story of captivity evolves into political intrigue, rebellion, forbidden love, and questions about who the true villains really are.