Charming and persuasive, Caru lives in an isolated village where lying means survival and accusation is proof of a crime. Leaving seems impossible, despite her dreams of another world and flashes of power—from hearing others’ thoughts to manipulating iron—that remind her she doesn’t belong.

 

Then she is unwillingly betrothed to the oppressive priest’s son and must escape or face a life of slavery. 

When faceless riders in cloaks come looking for her, she walks fearlessly toward them. The riders reveal they are her kindred—long-lived humans with innate elemental powers—and take her back to their homeland. They train her in secret, as mortals fear and hunt them because of their abilities. Caru learns eagerly, though she longs to stop hiding who she is. 

 

After her kindred reveal they plan to overthrow the mortal world and create one in which their people can be free, she joins them happily. But, as they rename her and teach her to kill without remorse, she must decide between becoming a weapon in their bloody crusade or abandoning her people to a lifetime of hiding.