Half the population of the island of Madera are dead, killed by an
unforgiving and indiscriminate plague. Oriana dreams of escaping her
life of ruthless cruelty from the people who now rule over those who
remain. No telling whom the plague will strike next, Oriana means to
find freedom for herself and her people. Drawing strength from ancient
tales of her enemy, young Oriana transforms herself from victim to
warrior with the help of a mysterious and powerful dagger given to her
by a kind and dying boy. Years later, during her enemy's betrothal
ritual, Ezra, a boy she has never before seen, selects her as his mate.
With servitude her only option, Oriana accepts the offer. Whisked away
to a seemingly perfect world, Oriana discovers sinister secrets at every
turn, including the identity of Tristan, a boy with whom she shares an
undeniable but impossible connection. Why would a boy she doesn't know
wish her to be his betrothed? Why does she feel such a strong pull
toward a stranger? Someone in Ezra's family not only knows the answer to
both those questions, but also about the dagger Oriana possesses. He
will do anything to stop the union. Now, with everything on the line,
Oriana turns inward to find the strength she needs to seize the full
power of the dagger so that she may protect herself and save her people.