Aggressively pursued by her royal former friend when she flees the court that would denounce and control her Silver powers, Mare discovers that there are others like her and endeavors to organize a rebellion against their oppressive leaders.

Lada Dracul seeks her younger brother Radu's help in securing the Wallachian throne, but their father, Sultan Mehmed, has sent him to sabotage Constantinople.

Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood -- those with common, Red blood serve the Silver-blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own. To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess...