In a world where dark magic hovers on the horizon, two teens must decide how far they will go to break the system that has them trapped. Mancella, the daughter of the king, emerged from the mysterious Broken Citadel with a strange and violent magic: she can summon an army of animals, but only by killing them first. Silver is a charming thief who plans to manipulate Mancella in order to pull off a once-in-a-lifetime heist. When her father the king decides that Mance should kill a human in order to create an unbeatable spirit army, Mance realizes how much of a pawn she is in her father's world. As the deception and bloodshed continue to mount, Mance must find a way to stop the cycle without becoming the ruthless monster her father has always wanted her to be. And when Silver discovers that his actions are fueling the violence that Mance wants to prevent, he needs to make a choice that will change the realm forever.