What's a ratter to do when caught in rising waters? In her attempts to stop the highsiders from oppressing the labor class, River Quinn is competing to win a seat as an advocate. Racing through the stands at Amherst's Guardian Games, she narrowly escapes capture after qualifying for the semi-finals. She returns to Defiancé Outpost with one thing on her mind--discovering if Addax has betrayed her. Protests and unrest spread among the labor class while people look to her for direction, but the further she travels on her defiant path, the less confident she is. River needs all the help she can get if the ratters survive Lysander's desperate grab for power. But can River and her friends weather the storm to build the world they've been fighting for—or will they die trying?