When the country of Illyn falls, a baby is found on a riverbank by a man hiding from his past. Hidden deep in the woods, the heir to the throne grows up in secret, surrounded by a people who value peace above all else. When the fragile peace shatters, Rose's future rests in the hands of those who love her the most. As her enemies close in, Rose and her friends must embark on a journey to gather forces of their own. Alliances are forged in blood as Rose confronts her own weaknesses to become the leader her homeland desperately needs-and unite a people shattered by pride, cowardice, and fear.