Sirscha, Saengo, and their allies are traveling through the Nuvalyn Empire as they search for a way to stop the Soulless who has taken control of the Dark Wood. Everyone still thinks Sirscha is a blessed soulguide when in fact she is a soulrender, a monster just like the Soulless. Meanwhile, Queen Meilyr is determined to destroy the magical kingdoms, and Sirscha is the only one who can stop the war mounting in the east as the Soulless gains strength in the west. But as she works to uncover the mysteries surrounding the Soulless, she discovers a secret that will change everything she thought she knew.