The House Of Berethnet Has Ruled Inys For A Thousand Years. Still Unwed, Queen Sabran The Ninth Must Conceive A Daughter To Protect Her Realm From Destruction--but Assassins Are Getting Closer To Her Door. Ead Duryan Is An Outsider At Court. Though She Has Risen To The Position Of Lady-in-waiting, She Is Loyal To A Hidden Society Of Mages. Ead Keeps A Watchful Eye On Sabran, Secretly Protecting Her With Forbidden Magic. Across The Dark Sea, Tane´ Has Trained To Be A Dragonrider Since She Was A Child, But Is Forced To Make A Choice That Could See Her Life Unravel. Meanwhile, The Divided East And West Refuse To Parley, And Forces Of Chaos Are Rising From Their Sleep.-- Samantha Shannon.