A death. Sanaa is dead and August and Taira have to pick up the pieces. August leads the vanguard to the Winter Court where the Winter Queen waits for them to fight off Nova and their army. A life. Taira is still reeling from the death of Cinder's grandfather and the rejection that she received from Cinder. Left to raise Cinder's younger cousin, she focuses on honing him into a knight and finding her own way in the world. A choice. Cinder is happy. She is in the place of power and Sorcha values her as the only lady in waiting that the empress has. And now the Crown Prince Paul is here and Cinder is gunning for the seat of Crown Princess. But her dreams are haunting her and she has the itching feeling that something is not right. Something is wrong, but power is all she ever wanted, right? With their lives irrevocably changed, Cinder, August, and Taira trudge on, hoping that the reaper doesn't come for them next.