This is especially true for seventeen-year-old nationalist Merci Madden. When Merci emerges victorious from the Trenchant- a series of tests designed to measure the mental and physical prowess of select teenagers- her life takes a dramatic turn as she relocates to Paramount for her prestigious position. As she settles into her new life, Merci discovers that her government's secrets are far more disturbing than any test she's faced. With the foundation of her beliefs shaken, Merci must confront her own blind patriotism and find the strength to challenge the very core of her existence.

This poses a lingering question: Can she ever reclaim her self-identity and the simple life she once envisioned?