incess Elana Sable is perfectly content to live a quiet life in her family's shadow, even if it means she's stuck learning how to be a good wife and a healer instead of how to fight or rule. Her older sister, Aislinn, the crown princess of Adrithia, is preparing to complete the once-in-a-generation quest alongside the heirs of neighboring kingdoms to earn the gods' elemental powers. Should each heir succeed, harmony and peace shall be secured for all-but there's no guarantee the heirs will survive the gods' tasks, or the treacherous mountain range on which the challenges take place.

At the ceremony where Aislinn will officially take her place as heir and embark on her journey, the gods' messenger declares Elana the true heir instead. With the kingdom shocked, and Elana reeling from being chosen, she must quickly learn how to fight and survive in nearly impossible situations. Pushed to the limit physically and mentally, Elana must step out of her sister's shadow and defy the odds to complete the trials. She must forge new alliances-including with the dangerous yet devastatingly handsome Prince Aidan-and navigate politics as dangerous as any sword fight, all while impressing the gods enough to earn their favor.

With war brewing on the continent, it's more important than ever for the kingdoms to work together to protect their people and their way of life. Elana could be the key to victory, or the catalyst for destroying the continent's fragile peace.