rosalin cotare fled her home as a child, escaping to the magic-free mortal realm, and taking on a new name: alura. five years later, a portal pulls her and her friends back into a world they did not know existed. and into the heart of a prophecy that will determine their fate.thrust into a web of politics, romance, and ancient magic, alura must break the curse that binds her people. but doing so means sacrificing her freedom and marrying a stranger. can she make that choice?yet, not everyone wants the curse broken. for 18 years, the curse has protected the three kingdoms, sealing their borders from outside threats. without it, their fragile economy-and their safety-hangs by a thread. will their eastern allies on githor seize the opportunity to strike? or are there more dangerous forces at play?