The empire is ruled by blood: red-blooded Embers, blue-blooded Dusters and clear-blooded Ghostings. All will be shed in the coming battle for power. The Aktibar – a set of trials held every ten years to find the next Ember rulers of the Empire – is about to begin. All Embers can join but it requires great skill to win. Sylah was destined to become Warden of Strength, forged as a weapon to change the Empire from within. Those dreams of a better future turned to dust when her family were brutally murdered. But Sylah wasn’t made to sparkle, she was born to burn. And as the trials draw near it’s time for her to decide…will she rule the Empire or destroy it?