"On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a 'witchery,' a magical skill that sets them apart from others. In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble--as two desperate young women know all too well"--Front jacket flap.

After an explosion ruins his ship, Prince Merik tries to expose his sister's treachery while fighting for the weak on the streets of the royal capital. Meanwhile, Aeduan, a Bloodwitch, and Iseult, a Threadwitch, form an unlikely alliance and travel together looking for Safiya, who has been shipwrecked with the Empress of Marstok in a land of pirates and is living every moment balanced on a knife's edge, trying to keep the pirates from unleashing war...