A young king finds his world crumbling as he tries to determine who are his friends and who are his enemies. Various races seem to align against him as he struggles to survive. Meanwhile select people are changing into the "Accursed," unique creatures with abilities that distinguish them from the rest of the populous, abilities that the average citizen responds to with often violent reactions. As secrets ancient and powerful are exposed the entire land hurtles toward all-out war with uncertainty remaining as to who is an enemy and who is an ally.