Princess Ediline was born eight minutes after her twin brother, labeling her forever the cursed ninthborn. To her father, she is good for nothing-until a mysterious young man named Javras warns her kingdom of a looming threat. The Ender is coming to enforce peace, wielding the traitor god's fabled bloodsword.
Ediline must charm Javras and pretend to be the eighth born to do it. As she gets to know him, the lies become heavy on her heart. She wishes she could tell him the truth, but that would be digging her own grave.
As the dreaded arrival draws near, Ediline is alone. Pressed into a corner, in a situation with no way out, she resolves to do the most selfless thing she can think of-to steal the bloodsword for herself.
It might just get her killed, or it might just save the entire continent.
