Elisabeth's life is in tatters.

Her mother is dead and the rest of her family ignores her existence. The only one Elisabeth can turn to in her grief is her faithful horse, Nyriana. She rides out into Vendale's forests and mountains every day, trying to make sense of her mother's final words. Magic is real. Elisabeth has latent powers. And a coven of witches, who are plotting to take over the kingdom, want to enslave her. What Elisabeth needs, more than anything, is training, but there's no one in the Royal Circle of Mages willing to do so.

Elisabeth's summer outrides come with another unexpected revelation. Her brother's best friend sweeps her into a whirlwind romance and brings a new light into Elisabeth's life. But not all is well on that front either.

Young and naïve, distracted and untrained, Elisabeth is a fly bound to get trapped in the witches' web...