Mare Barrow lives in the Stilts with the other Reds.  Mare lives in a world divided by blood.  The lowly Reds serve the powerful Silvers.  Whether by fighting in the army or working in harsh conditions to supply what the Silvers need, the Reds must submit to the will of the Silvers for they have supernatural abilities which they use to control the Reds. Mare and her best friend, Kilorn, pick pockets to survive.  A series of troubling events lead Mare to make some desperate choices to help her family and save Kilorn from conscription into the army.  When she is caught picking the pocket of a Silver servant, she ends up getting a servant position at the king’s summer palace. While serving royalty during the Queenstrial, it is discovered that Mare has her own supernatural powers.  The royal family has no choice but to cover up who Mare really is and pass her off as long lost royalty, a Silver princess. As the Silver Princess, Mare begins to play a very dangerous game hoping to make change.