It has been four years since Raven fled Baron Cutter's estate - four years since her mother, Roxaine, failed to show at their rendezvous. They were bond servants then, trapped in a rigged system of ever-growing fees they could never hope to pay off. Now fifteen, Raven is an outlaw and a rising mage - she can change into a bird at will. But Raven is haunted by the past: Did Roxaine abandon her, or did Raven desert Roxaine in her hour of need? Driven by a desire to know what happened that night, Raven seeks out her mother. What she discovers rekindles her rage and confronts her with two bad options: keep running away or help the mother who's as strong-willed and sharp-tongued as she is.

With unexpected help from the young, impetuous, but aptly nicknamed Hero, Raven must face down the minions of two Barons, traverse highlands booby-trapped with magical wards, and learn to control her own erratic talent and temper on an unwanted heroine's quest. Vivid details and compelling characters are skillfully woven into this fast-paced novel about a girl who must look beyond magic - and herself - to save what is most important.