Sixteen-year-old Kammani, apprentice to her father, a healer, must try to heal the Lugal on her own in order to save her sister from the "honor" of a death sentence.

In the walled city-state of Alu, Kammani wants nothing more than to become the accomplished healer her father used to be before her family was cast out of their privileged life in shame. When Alu's ruler falls deathly ill, Kammani's little sister, Nanaea, is chosen as one of three sacred maidens to join him in the afterlife. Nanaea believes It's an honor. But Kammani sees the selection for what it really is-- a death sentence. Scheming her way into the palace, Kammani will stop at nothing to find the palace's secrets-- at any cost. -- adapted from jacket