When Ember's house burns down, killing her parents, and her twin sister, Eden, is taken, she will stop at nothing to get her back. Born into a conservative family, Ember's life as a Gifted human is difficult. When the only way to save Eden is to win the Valarisett, a competition competed in by the Gifted that results in riches for the winner, and the loss of their Gifts for any losers, Ember joins Alek a sarcastic Gifted with a mysterious past. Together, they conquer challenges thrown at them, but what happens when they reach the end of the Valarisett and there can only be one winner? Soon, lines between what is real and what isn't blur and Ember finds herself questioning everything she knows about the Gifted and everyone she ever loved.