In the kingdom of Weep, 17-year-old Sarai survives with her adopted siblings Sparrow, Ruby, Feral, and Minya. In terms of appearance, Minya appears to be a 6-year-old by human standards but is actually much older. They are all blue-skinned like the girl in the prologue. All the children have magic powers; Feral can manipulate the weather according to his emotions, and Ruby can burst into flame at will. Sarai thinks that following “the Rule,” the details of which remain as yet unexplained, will keep the five of them alive, but Ruby is certain that nothing will stop the eventual massacre of all blue-skinned people.

These blue-skinned children are the children of the gods, who were slaughtered by the people of Weep 15 years ago. The children keep their existence a secret from the citizens of Weep, or otherwise they too would be killed. They have subsisted these long years on seeds given to them by the mysterious white eagle called Wraith; Sparrow uses her gift to keep the seeds eternally growing. Sarai is the daughter of Isagol, goddess of despair, and although it is still unclear what Sarai’s magical gift might be, Sarai is ill at ease with her close resemblance to her mother and regards Isagol as a monster.