Since she was a child, Kristín Ormsdóttir has had the ability to spot people who are marked for death, causing other children to shun and bully her as a witch. She yearns to escape her tiny Icelandic fishing village and see the world. Kristín gets her golden ticket out when she passes the Temple of Knowledge Exam, a test of knowledge and — secretly — of latent psychic powers. Her prize is a coveted position in the Temple, learning and participating in its research. In her honor, Germany's kaiser even diverts a packed commercial zeppelin flight to take her there. On this flight, though, nothing is as it seems. After she's mistaken for the Iron Throne's heiress, murderous palace intrigue and wars derail Kristín's cherished plans — forcing her to walk a tightrope, weighed down by deadly secrets. One slip could land her in prison — or a grave.