Seventeen-year-old David Rose has been pulled from place to place by his mother Emily Rose for ten years, never staying anywhere long enough to form bonds or face consequences. When he discovers his mother burning a letter from the family they’ve been running from, he looks them up himself, desperate for a place that feels like home and a sense of connection. He discovers his father is Viktor Guthanderkaz, a member of the royal family of Fyrnlendh, a small island country on the Black Sea. He goes to the Fyrnlendh Embassy in person, meeting an ambassador who contacts Viktor, but when Emily arrives for David, the ambassador blackmails her into taking David with her to Fyrnlendh.

They arrive at the isolated Guthanderkaz Castle, with David excited and Emily wary. Emily is shocked to discover that David’s Great-grandfather, the man she’s been running from, is long dead. The three have a brief, warm reunion, but the peace doesn’t last long.

David learns he’s the bastard child in a family obsessed with rank and appearances, and his father’s wife seems to have it out for him. Viktor is insistent on David proving himself to the rest of the family, and seems to prioritize appearances and rank as much as the rest. The only real upside for David is reuniting with his half-brother Basil, who has lived a sheltered, isolated life at the castle and as hungry for friendship as David is.

David rebels against the claustrophobic expectations of his father’s family and the harsh tutor who has been assigned to him. Still, a desire for the love and approval of his father and brother starts him compromising, forcing himself to face lessons. In return, secrets are revealed to him, too. He overhears one of his relatives instructing his tutor to be harsh with him against the orders of his father, and his brother reveals to him that the royal family of Fyrnlendh is a family of sorcerers.

At first, this seems like a dream come true, and David dedicates himself to learning magic. But he finds himself struggling with what’s meant to be the most basic of spells: a candle snuffing spell. He feels physically ill when he tries. What’s worse, he discovers that most people suffer horrific mutations when they attempt to use magic, turning into beings known as the Corrupted.

His worldview is further shaken when his uncle confronts him, trying to determine what he knows about the day that his mother and he left at the age of seven, revealing it to be when his Grandfather and Great-grandfather died, allowing Viktor to take over. Soon after, David is called into a meeting with the most important family members, who belittle him and speak of sending him away, all while his father does nothing to defend him.

David is overcome with emotions and able to finally cast the candle-snuffing spell, but somehow gravely injures himself in the attempt. His brother finds him and tries to reassure him, but David is terrified and demands how his brother could possibly know he isn’t going to become Corrupted. His brother reveals that David has been unconsciously using magic the entire time, magically manipulating people into liking and wanting to help him. Rather than be reassured David finds this information disturbing, and questions all the relationships he’s had and how real they were.

David is pulled into one final meeting to prove himself or be sent away. He realizes that the one who had been instructing his tutor to be harsher was using mind control on her, and David managed to erode it. He brings this up, proving his worth to stay. His triumph is short-lived, as they move on to discussing possible arranged marriage, which David finds abhorrent, not the least of which because of his sexuality.

David flees the meeting and the castle, only to be kidnapped by one of the Corrupted desperate to know the secrets of his family. He finds himself helpless, leg broken, when the Corrupted summons a creature that shouldn’t exist. Before the Corrupted can kill David, David’s parents come, destroying both the Corrupted and the creature.
David’s mother reveals she has her own, opposing magic, and the conflict in nature is why he’s struggled with magic. With his newfound knowledge, he’s able to successfully learn spells. Things between his father and himself are still tense, and his leg will take a long time to heal. But he’s able to move forward with hope, and has found something he’s willing to fight for.