In the Blighted Empire, five kingdoms are each cursed with unique afflictions, forcing their people to endure a damned existence. Maeve, a skilled scholar in the art of shadows, grapples with the suffering her people endure. A royal summons from the Emperor thrusts her into a web of intrigue when she meets Dominic, an enigmatic Eternian sent to seek her help against revolutionists aiming to break the curse. As they unravel a plot that threatens the Empire, Maeve's path intersects with that of three other people—a bubbly redhead who can communicate with the deceased, a girl cursed to eternal silence, and a warrior who defies gravity. United by their quest, they must navigate a treacherous journey that unveils long-buried truths and challenges their convictions. The fate of the cursed kingdoms hangs in the balance as alliances form, betrayals emerge, and the power of their choices shapes the Empire's destiny.