Hope has soft edges. Daggers do not. Both can cut deeply.

Snow Weiss was born to lead, her silver tongue a perfect counterpoint to her twin sister Rose's raw emotional power. Together, they were destined to bring prosperity to their kingdom as neighboring queens. On vacation at their summer home, the twins rescue a prince cursed into bear form. He makes a childhood promise to wed Snow that Rose scoffs at, knowing they may never meet again.

Their return to the palace shatters their idle dreams of a bright future: their mother is struck down by a mysterious illness, leaving their grieving father to fall under the thrall of a powerful Witch. Rose sacrifices her own freedom, smuggling Snow away. Finding herself as an exiled princess trapped in her own kingdom, Snow learns of the despair of her people and begins seeking allies. In a desperate gamble she finds seven dangerous mentors who teach her their own flavor of influence.

Learning to fight, sneak, inspire, heal, and even wield poison, the newly-minted rebel queen plans to march on the palace and free her sister. Yet, wielding her power comes with a battle for morality Snow wrestles with daily, leading to one burning question: what is she willing to do to break the Witch's power?

The answer is simple, but it most certainly isn't easy.