The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity. Xaden Riorson

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War CollegeViolet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.

Now thereal training begins, and Violets already wondering how shell get through. Its not just that its grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that its designed to stretch the riders capacity for pain beyond endurance. Its the new vice commandant, whos made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactlyhow powerless she isunless she betrays the man she loves.

Although Violets body might be weaker and frailer than everyone elses, she still has her witsand a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: