Summary

The novel begins with protagonist Violet contemplating her chances of surviving the next 24 hours, because today is Conscription Day. Conscription Day is when the military recruits of the Riders quadrant are tested for the first time in a survival based challenge. This challenge consists of each recruit walking across a rocky, windy parapet and maintaining their balance, or else they will fall hundreds of feet into the ravine below to their deaths.

In Chapters 1 and 2, Violet fears she hasn't trained enough to be able to survive the three year long brutal training of the Riders quadrant. After being recruited by her mother only six months before, Violet is at a disadvantage compared to the other potential cadets. Knowing this, Violet's sister Mira returns to their hometown of Basgiath the morning before the Conscription challenge and begs their mother, an army general, to not...