Hoshitiwa is 17 years old, a member of an unnamed clan in what will, centuries later, become New Mexico. Her life is simple--she is a corn growers daughter and she will soon marry a storytellers apprentice. Until she is captured by the powerful and violent ruler of Center Place, a legendary city of untold wealth and unspeakable violence. Suddenly, Hoshitawa must negotiate the ways of the Dark Lords court without losing her knowledge of herself or her clan. She will gather what power she can, and discover a forbidden love with the one man who has the ability to destroy her at will. Bestselling author Barbara Wood has written a novel of an extraordinary woman drawn into a world of violence, passion, gods, and sacrifice.