In the wake of an environmental catastrophe, Telvia, a city fortified by walls and ruled by a ruthless government, rises from the ashes of the United States. Within its borders, power is everything, and for 17-year-old Mara, the daughter of Telvia's president, life should be perfect. But as the product of a scandalous affair, Mara is trapped in a world of privilege and pain, dominated by an abusive stepmother and a father who values control above love.
When Mara's act of defiance against Telvia's brutal caste system triggers tragic consequences, she is forced to flee into the wilderness, only to find herself among the Dissenters-rebels fighting for freedom from Telvia's tyrannical regime. Here, Mara's loyalties are tested as she faces dangerous enemies, a burgeoning rebellion, and her own heart. Torn between the brooding rebel leader Wes, who bears a striking resemblance to a love she lost, and the kindhearted Matias, who shows her the meaning of self-worth, Mara must decide who she is and what she stands for.
With the fate of Telvia and her newfound family hanging in the balance, Mara must summon the strength to challenge the only world she's ever known. But in a city built on lies, can she trust herself to make the right choice-and save the ones she loves?