Seraphina lives in a medieval-ish world in which a delicate peace exists between humans and dragons. The forty-year anniversary of the treaty approaches, and restless factions on both sides pull nerves taut. Dragons have the ability to look like humans, but they don’t think like them. Logic and rationality hold value in their society, and if the censors suspect that time spent in human form corrupts a dragon into having those dreadful things called emotions, memories will be erased. When (human) Prince Rufus is murdered in an obviously dragon-like way, whispers about the trustworthiness of oversized lizards grow into snarls. While Seraphina generally tries to keep a low profile, her love of music propels her into a touching performance at the funeral. She meets Prince Lucian Kiggs, captain of the guard and betrothed to Princess Glisselda, who Seraphina tutors in harpsichord. She grows closer to the Royal Family. But as a possible plot to destroy the peace between dragons and humans comes to light, personal feelings must take a back seat to duty. Are the dragons taking a long view of the game, since they have greater life spans? Or are there merely some dragons, as there are some humans, who hate the other species? In addition to problems on a grand scale, Seraphina also has her own dread secret, one which would make Kiggs and Glisselda turn away from her if they knew. Or so she thinks.