"Hell is empty and all the devils are here." A dying planet. A fading house. A sacred summons. And a desperate heir. Once a generation, the emperor summons one child of each of the Great Houses to complete a series of challenges. Those who triumph join his inner circle and are rewarded with his favor. For Harlow Corvus, last daughter of a dying House, the summons represent an opportunity to save her House from obsolescence and slow death. But the imperial court is full of treachery and secrets, and Harlow is far from the only competitor with everything to lose, and failure will come at the cost of her world and her house.