Everyone is raised knowing the marks. Marks that define who you are as a person. Marks that are placed on every child's shoulder less than ten minutes after they are born. The marking of that year, the Cypress Tree, was formed after the naming of the king's son. Three days after he is born, the king's son is brutally murdered by Derek Blackwood. He is wanted for treason against the kingdom, and the murder of a member of the royal family. Out of pain and sorrow, the king bans any children to be born for the entire year, so that families would feel the same kind of pain that the king himself felt. If any kids were born within the year of the Cypress, they are either exiled or executed. Larissa Blackwood is not only the daughter of the most wanted criminal of the society, but her birthday was January first, on the year of the cypress tree.

Autumn Lightwood is a troubled teenager in the world of Uclea. The teenagers there aren't normal teenagers. No, everyone has amazing superpowers! Autumn has it different from everyone else. She can't find her special power that makes her Autumn. A group of kids tease her and manipulate her because she is different and a disappointment. Autumn's parents are of no help when she needs it most. What secrets will Autumn discover on her journey of finding her true self?