It's a new era in the country of Idris. The royal Lightwood family are getting ready for their oldest son Alec to complete his selection. They will face trials of loyalty, decision-making and love as well as great sacrifices to save the family name. Lydia Fairchild is a five the lowest of castes but higher then the sixes ( the nothings ) , her brother and father died when she was young, her twin sister Clary and mother are all she has left. When Lydia gets selected for prince Alec's selection she drops everything for the opportunity to drag her family out of poverty and for the chance to become something more then a lousy five. After Clary's sister was chosen to partake in prince Alec's selection her life has gone from calm to hectic in a matter of seconds. Not only was her sister shipped away to the center of Idris leaving Clary alone with her overprotective mother, but her best friend Simon has been acting weird and her boyfriend is being more distant than usual. Can she pull her life together before the annual winter ball at the palace or is she destined for bad luck?