a fast paced dystopian story of six rulers fighting to their deaths to rule their world. while seymour and cornelia sit and watch milo and astrid quickly fall for one another and kairos and desire struggle to untangle their ruined friendship tragedy strikes just hours before the trials. desire and kairos' problems only get worse when she's drugged into unconscious and put into medical care mid Gala. things only go downhill with the announcer is shot and almost killed in an assassination attempt. with the chaos ensuing will the trials go on?