The first book of the Lamentation's End series begins an adventurous tale of friendship and discovery. Merith is nearing its annual Hansweighn celebration, which brings a rite of passage for young men. It also provides the perfect cover for three friends making their escape from the island nation. Rorry (a noblewoman), Kylan (a gay commoner), and Scarlett (a secret magus), do just that. Meanwhile, a dark force has plans for the holiday as well. As the young Merithians enact their escape, the Dregs send their werewolves to begin an invasion. The unexpected attack forces the friends into an uneasy alliance with one of Merith's soldiers, Cord, someone with a secret of his own. As the Dregs and their cursed wolfkin rip across Merith, the young ones must trust a band of foreign mercenaries comprised of a flirt, a half-ogre cook, two Ukrestian monks, and a peculiar sorcerer. Finding secrets of elves, satyrs, and piks in the shadows, they discover why it's imperative to the world that they reach the continent.