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A leader of a fictional kingdom, Vandal has been overthrown in his throne room by a powerful, evil woman named Hagatha, and taken prisoner. Princess Raja and some of her allies vow to try to rescue him, although they know the mission will put them in life-threatening situations. Vandal's leadership has been marred by bad judgment, cruelty, and bigotry. He hates beings with black hair, for example. Raja feels that the responsibility she has for Vandal's daughter, Chloe, as well as the ethics of a princess, obligate her and her group to face the danger in order to rescue the displaced leader. Situations abound in which Vandal's and Raja's meetings are interrupted by freezing cold, homicidal enemies, and unexpected allies. Two examples are a hermit named Birch who decides to rejoin society after meeting Raja, and the dog, Tan, saving lives during one of the multiple situations that the rescuers face.
The author's fantasy novel is packed with drama, challenges, near-death experiences, betrayal, loyalty, and finally, redemption. Although the story will challenge those who tend to be squeamish, the moral and social lessons are pertinent to any society that seeks justice for its population. The leaders—both the displaced and the rescuers—must sometimes undergo horrific challenges before realizing their rewards and the true resolutions to the problems they have encountered or created. The virtues and experiences of the protagonists ultimately save them. Like the Narnia and Oz stories, redemption and the realization of wrongs happen after hard lessons. Each of the several characters is interesting for the action and ambiguities that they bring to the tale.