Fifteen-year-old Ben Grange is the third son of a powerful duke. He spends his days squiring for his father and his nights avoiding as much responsibility as is acceptable. He dreams of being a great hero like the ones he reads about but opportunities for greatness are few and far between under his father’s watchful eye. When an attempt is made on his life, a strange and powerful magic awakens within him, reflecting the dark omens plaguing the kingdom but saving his life and the men with him. Suddenly, Ben’s life seems less certain than it once had. Sent to foster with his father’s best friend, the disgraced Bachelor Prince, Ben enters an even more dangerous world: the royal court. A world of balls, schemes and plots that Ben is unaccustomed to. Seduced by the promise of glory and struggling with the changing definition of right and wrong in the decadent capital, Ben aligns himself with a group of ne’er-do-well fops, dandies and thugs known as the Third Sons, alienating his closest friends with his smug and obnoxious behavior, leaving them to deal with the growing darkness around their friend. While he struggles to control the power building within him, his friends are left alone to deal with questions of loyalty, friendship, responsibility and isolation. Ben realizes he has one last chance to redeem himself: the Challenge Cup Tournament. There he will sacrifice the very prestige he craves to redeem himself in the eyes of those most important to him. But it may be too late. All they know and love may be coming to an end - because of Ben.