There are three sisters and only one can be really Queen. One is a naturalist, the other is an elementalist, and the third is a poisoner. One is stronger and the other two are weak with their gifts or the does not have a gift. At the end of the ceremonies where they all must meet, they must show off their gifts, and then have one year to kill each other with one only surviving. The book goes through each of the girls lives and their gifts. I must say I love Arisnoe and hope she is the one that ends up being Queen. I cannot wait for the sequel.