Theres no such thing as safe in a city at war, a city overrun with monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent -- but he's one of the monsters. With the future of their home at stake, Kate and Augustus are the heirs to opposing sides, and should never have met. Now they're the only two who can do something to save the city.