Content Warning: A Shadow in the Ember references sexual assault, suicide, and domestic abuse, and depicts child abuse and murder.

Princess Seraphena “Sera” Mierel has spent her life being prepared to become the Consort of Nyktos—the Primal of Death, one of the rulers of the Gods. She is expected to do this to fulfill an ancient deal made by her ancestor, King Roderick, to stop the mysterious Rot, a disease of the land that kills crops, from affecting her kingdom, Lasania. As she awaits the arrival of Nyktos, she reflects on her secret mission, which is to become the Primal’s weakness and kill him as the Maiden, an individual fated to ascend to the ranks of the gods and bring great change to the mortal realm. When Nyktos appears, he declares he does not need a Consort and disappears, leaving Sera in shock. Her mother, Queen Calliaphe, slaps her in anger and accuses her of dooming them all.

Three years later, Sera has been relegated to the handmaiden of her mother, the queen, and negotiations are tense between the Vodina Isles and Lasania, the main country in A Shadow in the Ember. The Lord of the Vodina Isles tosses Lasania a burlap sack containing the severed head of their Advisor.