War destroyed the world, leaving death and chaos in its wake.

In the aftermath, England was split into four regions—each granted absolute autonomy to rule as they saw fit.

Emilia is in the North.

Given a State-mandated job and forced into an arranged marriage, her happy memories of pre-war life are long gone, replaced by gruelling workdays, punishments in The Cell, and the gut-wrenching fear of the Enforcers who patrol the streets.

In a world where every choice has been made for her, developing feelings for her stubborn husband was never part of the plan.

The State controls her world—oppressive and seemingly unbreakable.

But nothing is truly indestructible.

Determined to bring the State down, even if defiance leads to certain death, will falling for Zachary Hastings be her greatest weakness, or her only chance at freedom?