House of the Lake House of the Stone

One of the four Founding Houses; Residence of the Countess and

residence of the Duchess and Count of the Stone; one of the
Duke, their son Garnet, four Founding Houses
and their niece
Carnelian

House of the Scales

Residence of the Duchess and
Duke of the Scales; one of the
House of the Rose four Founding Houses; allied with
the House of the Stone
Residence of the Countess and
Count of the Rose; one of the
four Founding Houses; allied
with the House of the Lake

Royal Palace
Home to the Exetor and Electress, and
their son Larimar; royalty can have
only one boy and one girl to maintain
purity of blood

This poor, outer circle is home to

the laborers who work in the other
circles. Violet and Raven are from
the Marsh, where the surrogacy
test is mandatory for every girl. KEY CHARACTERS

VIOLET
16-year-old surrogate to the Duchess of the Lake;
violet-colored eyes; cello prodigy; has brother,
Ochre, and an 11-year-old sister, Hazel

RAVEN
17-year-old surrogate to the Countess of the
Stone; Violet’s best friend
An endless expanse of nature
where the food is grown. ASH LOCKWOOD
Ochre, Violet’s brother, works
Hired escort for the Duchess of the Lake’s niece,
in the Farm.
Carnelian; handsome and
Ornate second circle where the highly educated
merchants have their shops.
Women here are capable of DUCHESS OF THE LAKE
bearing children. The Electress is
from the Bank.
(PEARL)
Purchases Violet at the Auction; obsessed with
having a daughter to be betrothed to the
Electress’s son

GARNET
Pearl’s 19-year-old son; engaged to Coral, the
daughter of the Lady of the House of Downs
(1st tier royal House)

CARNELIAN
Built on a hill at the center of the Pearl’s 16-year-old niece; her mother married
island city, the Jewel is home to a man from the Bank, relinquishing her royal
the ruling class. status; hates Violet, loves Ash

*See inset map above for more detail.

ANNABELLE
Violet’s 16-year-old lady-in-waiting; mute and
mild-mannered

LUCIEN
Lady-in-waiting for the Electress; 27-year-old
Dark and saturated with eunuch; genius inventor; friend to Violet
dust, the city’s factories are
located here. Ash is from
the Smoke.

Holding facility where Violet and Raven

trained since puberty to become
surrogates. Each quarter in the Marsh
contains a holding facility at its center.