After he eats the sin of a royal, Taj, a talented aki, or sin-eater who consumes the guilt of others whose transgressions are exorcised from them by powerful but corrupt Mages, is drawn into a plot to destroy the city, and he must fight to save the princess he loves and his own life.

"Taj has escaped Kos, but Queen Karima will go to any means necessary--including using the most deadly magic--to track him down"--