In a desperate effort to stifle the worst aspect of human nature - desire - the government has created Circles: round, impenetrable areas, in which the inhabitants are forbidden to go beyond. As the government hoped, this restriction hugely lowered crime and wiped out war. But what the world's previous leaders didn't hope for were the Antithetical. With supernatural abilities viewed as the most sinister thing existing, these Antithetical are constantly hunted and instantly imprisoned, whether innocent or otherwise. Their collective name is spoken only in frightened whispers. The Antithetical have never bothered Isaac's or Isolde's personal lives, but that is drastically about to change.