A tale of circus acts, second chances, and marionettes. Welcome to Daiwynn where magic is dangerous, but hope is more dangerous still. Chirp doesn't remember who they are, or where they come from. But they do know two things. One, they're one of the Ringmaster's marionettes. Built from cogs and gears, and trussed up on strings to do his bidding. And two, they would do anything to cut their strings and be human again. So, when the Ringmaster offers Chirp a deal, the prince of Daiwynn's life for their freedom, the choice seems straight forward. After all, what has the royal family ever done for them? Brend has everything a person could ever want, fine food, lavish clothes, and riches more than he could ever dream. But the prince of Daiwynn has always been denied the only thing he ever asked for, the ability to leave behind the castle walls and see his kingdom for himself. Now, he won't hesitate to take any opportunity presented to him to undermine his mother and see the world around him with his own eyes. But with a war brewing, dangers lurk in the capital of Daiwynn, and maybe the ones he's been taught to avoid. The battle between the Uprising and MOTHER is at an end, and the threads of fate will have all involved dancing like puppets on a string. The unique characters, witty dialogue, and fantasy-meets-steampunk world make this fresh take on classic fairy tales a must read for fans of Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles, and Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series.