The Dragon Wars have raged on in the south for the past seventy years, bringing destruction and ruin to many across the land. As the war stands on the edge of a knife, Shilan, a young lady as far from the fight as can be, is thrown into the mix, chasing after her beloved who has gone to join the battle. The only way for her to follow him is to become a soldier herself.

With the hope of seeing him again etched into her heart, and with horrible dreams haunting her sleep, she enters into the company of a malformed band of soldiers: the Unfortunates. Their path is less than simple, as there are countless dangers and hardships to come and a brutal northern winter about to begin.