On the planet Amedia, the sentience that is the World grants Magic to whomever it chooses: normally, someone born of Wizard lineage. In fact, Wizards have declared it near blasphemy for anyone born Plain to use Magic.Astra Fairweather was born Plain — but Amedia gives her Magic, anyway.With the help of Wizards André Skyecatcher andHucklebee Stonecraft, Astra trains to compete in the Summer Apprentice competition. Despite the antagonism of her peers, Astra manages to win the friendship of one fellow competitor and the competition ... just in time for the World to end.Blight, a Wizard banished from Wizard society long before, returns with a plan to kill all Magic by killing all Wizards. He slays hundreds — including Grand Wizard Forturian Stormcloud — but then he faces Astra. Her power and the uncanny skill with which she wields it drives Blight from the scene, leaving Astra, her teachers, and the other apprentices, to pick up the pieces.