A woodland shadow and a mortal fall in love, and a tragic cycle begins, haunting the steps of their daughter, Aeldra. At a young age, Aeldra finds herself pregnant, abandoned, and standing at a precipice, her child's future hanging on a balance. Already physically weakened for having shadow and mortal blood in her veins, she remains defiant when her shadow kin demand her child's life. She presses her faithful servant, Halfrith, to stand by the boy and make sure he remains unnamed, as it's through his name that the shadow world will find the means by which they can claim him.
Hope comes in the shape of Helena Butcher, a seventeen-year-old seamstress who brings shame to her family by getting pregnant out of wedlock. From beyond the grave, Aeldra looks to Helena and her unborn child to save her own son, who's now cursed to remain caught between two worlds after a woodland shadow's attempt at taking the boy away is thwarted by Halfrith.
Though tragedy marks the births of Crispian Butcher and Aeldra's son, who's been turned into a weeping willow by the woodland shadows, something much deeper and more enduring will shape the curious friendship between a ragged boy and a mournful tree. And something stronger and more resistant to hate and prejudice will ultimately break a curse, end a dark cycle, and bring two lonely boys together.