In the magical village of Everspring, everyone receives a fate card before their 12th birthday, sent down from the mysterious Mount Never. It tells them their purpose, their profession and how old they'll be when they die. Nearly 12-year-old Ember Shadows has always believed she is destined for great things. But when her fate card arrives, it's blank. What does that mean? Then, worse still, her sister's card decrees she will die before her next birthday. No way is Ember going to let that happen. Determined to challenge what - or who - is responsible for these cards, Ember sets off up the mountain. But will Ember like what she finds there?