In the island world of Sollonia, sixteen-year-old Korai is part of the Hunters, a sub-caste of the poor Renters who despise the rich Landers. To help support her family, Korai and her brother Emrik hunt and capture dangerous sea creatures known as maristags, which are used by Landers in the Glory Race. When she fails to capture a maristag for this year's race, her ill sister must pay the price, forcing Korai to cheat her way into the Glory Race and compete against those who've trained their whole lives for the competition.