Seventeen-year-old Teo is a Jade and unlikely to be chosen by the sun god Sol for the Sunbearer Trials, though his best friend Niya, a Gold, likely is a shoo-in for one of the ten positions. The Sunbearer Trials are held every ten years; the loser gets the honor of sacrificing themselves to Sol to power the Sun Stones that keep the villainous Obsidians at bay, while the winner gets the honor of lighting the Sun Stones that will burn for the next decade. Unexpectedly, Teo and another Jade, Xio are both chosen along with Niya and seven other Golds for the competition. Unlike their Gold counterparts, Teo and Xio are untrained and likely to lose, so they band together with Niya to find a way to save themselves from the honor none of them wants bestowed on them.

Map on lining pages.