Book excerpt: As a child, Cinder was unknowingly chosen by Zachariah, an arrogant fallen God who was simply seeking a new plaything. Augustus, a charming yet mysterious Human follower of the Fallen God, was ordered to oversee her progress towards becoming a Fiend, otherwise known as a God's obedient servant. Crushed and heartbroken from her latest losses, Cinder realizes her entire existence has been laid out in front of her, and she's doomed to live as a slave under an unruly God's thumb. Having Cinder as his Fiend, Zachariah believes it will undoubtedly secure his place back on his besieged throne. While Unnaturals and Humans continue to tear each other apart, Augustus realizes that Cinder isn't who they thought she was. Born with terrible genetics and broken by traumatic memories, Cinder can only take so much before she shatters completely. Can she handle the cruelty of love and Gods? And will she ever be free again?