Can a poor shoemaker save the twelve princes from a terrible curse? The Twelve Princes of Seivony are a mystery. They rarely leave the house, refuse to marry, and disappear every two weeks, only to reappear with bruises and cuts. When Alix, a poor shoemaker, is hired to mend the prince's boots, she is asked to investigate the princes' secret in exchange for extra coin. She soon discovers that the greatest danger lies not in being caught by the handsome Elder Prince Theo, but in the unspeakable horror that will threaten the safety of the entire kingdom.