Rose Hathaway is wrongly accused of killing Queen Tatiana and is imprisoned. While awaiting her execution, she escapes with the help of her friends during the chaos of the Queen’s funeral. She then goes on the run to clear her name and uncover the real murderer.
With Dimitri and Sydney, Rose discovers an important secret: Jill Mastrano is Lissa Dragomir’s half-sister. This discovery is crucial because it strengthens Lissa’s claim to the Moroi throne.
Eventually, the truth comes out—the real killer is Tasha Ozera, who acted out of jealousy and political ambition. Rose is proven innocent.