Trina dreams of escaping the colony of Ceric and joining the spacer guilds, but it's just that: a dream. Reality is a fight for survival in the abandoned subway tunnels beneath First City. Her father may be a polit, the wealthiest of the surface people, but she's been raised by her shafter mother, taught to thieve by her friend, and mastered knives on her own. Even though her mother clings to the idea that her polit lover will rescue them from this life, Trina knows better. But when staking out a square during Festival, she catches the attention of her wealthy grandfather. Her life is about to change, but the price of starting over may be higher than she's willing to pay.