Summary

In Chapter 1, Coriane did not like the books her brother, Julian, gave her as gifts, but she did like the manuals and guides he sometimes tucked in the pages. Coriane’s passion was fixing mechanical issues. She imagined herself building machines. Her father, Harrus, believed her ability to fix things was useless for a girl of Silver nobility until he needed his video screen fixed.

Coriane’s brother and best friend, Sara Skonos visited with her at the Jacos’ Aderonack Estate House for her birthday. As a gift, Julian gave her a book in which to write her thoughts. She sneered at it, not bothering to hide her true feelings from her brother.

The teenagers were socializing with each other when Coriane and Julian’s elderly, cranky cousin Jessamine entered the room with her bejeweled cane. Sara and Julian left Coriane...