In a world ruled by deities, anyone lesser is treated as an animal. As a human, young Shadow understands this reality all too well. Having been a mortal servant since she was a toddler, she has little experience with what a family is supposed to be like. At the age of eleven, Shadow is given to two gods who share her distrust of people, having had a difficult upbringing themselves. As time goes on, Shadow discovers she has a deeper connection to her new masters than they reveal. As she learns more about herself, she discovers that she might not be who she thinks she is. When they discover that Shadow has a rare power, she must overcome the pain of her past in order to save both the deity and mortal world from an evil god. Can a mortal defeat a god?