Basically it's set in the future after there was some genetic mutation that caused half(?) the population to have silver blood, and with the silver blood, abilities. Those with red blood aren't supposed to have any abilities. It follows the story of Mare Barrow, a Red girl born and raised in the stilts, a red village on the river. She's a pick pocket and one night she picks the pocket of a stranger who catches her in the act, but instead of raising a fuss he gives her a crown(i imagine it to be worth like 10-20 bucks) and asks her more questions. He finds out after her next birthday, she's going to be conscripted to the war that's been going on for nearly a century. The next day she gets taken to the summer palace and is given a job as a server. She's doing her job during the Queenstrial, when one of the girls in the Queenstrial who manipulates metal causes the box Mare is in to lurch forward, causing mare to fall out and onto the electric barrier that's supposed to be there to protect the high houses from the show below. Mare thinks she's about to die, when instead something inside her releases and she harnesses the electricity. It Follows her story as she fights to bring equality to her people, as well to save the Newbloods- both red and silver and stronger than both.