In post-apocalyptic Dominion, women are in control. After the Great War, chemical weapons made most men infertile and cognitively impaired. Women are the policymakers, law enforcers, captains of industry, spiritual leaders, preservers of history, language, and currency, and still the givers of life.

The roles of men are limited to public works, domestic servitude, and pleasure giving. When males reach the age of twelve, they undergo a cognitive test called Illegis to determine their placement within a caste system, one of which is Breeders. This small segment of the male population is the most revered. The Breeders reside in The Colony, a place where controlled reproduction and scientific advancements of Dominion occur.

Dani Matthews is an investigative reporter and the daughter of a high-ranking official. She is determined to uncover Dominion's sinister architecture. At the Ascension, a national celebration, Dani reunites with her childhood best friend and Breeder, Robbie. Together, they set out to find Haven, a place for escaped Breeders. After a painstaking journey, Dani and Robbie not only find love but make it to Haven only to endure the trials of The Becoming, where failure can be death.