2040s, Minneapolis: Carol Marsh struggles as her world falls apart-AIs take over her teaching job, a racist government deports her best friends, and climate catastrophe threatens the planet. When an artificial intelligence tries to save both Earth and humanity, Carol reluctantly backs its efforts, unaware of the choice she'll ultimately have to make.

The far future, a place known only as the Land: Sila lives a life blessed by the Goddess Ada, Mother of the Five Peoples. As the first female hunter in her tribe's memory, she has her pick of mates and hopes to one day become Chief of the Hunt. If only Jun, her best friend, would stop questioning the Goddess's rules! When Sila comes to share Jun's doubts, they set out to find the answers Ada has kept hidden: Who were the Ancient Ones, and what happened to their incredible civilization?