On the ice planet of Nevya, people rely on Cantors and Cantrixes, men and women with the ability to channel psi energy through music, creating heat and light. Mreen is possibly the most talented Cantrix on Nevya—but she is unable to make a sound. She is accompanied to her first posting by a younger Singer, Emle, who must come to terms with her own flawed Gift. When the two young women find out about Gwin, a young girl whose abusive stepfather wants to exploit her psi-Gift talents, they find that in reaching out to her, they can also help themselves.