Vor, the second daughter in her family, was educated well, but has longed to participate in being chosen by the Goddess of the Moon to receive a charge that will help fulfill an ancient prophecy.

The first-born daughter in the MacAoidh family bloodline will contribute by helping to provide more opportunities for women to learn to read. Vor’s elder sister, Aila, bears the spiral birthmark that indicates she was “chosen” by the Goddess to participate, however, Aila wants nothing to do with a pagan prophecy.

The two sisters are accidentally overheard regarding a conversation about their father’s horse breeding business. There has been a recent increase in foot traffic in and around the sea caves that are attached to her father’s property, and slave trade activity is suspected. Her father is arrested and held for questioning, and his assets are frozen – at the same time when her parents are planning her sister’s wedding to Frenchman, Armand LaVelle.

As Vor watches debt collectors come and go, and is miserable at the idea of selling any of the horses in their stable, she receives an invitation to participate in a winner-take-all horse race in Paris. An unexpected vision of dying by water makes Vor reluctant to sail to France. However, with a prize purse that can save her father’s business, as well as restore her to his good graces, Vor can’t say no.

The King’s Race will feature two highly skilled female riders, Vor and the irreverent French favorite, Vivi Le Clerc. Along the way, she becomes friends with the exasperating Vivi, and her exercise groom, Luc. But someone is trying to poison Vivi. Vor begins to suspect Vivi’s guardian, Gabriel, is trying to get rid of Vivi and replace her because Vivi knows too much about Gabriel's illegal business dealings. Vor must figure out what all the clues lead up to … before it’s too late.