Twelve Dead Princesses is a dark retelling of the classic fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Shortly before Larka, soon-to-be-queen of Belmarros, comes of age, she and her eleven sisters fall ill. On the brink of death, they are saved by Sol, a tattooed stranger with powerful magic, and find themselves owing him a debt. Sol, however, is more than meets the eye, and he wants the princesses to dance for him at night in his otherworldy kingdom. As they dance, Larka finds it increasingly difficult to balance their secret visits, her responsibilities as future queen, and her growing attraction to Sol.