Uastis is one of the Lost Ones, a powerful race that enslaved humans years before. But the curse of humanity came home, dissolving their fast-healing flesh off the bone until they were all dead. Except for Uastis, who grew from childhood to adulthood sleeping under a volcano.

After emerging, her memories of her earlier life are vague and she knows only that she must search for her soul-kin, the jade. Until then, she cannot claim the power of the Lost Ones, nor will she be able to heal herself, and she is cursed by extreme hideousness.

Over the course of the story, she is disempowered and dragged along by a series of men. Darrak, the bandit, who is her first lover and who she fears and loves. He sees her face without a mask and does not recoil, so she is bound to him even through his most bizarre adventures.

In the town of Ankurum Darrak agrees to drive a chariot in a dangerous course. Uastis is his archer, standing in the chariot beside him. The race is one of the most interesting and amazing fighting sequences I have ever read, not least because of Lee's ability to bring alive the situation to someone with absolutely no knowledge of racing. During the victory dinner, they are arrested as bandits. Asutoo, the young warrior who loves her and betrayed Darrak to his death, she kills without remorse.

Soon afterward, she encounters Vazkor. He claims he is her brother, another of the Lost Ones, who needs her to help him control the barbarian city states he wants to rule. He needs her because for years they have worshipped a Goddess, waiting for her to appear, but never have they worshipped a God. To seal his dominion over her and the cities, he impregnates her, while she wishes violently to be rid of the child.

The only rebellion she has is her refusal to be left behind during the campaign. When he forces her to stay in one of the captured cities, she is called on the bring rain. Discovering her own power, she causes a storm that scatters and destroys Vazkor's army.

After Vazkor's defeat and eventual death at her hands, she is taken by a wandering tribe. Her powers, which she had learned more control over while a Goddess, desert her. She bears her child the same night as the Chief's wife, Tathra. Tathra's child dies, and Uastis takes it and runs away, leaving her own in its place.

She soon encounters another tribe, more peaceful, who are travelling to the sea. She accompanies them and goes on to a ruined city. Several of the tribe have followed her, and they all narrowly miss dying when attacked by a giant lizard. A great light shines down and kills it.

The next day, she finds a silver ship in the forest, and the people there take her in. They explain that the ship travels between the stars, with them inside. The captain tries to convince her that she must regain her memories, with the help of the ship. He tells her that if she will try, she will learn the location of the jade.

The ship enables her to enter her memories and she finds that the jade is under the skin of her forehead, with her since the beginning. She is not cursed with hideousness, all who see her cringe at her terrible beauty.

When the ship leaves she must learn to make her own way, and find her own life, now that she knows her true name.