Twenty years since the great dying. V-1 no longer threatens humanity. Some threats are worse. Thanks to James, Anna, and the people of North Park, a stable, thriving community has arisen from the ashes. The stable part is the problem. In the two decades since the great dying, only one male baby has survived for more than a few days. Across the desert that was once the Great Plains, another Blue River community faces the same problem - no baby boys. Just girls. Charlene is one of those girls. Born after V-1, with the mantle of leadership thrust upon her, solving the lack of men may not be her greatest challenge. To the south and the east, the New Army of God is on the move.