Maryt� is a devoted beekeeper. She lives by the old rules: bees choose their masters; bees don't sting good people; work in partnership with fellow beekeepers (the bi?iulyst�); be a good Christian and a good harvest will follow. These rules help her cope with her grief when she inherits her husband's hollows. But when harsh conditions, tax increases, betrayal and mistrust in the community mount up, Maryt� questions her faith, her bi?iulyst� and her own sanity. Her eldest daughter, Austeja, is no worker bee. She seeks refuge in the ancient forest, where she finds a special connection to the natural elements and the old beliefs that have been instilled in her since birth by her defiant grandmother. Austeja takes risks and speaks her mind, and has dreamt of escaping the confines of the bi?iulyst�. But, when she discovers the mutilated body of the Hollow Watcher and uncovers a honeycomb of lies and betrayal, implicating her own father, she is intent on finding the truth and protecting her family. Will mother and daughter overcome their differences, learn the truth behind the murder, unveil lies by their bi?iulyst� and complete the honey harvest?