 Like the title suggests, Children of Anguish and Anarchy begins at a low point for main character Xaeli, who's already experienced a lot of lows. As a child, she had to watch as her mother was killed in front of her for possessing magic. Then, years later, Xaeli had to risk her own life to bring magic back to her people. And this sets off a brutal fight against the monarchy for control over the kingdom.