To understand the true meaning of life, you must meet the prospect of death.
Valansi Stirling, now twenty-nine years old, has always been under the control of her domineering mother and persistent aunt, living within a family that suppresses her personal aspirations and sees her only as an old maid. Everything changes when she receives a notice from a doctor about an incurable illness—she has only a year to live.
Valansi decides to radically change her life, breaking free from family ties and defying public expectations. She begins to see the world differently, valuing every moment. Valansi leaves home, moves in with a person whom others consider suspicious, and takes care of his sick daughter. Soon she meets Barney Snewt, and her life changes even more.
Valansi finds her «Azure Castle»—the refuge she always kept in her mind—in reality. This is a story about discovering your true self, the courage to live fully, and love strong enough to change even the darkest destinies.