Dejah Thoris has proclaimed her love for John Carter, but the despicable Warlord of Zodanga has forced her to promise she will marry the Zondangan prince. A Martian woman may not back out of such a pledge, and she may not marry her husband-to-be's killer. John Carter will need an army to change things now. If he can help Tars Tarkas seize control of the Tharks, he might have just that -- but Zodanga's not going down without a fight!