You probably could read this as a standalone, but the first book has a lot of world building that grounds this story.
A young man, the alpha heir, is kidnapped, imprisoned, and tortured for years before a strange circumstance brings him into the light.
Part of the story revolves around the torture the young man endures. The mention of torture kinda squicks me out; it’s hard to read about/listen to. Victoria Sue uses a light hand in her descriptions.
Narrator Joel Leslie is one of my favorite voice actors. He makes theong commute to work not only bearable, but enjoyable.