Most good stories start with a fundamental list of ingredients: the initial situation, conflict, complication, climax, suspense, denouement, and conclusion. Great writers sometimes shake up the recipe and add some spice.
Exposition
Homeward Bound
Cam returns from war after twelve years and expects to be greeted by his friends and family—but instead he's kind of on the outs, and no one trusts him. He's the only person to survive, and folks are throwing shade his way. So he feels left out and bored—really bored—and no one will let him do anything in case he loses it. Cam just sits around fielding questions about the war instead, though he never really wants to talk about it.
Though we wind up learning more about the war as the story progresses, the foundation—and focus—for our story is set: The Returning is interested in, well, the return from battle more than the bloody duels.
Rising Action
There's no "I" in Hero
Pretty quickly, Cam discovers that no one wants him around, and he's no hero. When Acton asks him how certain people died, he brushes it off. Why does it matter? He's so sick of talking and thinking about the war, that he has to get out of there—and that's exactly what he does. Cam heads out on a quest to figure out what happened to him during the war, and more importantly, why things happened to him. With tension at home surrounding his return, there's nothing keeping him, so Cam's off.
Climax
A Life for a Life
He's not sure what to expect when he gets to Upland, but Cam is surprised when he learns Gyaar's side of the story. It turns out the lord saved his life because he first spared Gyaar in battle. Even though this was a fluke (and Cam was just peeing his pants over being in battle in the first place), Cam and Gyaar become friends. Their bond is a huge turning point for them both—for Cam, it means he finally understands what happened to him, and for Gyaar, it's a way of not being brutal like his father.
Falling Action
Here Comes the Bride
Pass out the wedding cake, because Gyaar and Graceful are getting hitched. Even though not everyone's excited about the big day (we're looking at you, Graceful), the wedding is important in establishing peace in the region. Since the Ryuus rule the Uplanders, and Graceful's family are prominent Downlanders, the higher-ups decide to unite Gyaar and Graceful so there is no more war. We're delighted that no one else will die during a war, but we also can't help but notice that people are still reeling from the last battle.
Resolution
Big Momma's House
Years later, everything is still peaceful since Gyaar and Graceful headed down the aisle and later had a couple of rug rats. Pin works for them as a Clothes Folder, but Cam still doesn't want to face the music and come home. He tells his sis through a letter that he absolutely will visit—someday. He just can't yet. Pin's not sure how to feel. On the one hand, she's glad that Cam will visit again, but on the other hand, she's not sure if she believes he will ever come back. So as the book ends, we're left with peace in the land, but not a peaceful feeling for old Cam.