Alec Fleet is a seemingly unremarkable 17-year-old living in a remote, small town where few things of any interest ever happen. But Alec is hiding something very remarkable about himself, terrified of what it could mean should the secret ever be discovered. In his little school, he has few friends, and little hope of that changing, but when the universally liked Luc Elder suddenly moves to town with his twin sister, Lisbeth, Alec finds an unlikely friend of mysterious origin, and of equally remarkable ability.
But when Luc suddenly disappears, Alec is unable to return to his old life of dreariness. In his search for answers, Alec finds himself drawn into a world of magic and beasts, beauty, and terror, where contenders vie for power at any cost. Alec, Luc, and Lisbeth, with the help of newfound friends, must escape the peril of this strange land, seeking the help of the long vanished leader of the extinct Order of the Magi.