"Do you like magic, Athena?"

Twelve year old Athena Ambrose has waited her whole life for something extraordinary to happen to her. So when a spell from an ancient book whisks her off to a faraway land where the king's alchemist, Tanoak Drake offers to take her on as his apprentice, it's like a dream come true. But there's something strange about Tan and his mysterious companion, Mephisto – who knows more about Athena's world than he's willing to admit – something sinister. Trapped, with no away home, Athena is determined to uncover their secrets if it's the last thing she does...