A young boy named Christopher Forrester discovers a secret passage to the Archipelago, a hidden cluster of islands where the mythical creatures of legend - from griffins to sphinxes - still thrive. There, he joins forces with Mal, a fierce girl with a magical flying coat, to investigate why the "glimourie," the ancient magic sustaining these creatures, is suddenly fading. As they race across the islands to stop a rising evil and prevent the extinction of magic, the two children must confront a ruthless murderer and make a profound selfless sacrifice to save both the Archipelago and the human world.
