The children of Blandings Orphanage rarely grow up. Neglected and abused, most die before they ever reach adulthood.Dreading a similar fate, Winnie Blue is a girl looking for a way out. When a charismatic sorcerer known as The Magician visits her macabre town, Winnie wastes no time in requesting to be his apprentice. Touched by her sincerity and her eagerness to learn magic, The Magician gifts Winnie his spell book with thepromise that if she learns to read it, he will take her on as his protege.But years later, Winnie, now thirteen-years-old, remains illiterate and is cast out of the orphanage. Forced to live in her employer's tailor shop, Winnie is worked to the bone. Her dream of learning magic are practically forgotten. But when the shop is attacked by nightmarish creatures and The Magician inadvertently saves her life, Winnie finds herself pulled into the adventure of a lifetime. With The Magician placed under a powerful and deadly curse, it's up to Winnie to rely on her bravery and resourcefulness to break the curse and save The Magician's life and magic before it disappears forever