Fourteen year old Annalise Wilkins has recently moved to Traverse City with her parents; and while she tries to put on a brave front, the move leaves her feeling anxious. Dreading her first day at her new school, she considers herself lucky to gain four new friends. As their friendship grows, they begin to learn more about each other; like the fact that they are all adopted. Soon after that, they begin to notice even stranger things occurring around them. There's an encounter in the schoolyard with a shadowy figure, time seems to come to a complete stop, and then there is their ever-growing sense of being watched. Each of the girls soon find that they have the ability to control various aspects of the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water...while Annalise learns that she has the capability of manipulating a force much more powerful and frightening. Just as they are at a place of self-discovery, a mysterious woman introduces herself to them. They learn that she is a sorceress who has come to them from a distant place; drawn to them by the use of their powers. She offers to teach them how to utilize their gifts in exchange for a favor; that they aid her in opening a mystical book. Unbeknownst to the five girls, their new friend is actually the evil witch Morgan le Fay, and the book she wants them to open will give her the combined knowledge of all the great wizards, including her nemesis, Merlin. With the aid of the enigmatic Ian Rimmel, a stranger with powers and secrets of his own, Annalise learns of the woman's deception and unwittingly places her friends' lives in danger. Undaunted, she realizes that she has to stop Morgan and save her friends; but will she be able to come to their aid before Morgan can open the book?