On the day of her mother's funeral, Megan Donnelly finds a mysterious package on her dresser wrapped in faded brown paper and twine. She has no idea where it came from or how it got there. Somehow, despite her grief, the bundle of faded brown paper and twine has a strange power over her, as if she were spellbound. Inside the package, Megan finds an old leather-bound journal. Curious, Megan begins to read the story about a strange girl named Delphi Altair. Delphi, who lives with her foster parents in an old Sea Captain's manor, discovers she is being pursued by dangerous alien creatures who are trying to kidnap her or worse. Donovan, a new student at her school, befriends Delphi and together with Nikkos, an alien Watcher sent to protect Delphi, embark on a treacherous journey into the unknown. Megan, fascinated by the journal, comes to realize Delphi's mysterious quest is more than a story, it is terrifyingly real and Megan is somehow involved. Megan's life is about to change in ways she could never have imagined. ***This exceptional epic fantasy...beautifully evocative...weaves together....characters and storylines...the way Dickens and Tolkien are so deftly able to do. - Kirstin Lenane, author of, "The Scare: A Halloween Story" ***This mysterious and thrilling.....epic fantasy adventure will whisk you away by land, by sea, and to a far away realm...evocative of Tolkien's, Lord of the Rings and Paolini's, Eragon. -Kathy Lauren Miller, author of, "The Starling" ***K.D. Dowdall deftly weaves science fiction and fantasy...where creatures and characters abound ....in lush and vivid settings....reminiscent of The Neverending Story and The Princess Bride. -M.L. LeGette, author of, "The Orphan and the Thief"