Derry, a slave and poison taster, works for a pirate named Cram while hiding his ability to read. His life changes when a mysterious runaway girl gives him an encrypted notebook containing secrets of an ancient race of El. This is the beginning of an epic trilogy in a world torn apart by a meteorite, where the boy must uncover his past and change the future. A new fantasy trilogy from the famous Emily Rodda! The El exist among all layers of society, unnoticed except by storytellers. Their first law is: don’t reveal their true nature to mortals. Derry, who lost his memory because of the horrors of his past, serves on Cram’s pirate island, even remaining an outcast among his peers. He is Cram’s trusted man, and his ability to read must remain a secret. Everything changes with the arrival of a mysterious runaway who leaves him a notebook with secrets of the immortal El—becoming the key to his destiny. In a world torn apart by a giant meteorite, where science and magic collide, a great story about finding oneself and fighting powerful forces begins.