In this hilarious fantasy adventure from the New York Times bestselling author of the Story Thieves series, a girl strikes a deal with the ancient, cranky dragon she accidentally summoned to teach her the forbidden magic she needs to save her mother.

STOP. Don't read any further. There are magic spells in this book, and the Emperor has forbidden anyone from learning magic, because it's way too dangerous! If you try one of the spells, any number of terrible things might happen (or so the Emperor says).

Don't be like Ciara, a twelve-year-old girl living in the tiny village of Skael. When she used a spell from within this book, she ended up summoning a dragon. A DRAGON! Those things breathe fire! From their mouths! She's obviously doomed.

And don't listen if Ciara tells you that dragons won't hurt humans, and that they even once taught us magic, a thousand years ago. Definitely don't pay any attention to the fact that the dragon she summoned, Scorch, might be willing to help rescue Ciara's mother and free her village from the Emperor and his Warden, because it's all obviously a big lie. So put this book down, and forget about it. Magic is just way too dangerous. After all, you wouldn't want to summon your own dragon, would you?