Alex is an apprentice librarian in a kingdom that keeps all the books locked up but doesn't know if it's to keep the books safe from readers or... to keep readers safe from the books! When the royal librarian suspiciously dies, Alex impersonates the old man so the young queen won't know who he really is. She gives the scruffy, obnoxious boy enough time to prove himself-- and enough time for them to learn that the books are more than just powerful, they're alive! Some of the books possess an ancient magic that keeps trying to kill him. They must figure out who, or what, is controlling the books and their power... for the fate of the kingdom rests in their hands.