The worst first day ever!

When Alia and her younger brother, Xander, are chosen to serve the powerful witch, Bagby, they know their lives are in danger. Bagby eats children! The whole village talks about it. How are they going to survive a seven-year apprenticeship?

However, when the two children are given a dangerous mission on their first day, they don’t think they’ll survive the night. Forget the seven years!

As they travel to the Eastern Sun Temple, Alia and Xander realize that things are not what they seem. They encounter flowers that not only move but attack, sinister dragons, a river spirit who drowns her victims before she feasts, malicious tree creatures that for some reason wear pants, and doorways that are only unveiled by magic.

During the longest day of their lives - that hopefully won’t be their last! - Alia and Xander find out that they are capable of far more than previously thought. And so are the people in their tribe.

More importantly, the two children begin to understand why the gruesome witch, Bagby, became a villain to become a hero.