This is a story of our lives. Just add a little magic and fairy dust to the mix, and there you have it. It's a story where ordinary people, not the high and mighty, must take the reins of their lives to steer the world towards something better, despite overwhelming odds.

This standalone novel is part of the Tickled Tales of Aurorium series, yet it requires no prior reading of the first book in the series, 'The Cosmic Librarian, ' to enjoy the ride.

We are tossed into the middle of a tale with intertwining paths of life. William, a young potato farmer's son; Penelope, a clock-smithing apprentice; Quizzik, a young inventor still seeking his first success; and an elderly wizard named Zorander and his cat, Rufus, all find themselves in quite a pickle. On their unlikely journey toward the upcoming Middlewinter, our unlikely heroes encounter prankster fairies, sentient timepieces, and a power-hungry president who is manipulating the new postal system in Gutterhaven-as you might have guessed-and, of course, a lost-and-found little god.

This book is perfect for those who savor whimsical wizardry, enchanted realms, and satirical takes on the reality we inhabit.

Penelope's mundane life, filled with routine morning shifts, takes a fantastical turn when she and her childhood friend Quizzik decide to take a shortcut. They soon stumble upon a caged fairy, guarded by a wizard so powerful he has forgotten more about magic than most will ever know-including the location of his own spellbook. And so, their lives change for good.

As winter draws near, bringing with it daunting deadlines, they plunge into a whirlpool of magical mishaps. The chill isn't just in the air-it threatens to freeze the very hands of time at Pendulum Promenade. Meanwhile, young William, endowed with the ability to see fairy-kind, confronts the peril of frost sleep, a threat all too real and imminent.

What time does the clock of fate mark for them all?

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Dive into the enchanting world of Barry Blitzworth, where every tick-tock is a beat in a symphony of spells, laughter, and mystery. This novel is more than just a fantasy tale-it's a journey into a world where every moment counts and the unexpected is just around the corner. A must-read for fans of Terry Pratchett and Discworld, much like his first book, 'The Cosmic Librarian.'