Young Jac works in the circus, where his mother, Madam Zora, is the fortuneteller, and his best friend, Daniel, works on the highwire. Jac is the puppetmaster - he carves his own wooden puppets and fills in when anyone in the circus needs a break. But lately Jac's life has become rather complicated - the last puppet he made came to life and he's been levitating in his sleep. When not one but two mysterious strangers start following him, and some very aggressive trolls try to kidnap him, Jac gets a bit worried. But when he learns he's really a mage and his very first act of magic leaves a gaping black hole that threatens to swallow the Dwarf King's capital, Jac's troubles really get serious. In another sparkling fantasy in the tradition of the Dragon's Apprentice, Linda McNabb skilfully weaves a fantastic tale of mystery, magic and high adventure. Ages 9-12