Toby Forward

The great wizard Flaxfield's death leaves his twelve-year-old apprentice Sam half-trained, but when other wizards gather and debate his fate Sam, not knowing whom to trust, leaves with only his dragon, Starback, for company, unaware of the perils he must face.

Falsely accused of bullying, wizard apprentice Tamrin leaves Canterstock College for Wizards and sets out in search of Sam, the only person to whom she has ever felt a connection, but Sam, adrift since his master Flaxfield died, has been targeted by Flaxfield's old enemy, the powerful wizard Ash.

Jim, the quayside cat, having heard many tales of life at sea from Old Tregarn, persuades the former ship's cat to join him on a voyage of his own.

The wolf tells the story of Little Red Riding Hood from his point of view, protesting that he was merely trying to help Grandma, not eat her.