Charmain Baker is in over her head. Looking after Great Uncle William's tiny cottage should have been easy, but he is the Royal Wizard Norland whose house bends space and time. Its single door leads to any number of places: the bedrooms, the kitchen, the eaves under the mountains - even the past!

In no time at all, Charmain becomes involved with a magical stray dog, a muddled apprentice wizard and a box of the King's most treasured documents, as well as irritating a clan of small blue creatures.

Caught up in an intense royal search, she meets a sorceress named Sophie. Can Wizard Howl and Calcifer be far behind?