Theory has a monstrous secret. He isn’t an ordinary search-and-recovery guide at Fiendworld, the world’s premier magical-sinkhole-turned-amusement-park. His employers have no clue they hired a cursed, human-eating cave monster. But not to worry, Theory is an ethical fiend, and he’s got an excellent strategy for dealing with his particular diet. Whenever he’s asked to retrieve the corpse of a lost adventurer, he simply snacks on a finger or two. No harm, no foul.

That is, until he’s given his latest assignment: retrieving the body of Nim Landrie, the direct descendant of the wizard who cursed Theory a hundred years ago. To make matters worse, when Theory finds him, Nim is alive. Theory has no choice but to lead Nim, and his frustratingly long, shiny hair, back to the surface—and fast, because without meat to eat, Theory’s losing control of his human glamour.

But Nim is in no rush to be rescued. He came to the sinkhole on his own mission, and refuses to leave until he succeeds. He may be a subpar wizard, as his parents constantly remind him, but he has a positive attitude, an enchanted backpack, and now a mysterious rescue worker on his side. Things are looking up! Except said rescue worker is quite rude, and might be intentionally endangering his life.

As Theory and Nim venture deeper into the sinkhole, they realize they may just be what the other’s been missing. But if they want a true chance at happiness, they’ll have to dodge fiends, uncover a conspiracy, and learn how to break free from the weight of other’s expectations—together.

Publication

US: Macmillan (Wednesday Books)