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When Connie Is Sent To Live With Her Aunt, She Knows It's Going To Be One More Place Where She Doesn't Fit In. But Soon She Realises How Wrong She Is. The Seaside Town Is Full Of Adults And Children Who Have Strange Links To Creatures. It's The Heart Of The Secret Society For The Protection Of Mythical Creatures, A Group Of People Sworn To Ensure That Mythical Beasts Are Kept Safe. Normally The Creatures And Their Chosen Humans Work In Harmony. But Something Abnormal Is Happening Here. The Sirens, Who For Generations Have Kept Their Deadly Song To Themselves, Are Once Again Luring Humans To Their Deaths. It Doesn't Take Long For Connie To Realise That The Victims Are Oil Workers. The Sirens Are Fed-up With Their Seas Being Polluted, But Should The Society Protect The Sirens Or The Oil Industry? Connie Doesn't Think She Has A Role To Play, Until It Becomes Clear That She's A Universal - The First Person In Over A Century Who Can Communicate With Every Type Of Beast On Earth And In The Air. Her Power Is Immense. It Corrupted The Previous Universal... And Now He's Back. And He'll Use Any Means He Can - From Violence To The Terrifying Storm Giants - To Turn Connie To The Dark Side.
Connie discovers her latent ability to communicate with mythical creatures just as a dangerous conflict between ancient beings and human industry threatens to escalate. Connie is sent to live with her aunt in a seaside town, expecting isolation, but instead finds herself at the center of a secret society dedicated to protecting mythical beasts. As a rare 'Universal' capable of speaking to all creatures, she becomes a target for a corrupt former member of the society who seeks to exploit her power. The narrative follows her integration into this hidden world while she navigates the moral dilemma of whether to protect the vengeful, pollution-fighting sirens or the human oil workers they target. The story unfolds through a third-person perspective that emphasizes the tension between human progress and the preservation of the natural, magical order.
Readers frequently highlight the imaginative premise of a secret society dedicated to the protection of mythical creatures as a strong hook for the series. Discussion often centers on the ethical questions posed by the sirens' actions, which force characters to weigh environmental concerns against human safety. Critics note that the pacing effectively balances the introduction of new magical lore with the immediate stakes of the central conflict. Many readers appreciate the protagonist's development as she learns to manage her unique abilities while facing significant external pressure. The series is often cited for its ability to blend contemporary issues with classic fantasy tropes in a way that remains accessible to younger audiences.
Page Count:
0
Publication Date:
2019-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press - Children
ISBN-10:
0192773356
ISBN-13:
9780192773357