A rollicking steampunk sea adventure in which a boy who suffers stage-fright is suddenly centre stage: the only one who can right an ancient wrong and save the kingdom. Dorrity is the only child in magic-free Owl Town. When she finds an enchanted book with dire predictions, she must face her enemies. And who is the strange boy who has appeared in the Beastly Dark? This stand-alone pre-teen adventure/fantasy novel is the third book in the “Tales of Fontania” series of novels, following The Travelling Restaurant and The Queen and the Nobody Boy. Filled with humour, action, adventure, and magic, this is a truly gripping read featuring a large and memorable cast of characters.