“Beyond the Dark Forest, on the far side of the Great, Blue Lake lived one lone (and lonely) Speckled Fringle…” And so begins the tale of Fisbert Fringle, who leaves his mother’s cozy home to seek companionship in the great, wide world. When he stumbles into the cave of Clarissa Pinchpippin-Gobsmack, he falls immediately and hopelessly in love but thinks twice when Clarissa enlists him to go to war against the Terrible Ters!

Clarissa and Fisbert climb aboard her dragon-companion, Crim, and soar to the kingdom of the Elvensrites and home of Clarissa’s adoptive father, Lord Evelyn, who informs them that the Sacred Phoenix has been kidnapped! If she is not returned to her rightful home prior to her self-immolation at the Winter Solstice, the world will be plunged into eternal darkness and cold.

So, Fisbert and Clarissa set off to rescue the Phoenix–guided by Anastasia, the Unicorn–accumulating companions and facing terrifying challenges as they go. When they include Malcolm, the British Bard Owl with a broken wing and fondness for Thistlerip brandy, and then add Arthur, the Unicorn to the group, their family is complete.

As a young Fringle, Fisbert’s greatest challenge had been trying to swing into the Great Blue Lake from a hanging vine only to wind up upside-down, suspended by one of his feathered feet. But now, in his effort to recover the Phoenix, he finds himself doing battle against a pride of lions, the terrifying Sand Giants, the Fearsome Fronds, and finally, the Terrible Ters, themselves! When Clarissa and Malcolm are struck down in battle, Fisbert falls–both literally and figuratively–into a pit, and believes that all is lost….

Is it possible that one small and plumpish Fringle has a hero dwelling within himself, waiting to emerge? Can one tiny, imperfect individual defeat an entire army of powerful Ters, led by the evil Lord Slythmore? To his great surprise, through adventures and ordeals, Fisbert evolves from a being of self-serving vanity to one of courage and heart.