The discovery of an explorer's journal from long ago reveals an epic adventure of magic and danger in this middle grade fantasy series debut. Archaeologists have recently discovered fragments from a journal kept by one Ven Polypheme. They tell of his remarkable travels through the known and unknown world. Ven's original journals are reproduced in this book. Great care has been taken to reconstruct the parts that did not survive . . . Charles Magnus Ven Polypheme—known as Ven—is the youngest son of a long line of famous shipwrights. He dreams not of building ships, but of sailing them to far-off lands where magic thrives. Ven gets his chance when he is chosen to direct the Inspection of his family's latest ship—and sets sail on the journey of a lifetime. After surviving an attack by fire pirates, Ven is rescued by a passing ship on its way to the Island of Serendair. But these seemingly chance events may be part of someone's grand design. Shadowy figures are hunting for the famed Floating Island, the only source of the mystical Water of Life. They think Ven can lead them to this treasure. And they will stop at nothing to get it—even murder.