The children of Britain's ambassador to Burkina Faso, fifteen-year-old Jake, who loves technology and adventure, and thirteen-year-old Kas, a budding social activist, are abducted and spend time in the Sahara desert with Yakuuba Sor, who some call a terrorist but others consider a modern-day Robin Hood.

Kadija is the music-loving daughter of a guardian of the library in the ancient city of Timbuktu, Ali is a former shepherd boy, trained by Islamist militants--and both are caught up in the war in Mali and on opposite sides of the stuggle to save the sacred Sufi manuscripts that the militants want to destroy.

Join our beloved heroine as she visits her Great Aunt Astrid in Tofoten. Hilda is surprised to discover that it's a fairy village...her mother had never mentioned that. Hilda becomes troubled by a crackly radio presenter, ominous dreams and soon finds herself in peril. Fantastic creatures and daring adventures are all just part of another average day for Hilda...but will her questions be answered?

Hilda encounters her very first troll, negotiates with some very persnickety elves, and seeks to discover the mystery behind the giant who only appears at midnight as she faces the prospect of leaving her beloved wilderness home with her mom for Trolberg City.