Alice is just a normal kid who's grown up in care. It's not her fault fires keep starting around her but she always gets the blame for them.

Enter Lighthorne Herb - a mysterious man masquerading as her social worker - who informs her of her Ethereal heritage. Herb whisks her away to the magical island of Hy Brasil in order that she can learn to control her own powers. She befriends wood sprites, goblins, elves and genies but discovers that even on the island she is not safe - especially as an ex Greek god is out to kill her.