Before his death, the old mentor Ezylryb ordered Soren and Corin to read the legends of Ga'Hoole, kept in his secret library. Having found an ancient book, the young owls plunged into a terrible story about betrayal, cruelty and powerful magic of the past. While the young king and queen of the Northern Kingdoms tried their best to maintain peace in their lands, their faithful friend and assistant Grank went to distant lands to study mysterious forces of fire. Having received a desperate call from friends for help, he abandoned his studies and hurried to the aid of the king and queen, whose terrible fate was revealed to him in the glow of the mysterious and powerful coal of Hoole. (back cover) The Night Guardians series is a real gift to all lovers of fairy-tale fantasy - a world of noble and brave animals, where terrible secrets and exciting adventures reign. In the secret library of their mentor, Ezylriba, Korin and Soren find an ancient manuscript - Legends of Ga'Hoole, which tells the story of the great Coal of Hoole and the hagsmars - powerful and evil wizards of the past. This story is told on behalf of Grank, assistant and friend of the king and queen of the Northern Kingdoms, the first coal miner who discovered Hoole coal in the mysterious land of Far, Far Away - the land of saber-toothed wolves and sparkling peaks.