The Dark City is the first book in the Guardians of Elestra series. After seeing their grandfather sucked into a ball of light that disappears into an old lantern in their back yard, twins Derek and Deanna Hughes travel to the bizarre magical world of Elestra where they discover a shocking family secret. They find themselves in a race against the dark wizard Eldrack to find the magical moonstones that can grant a wizard new powers. They are helped along the way by the ancient wizard and fry cook Iszarre, whose wooden spoon wand is as powerful in the kitchen as it is on the magical...

Derek and Deanna Hughes embark on their second adventure in the magical world of Elestra in search of another moonstone. This time, they have to go to the Baroka Valley where everything is huge, from the grains of sand to the wild chickens. With their friend Tobungus, the mushroom man, at their side, they face Green Thumb, a forest elf with a pair of magical thumbs, the Gong Beaters of the Floddan Lowlands, and the dark wizard Eldrack. The buzzing they hear is not just their heads ringing from the awful gong music, it's the sound of eagle-sized bees swarming around them in a magical orchard....

On their third adventure in Elestra, Derek and Deanna venture outside of Magia for the first time. Derek starts the day by reading a prophecy in the flickering light of a candle after he visits the ancient Gula Badu in a basement deep beneath the Library. Then, after a slow, bumpy ride on drectaws, they find the Desert Realm to be hot and filled with Eldrack's minions. This time, the dark wizard sends tentacled sand beasts and giant knifebirds to try to stop the twins. Their new friend Zorell joins them on the trip, much to Tobungus' dismay. It's a good thing he does, because his dancing...