It's been 140 years since the Wolf swallowed the Sun, so why are all the cats in the dark, fog-shrouded town of Starspill bothering Zac about it now? He just wants to stay warm, listen to stories, and work hard for his brother as an apprentice starsmith. But the cats have other ideas. They want Zac to steal one of the three legendary Embers of the Sun from the town museum for them, and they've taken his precious secret map to make sure he'll agree! Together with best friend Alys, mysterious bookseller Aurelian and precocious black kitten Jinx, Zac sets out on an adventure none of them will ever forget. But what will be waiting for them at the far end of the journey – could it be the Wolf himself?