"Thomas Ward faces his ultimate test as he and his master prepare to deal with the Fiend once and for all"--

Scholastica, or Tick, has grown up helping her father make candles in his shop. The experience has its ups and downs--while constantly smelling like tallow makes it hard for Tick to keep friends, stray cats love her. Still, she delights in the work and the fact that she can help Papa. Because she's a girl, Tick can never be a true apprentice in the trade, but since she gets to do the job anyway, what does it matter what she's called?...Then one morning...

In 1896, an archaeological dig unearths an ancient trunk containing manuscripts that confirm the existence of Araluen Rangers Will and Halt and tell of their first meeting and some of their previously unknown exploits.

Abeni, a reluctant magical apprentice, and a team of spirit kids set out to save their village from the evil Witch Priest who captured and marched off everyone toward ghost ships bound for distant lands. On the day of the Harvest Festival, the old woman who lives in the forest appears in Abeni's village with a terrible message: You ignored my warnings. It's too late to run. They are coming. Warriors with burning blades storm the village. A man with...

"A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery: humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now Scythes are the only ones who can end life-and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control. Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe-a role that neither wants. These teens must master the 'art' of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing...