CHLOE MADDOX, eleven years old, has learned to keep her head down in the Loving Care Group Home, a bleak New York institution – which, despite its name, lacks love and care. Orphaned and stuck in this dreary place, she’s gotten good at blending in. But when her hiccups suddenly start releasing smoke, she realizes she might be a little more special than she thought.

A peek at her file reveals a mysterious blacked-out family history, with one odd line suggesting she might not be entirely human. Chloe dismisses it as pure nonsence – until the next day, when VERA INGRAM, a recruiter for Farborgen School for Gifted Children, shows up to drop a bombshell: Chloe’s father was a dragon. Dragons are nearly extinct, and Chloe is the only half-dragon in the world. Worse, an organization is hunting her to exploit her dragon abilities.

Vera offers Chloe an escape: come to Farborgen, where she’ll be safe and learn to control her powers. Chloe, eager to leave the cold, uncaring group home behind, agrees.

At Farborgen, Chloe discovers a world she never could’ve imagined. Hidden inside a run-down sock factory is a magical forest, with treehouse classrooms and students who look human, but definitely aren’t. Chloe meets her roommates: an ogre girl, an under-the-bed monster; RYAN, a mischievous imp spinning tales,and JAYLA, a fae obsessed with technology. It’s strange, but Chloe can’t help feeling at home.

However, things aren’t perfect. Chloe learns that she needs to master her dragon abilities before she loses control and accidentally burns down the school. Worse, if her dragon side is exposed, the people hunting her will come after her – and everyone she cares about.

Chloe uncovers a deeper mystery when she finds a dragon caged in a secret lab at the rival Nithercott Business School. Turns out, Nithercott is run by the same organization that’s after Chloe, and they’ve been capturing magical creatures for years. And the dragon in the cage? Chloe’s half-brother.

With the help of her friends – Jayla, who’s an expert hacker, and Ryan, who claims to be a dragon but isn’t – Chloe hatches a plan to rescue him. But things go awry quickly, and Chloe soon finds herself in deadly danger.

Ultimately, Chloe must face her fears, embrace her dragon powers, save her half-brother and find her true self.