When Ascott Pudding's parents died, he ran to the ends of the earth – or to the tropical Aardvark Archipelago, which is essentially the same thing. But distance is relative and now a retired god has turned up with more bad news: Ascott's sister, Charlotte, is probably dying too.

Charlotte isn't the only endangered Pudding. Before Ascott can go home and save his sister from uncertain death, he'll have to escape a homicidal octopus, a migrating whale pod, and several varieties of pirate – not to mention the great secret of the Aardvark Archipelago.

It's bigger than fish . . .