Keith Doyle, believer in myths, goodhearted nerd, general busybody, and business major at Midwestern University, discovers to his joy—and horror—that a secret village of pointy-eared, magical little elves are occupying a vacant level of the library building. Their leader, The Master, tutors students to pass difficult courses. Marcy, the girl of Keith’s dreams, is already a member of the class. But the library is in danger of being torn down, thanks to a modernization campaign led by Keith himself. The students of the secret class hate him. Marcy is devastated. It looks as though the elves’ home will be destroyed. Keith and the Little Folk need one another. The only thing that can save Keith’s social life is elven magic. And the only thing that can save the elves is the magic of … free enterprise.

Keith Doyle, business major at Midwestern University, with an unofficial minor in mystical studies and magic overseen by his Little Folk friends, flies off to spend the summer on an educational tour of archaeological sites of the British Isles and Ireland with his best friend, Holl. They hope to locate signs of Holl’s long-lost relations as well as to help fulfill a traditional rite that will permit Holl to marry his beloved Maura. Keith’s reckless exploits attract the attention of not only magical folk who are far less friendly than the Little Folk back home, but human smugglers. The Master and Keith’s girlfriend Diane are forced to come to their aid. Can Keith keep from losing his college credits and Holl his one chance at happiness?

While seeking sprites in a hot air balloon, Keith Doyle gets word that Holl's baby daughter and the young faery Dola have been kidnapped, and he sets off to track down the abductors.

In Applied Mythology we learned how Keith Doyle met and befriended the Little People living in the sub-basement of his college's library. If you have been following Keith's adventures, then you know he has always wanted to learn what other types of creatues share this world we live on. In Advanced Mythology, by Jody Lynn Nye, he will get his chance to do so, if he can make it through a few small Diane's hints about making their relationship more permanent, something that is bothering the Little People and their refusal to discuss it with him, and the choice to continue his education or drop out and take the job of his dreams.