Monster hunting isn't for the faint of heart -- the first in a brand-new middle-grade series by NYT bestselling author, Kelley Armstrong.
Twelve-year-old Rowan is destined to be Queen; her twin brother, Rhydd, to be Royal Monster Hunter. Rowan would give anything to switch places, but the oldest child is always next in line, even if she is only older by two minutes. She resigns herself to admiring her monster hunting aunt's glorious sword and joining her queen mother for boring diplomatic teas. But tragedy shatters the longstanding rule, and Rowan finds herself hunting the most dangerous monster of all: a gryphon.
Accompanied by a feisty baby jackalope and a giant wolf that barely tolerates her, Rowan sets off on a journey that will see her join other unlikely allies: a boy with monster-hunting ambitions of his own, and a girl hiding dangerous motives. It will take all of Rowan's skills, both physical and diplomatic, to keep this adventure on track. The future of her kingdom depends on it.
I received this book for free from LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very entertaining and enjoyable middle-grade book by Canadian author, Kelley Armstrong. It is the first in a new fantasy series, told from the viewpoint of 12-year-old Princess Rowan, who is destined to be queen. Her twin brother, Rhydd, born minutes after her, is destined to become the Royal Monster Hunter. The reality is that she would make a better hunter, while he would be best as king. A tragedy forces their roles to be reversed, but all is not as straightforward as it may seem and Rowan has to set out on an adventure to begin the path towards proving her worth.
This is an exciting story, with lots of interesting characters, both human and non-human. There is plenty adventure, heart-stopping moments, and twists and turns in the plot. I recommend it as a quick, fun read and look forward to further stories in this series.
