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scoobygirl93's review against another edition
4.0
Witcher vibes, but middle grade and, so far, scientific rather than magical.
darker skinned main character
loving all the animal companions!
more realistic about what twelve year olds can do, and perceptions of them
wish it had a map
darker skinned main character
loving all the animal companions!
more realistic about what twelve year olds can do, and perceptions of them
wish it had a map
penguin_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
Entertaining, good for kids who like fantastic beasts. Maybe good for kids who like the Hunter books
booksandpops4000's review against another edition
5.0
* I got this book for review from the publisher*
I thought this book was so refreshing and I love it. I thought this book was prefect. I loved how this book tackled some of my favorite story elements including twins, creatures, adventure and fun! I really had a had time putting this book down. I grew to love rowan so much. I also adored all the characters we met. I thought the pacing of this book was so solid and one that I loved. I just adored this read and will be waiting for book 2!
I thought this book was so refreshing and I love it. I thought this book was prefect. I loved how this book tackled some of my favorite story elements including twins, creatures, adventure and fun! I really had a had time putting this book down. I grew to love rowan so much. I also adored all the characters we met. I thought the pacing of this book was so solid and one that I loved. I just adored this read and will be waiting for book 2!
sandra_foriers's review against another edition
4.0
A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying follows twelve-year-old Rowan. She is next in line to be Queen, while her twin brother, Rhydd, is set to be Royal Monster Hunter. Rowan would give anything to switch places, but the rule is, the oldest child is next in line, even if she is only older by two minutes. But when a tragic event breaks up longstanding rules, Rowan finds herself in hunt of a dangerous gryphon. It will take all of Rowan's skills, both physical and diplomatic, to keep this journey on track. The future of the kingdom depends on it.
This premise had me hooked from the start and boy did the author deliver! We are treated with a very colourful and diverse cast of characters lead by our strong-willed, princess turned monster hunter Rowan.
I definitely liked the characters and the friendships the most in this book. Rowan is a great protagonist. She is intelligent and resourceful, but at the same time she is flawed and makes her own mistakes. But she also learns from them. I absolutely loved how this book handled important topics like the importance of acceptance and kindness and how you should always persevere and fight for what you believe in. Even though the title of the book suggests otherwise, Rowan also teaches us important lessons about kindness towards animals, without it being shoved down our throat heavy-handedly.
Instead, the author decided to bring across her message with a fast-paced, action-packed adventure story filled with great friendships and unique mythical creatures. Most of which are also beautifully illustrated in the book.
These mythical creatures absolutely stole the show by the way. All of them are so unique and so well done, it almost made me sad they don't exist in the real world. Whether it was the feisty yet loveable jackalope Jacko or the slightly cynical warg Malic, I was absolutely here for it!
I had so much fun reading this and cannot wait to pick up the sequel!
This premise had me hooked from the start and boy did the author deliver! We are treated with a very colourful and diverse cast of characters lead by our strong-willed, princess turned monster hunter Rowan.
I definitely liked the characters and the friendships the most in this book. Rowan is a great protagonist. She is intelligent and resourceful, but at the same time she is flawed and makes her own mistakes. But she also learns from them. I absolutely loved how this book handled important topics like the importance of acceptance and kindness and how you should always persevere and fight for what you believe in. Even though the title of the book suggests otherwise, Rowan also teaches us important lessons about kindness towards animals, without it being shoved down our throat heavy-handedly.
Instead, the author decided to bring across her message with a fast-paced, action-packed adventure story filled with great friendships and unique mythical creatures. Most of which are also beautifully illustrated in the book.
These mythical creatures absolutely stole the show by the way. All of them are so unique and so well done, it almost made me sad they don't exist in the real world. Whether it was the feisty yet loveable jackalope Jacko or the slightly cynical warg Malic, I was absolutely here for it!
I had so much fun reading this and cannot wait to pick up the sequel!
esseastri's review against another edition
4.0
I love fantasy adventure middle grade books. I’ve read enough of them, though, that sometimes they start seeming a little similar to me. There’s only so many kingdoms that need saving from various monsters. I was expecting more of the same when I saw the title A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying, but Kelley Armstrong surprised me with a breath of fresh air that had me grinning and engaged for all 288 pages!
Princess Rowan doesn’t want to be queen–she wants to be the royal monster hunter. But true to the rule, “be careful what you wish for,” her wish doesn’t come to her without a tragedy. Sent on a training mission, Rowan meets creatures of all kinds–human and monster alike–and has to overcome everything from politics to a gryphon in order to achieve her dream. But she takes up the sword and fights for her new title tooth and nail…even if it means facing her greatest fear.
Kids who went into the Fantastic Beast movies looking for magical creatures of all shapes and sizes and an adventure to discover them, and instead a found dark, ominous plot about oppression will want to give this book a try. There is a great plot–an absolutely wonderful plot about a girl growing into the role she’s always wanted and been best suited for, and learning how to do it well–but there is also an element of nature documentary. Each part of Rowan’s adventure introduces a new creature, from jackalopes (attack bunnies!) to pegasi, from giant spiders to gryphons, and her quick thinking and bravery in facing each of them teaches both Rowan and readers about these wondrous beasts. This book is very much an awesome adventure of growing up and facing fears, but it’s also a walk in the woods to take a look at what magic can be found.
This book satisfied my (perhaps very specific) itch for a Steve Irwin-but-magical-creatures story. The engaging and endearing characters have a similar energy and excitement about the beasts they encounter, and their enthusiasm makes the book a thrill ride. And the creatures really shine in this book, of course, and had me wanting more.
It’s a great blend of all the things I love about middle grade fantasy books, and I can’t wait for the next one!
Princess Rowan doesn’t want to be queen–she wants to be the royal monster hunter. But true to the rule, “be careful what you wish for,” her wish doesn’t come to her without a tragedy. Sent on a training mission, Rowan meets creatures of all kinds–human and monster alike–and has to overcome everything from politics to a gryphon in order to achieve her dream. But she takes up the sword and fights for her new title tooth and nail…even if it means facing her greatest fear.
Kids who went into the Fantastic Beast movies looking for magical creatures of all shapes and sizes and an adventure to discover them, and instead a found dark, ominous plot about oppression will want to give this book a try. There is a great plot–an absolutely wonderful plot about a girl growing into the role she’s always wanted and been best suited for, and learning how to do it well–but there is also an element of nature documentary. Each part of Rowan’s adventure introduces a new creature, from jackalopes (attack bunnies!) to pegasi, from giant spiders to gryphons, and her quick thinking and bravery in facing each of them teaches both Rowan and readers about these wondrous beasts. This book is very much an awesome adventure of growing up and facing fears, but it’s also a walk in the woods to take a look at what magic can be found.
This book satisfied my (perhaps very specific) itch for a Steve Irwin-but-magical-creatures story. The engaging and endearing characters have a similar energy and excitement about the beasts they encounter, and their enthusiasm makes the book a thrill ride. And the creatures really shine in this book, of course, and had me wanting more.
It’s a great blend of all the things I love about middle grade fantasy books, and I can’t wait for the next one!
the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition
5.0
This was so good, we bought it!
Don't let the cover fool you. This is an upper middle grade story, with a mature and even, at times, dark tone. The main character feels and acts more like a 14-year-old, which are extremely rare creatures in MG and YA. She's clearly older than the 12 tender years she's supposed to possess -- but we loved it anyway.
Rowan was born minutes before her brother, Rhydd, and for that reason she's supposed to become queen and her brother, the realm's monster hunter. But every time her brother goes out on a hunt, her heart beats for the adventure.
When the ultimate predator -- a griffin -- shows up and her brother is sent to fight it, she sneaks out of the castle to join him, because she knows, deep in her heart, she's the better sword fighter and better hunter overall and he'll need her to keep him safe. A griffin killed their father, the previous royal monster slayer, many years before.
She's unfortunately more right that she could have guessed. They slay a manticore and think the danger's over; it was a case of mistaken monster identity.
And then the griffin strikes.
Once Rowan's in its grasp, can she escape its clutches? And if she does survive, can she learn enough about griffins to do more than just kill them? Can she make sure they're not a threat to the realm's villagers, once and for all?
I won't spoil the plot twist, but know, it's a great story. I absolutely delighted in the how the griffins are portrayed as incredible apex predators neither good nor evil, just ...predatory. My daughter loved the story as well.
We've put her YA works on hold at our public library, and hope to be able to read and review them soon!
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: http://amb.mystrikingly.com/
Don't let the cover fool you. This is an upper middle grade story, with a mature and even, at times, dark tone. The main character feels and acts more like a 14-year-old, which are extremely rare creatures in MG and YA. She's clearly older than the 12 tender years she's supposed to possess -- but we loved it anyway.
Rowan was born minutes before her brother, Rhydd, and for that reason she's supposed to become queen and her brother, the realm's monster hunter. But every time her brother goes out on a hunt, her heart beats for the adventure.
When the ultimate predator -- a griffin -- shows up and her brother is sent to fight it, she sneaks out of the castle to join him, because she knows, deep in her heart, she's the better sword fighter and better hunter overall and he'll need her to keep him safe. A griffin killed their father, the previous royal monster slayer, many years before.
She's unfortunately more right that she could have guessed. They slay a manticore and think the danger's over; it was a case of mistaken monster identity.
And then the griffin strikes.
Once Rowan's in its grasp, can she escape its clutches? And if she does survive, can she learn enough about griffins to do more than just kill them? Can she make sure they're not a threat to the realm's villagers, once and for all?
I won't spoil the plot twist, but know, it's a great story. I absolutely delighted in the how the griffins are portrayed as incredible apex predators neither good nor evil, just ...predatory. My daughter loved the story as well.
We've put her YA works on hold at our public library, and hope to be able to read and review them soon!
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: http://amb.mystrikingly.com/
vaderbird's review against another edition
3.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
kristinakg's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.75
rbritt515's review against another edition
4.0
A princess set to inherit the throne who'd rather trade places with her twin brother to take on the role of Royal Monster Hunter faces off with a Griffin and begins a quest to prove herself worthy of taking up the mantle after her brother is injured. So many fun mythical creatures--jackalopes, unicorns, pegasus, etc--in this and I really enjoyed Rowan's voice. Definitely a very cute, fantasy middle grade!
TW for family member death a a bit of violence. Also a note that I didn't love some of the language and discussions around Rowan's brother's injury which felt pretty abelist.
TW for family member death a a bit of violence. Also a note that I didn't love some of the language and discussions around Rowan's brother's injury which felt pretty abelist.