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Royal Guide to Monster Slaying #2
The Gryphon's Lair
The exciting second book in the fantastical series for ages 10-14 by NYT bestselling author, Kelley Armstrong.
Rowan is now the Royal Monster Hunter, and her twin brother, Rhydd, is destined to be king. But her mother's cousin Heward is still determined that his children be the ones to inherit the titles, and will stop at nothing to show that Rowan and Rhydd are too immature to properly lead. After the gryphon that Rowan captured in Book One gives birth but then dies, Rowan is left with a baby gryphon she knows she cannot keep. And it grows faster than anyone can imagine . . .
In order to save face after an accident involving the troublesome gryphon, Rowan, with the help of her friends Dain and Alianor, along with an entourage of monstrous companions, must make a journey to the mountains to release the gryphon back into the wild. What starts off as a simple enough task soon becomes a dangerous quest, as the group encounters numerous rare and deadly monsters along the way, including wyverns and ceffyl-dwrs. Nothing is easy when you're a monster magnet like Rowan.
Can she prove herself worthy of the title of Royal Monster Hunter? Find out in this exciting second book in the Royal Guide to Monster Slaying series!
Rowan is now the Royal Monster Hunter, and her twin brother, Rhydd, is destined to be king. But her mother's cousin Heward is still determined that his children be the ones to inherit the titles, and will stop at nothing to show that Rowan and Rhydd are too immature to properly lead. After the gryphon that Rowan captured in Book One gives birth but then dies, Rowan is left with a baby gryphon she knows she cannot keep. And it grows faster than anyone can imagine . . .
In order to save face after an accident involving the troublesome gryphon, Rowan, with the help of her friends Dain and Alianor, along with an entourage of monstrous companions, must make a journey to the mountains to release the gryphon back into the wild. What starts off as a simple enough task soon becomes a dangerous quest, as the group encounters numerous rare and deadly monsters along the way, including wyverns and ceffyl-dwrs. Nothing is easy when you're a monster magnet like Rowan.
Can she prove herself worthy of the title of Royal Monster Hunter? Find out in this exciting second book in the Royal Guide to Monster Slaying series!
333 pages, Paperback
First published June 2, 2020
28 people are currently reading
555 people want to read
About the author
Kelley Armstrong
302 books33.5k followersKelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.
Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
July 20, 2020
I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley
actual rating: 3.5
Another really fun book in this series. I love all the different monsters and I think Rowan is a really great character and really enjoy seeing her learn to navigate her new job as monster hunter and also how it affects her relationships with the people around her. Gave this a technical 3.5 stars because I think there were some minor pacing issues, but the overall fun energy of the book was definitely enough for me to bump it up to 4 stars.
actual rating: 3.5
Another really fun book in this series. I love all the different monsters and I think Rowan is a really great character and really enjoy seeing her learn to navigate her new job as monster hunter and also how it affects her relationships with the people around her. Gave this a technical 3.5 stars because I think there were some minor pacing issues, but the overall fun energy of the book was definitely enough for me to bump it up to 4 stars.
June 2, 2020
4.5/ 5 stars
The Gryphon's Lair is the second and final book in this middle grade fantasy duology. This is a continuation of the first book. So you must read A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying first.
Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors. I don't usually read middle grade books. But I read this series because I love her.
Surprisingly I actually love these books. The narrator is once again 12 year old Princess Rowan (1st person POV). She is such a lovable, compelling, compassionate, smart and quick-thinking heroine. She has a natural gift for interacting with monsters. And it is fun to see how she deals with every situation. Rowan is really IMO a great role model for any young girls reading this series.
This book is all about Rowan and a young gryphon. This story was very action-packed. Which normally wouldn't necessarily be my thing. But I have grown to love these characters. And I enjoyed this book very much.
This is such a cute series. What a charming and wonderful conclusion to this middle grade duology!
Thanks to netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada/Puffin Canada for allowing me to read this book.
The Gryphon's Lair is the second and final book in this middle grade fantasy duology. This is a continuation of the first book. So you must read A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying first.
Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors. I don't usually read middle grade books. But I read this series because I love her.
Surprisingly I actually love these books. The narrator is once again 12 year old Princess Rowan (1st person POV). She is such a lovable, compelling, compassionate, smart and quick-thinking heroine. She has a natural gift for interacting with monsters. And it is fun to see how she deals with every situation. Rowan is really IMO a great role model for any young girls reading this series.
This book is all about Rowan and a young gryphon. This story was very action-packed. Which normally wouldn't necessarily be my thing. But I have grown to love these characters. And I enjoyed this book very much.
This is such a cute series. What a charming and wonderful conclusion to this middle grade duology!
Thanks to netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada/Puffin Canada for allowing me to read this book.
May 9, 2020
3.5, maybe 4 stars
"The Gryphon's Lair" was even more enjoyable than its predecessor, "A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying", and I liked that one. Then again, it's the rare book by Armstrong that I don't enjoy.
Rowan, who is now the royal monster hunter, needs to return a juvenile gryphon to the wild. She also still has to deal with her uncle and other relatives hoping to displace her or her brother, now the royal heir. Relatives can be such a pain, dreadful even. Fortunately, her brother and mother are on her side and decent relatives. She also has friends who have her back, most of the time. One friend does betray her and when Rowan finds out, her feelings are hurt of course, but then she handles it beautifully. Many adults could not handle it so well. I was sorry we didn't see more of her twin brother Rhydd but this is Rowan's book. She's the hero.
The story gently delivers messages on compassion, respect, communication, problem solving, and relationships. Rowan, Dain, and the others make mistakes but they learn from them and they apologize and try to work things out. It was nice to see the growth in the characters both from this book and the first, and from the start of this book to the end of it. As Rowan and her companions set on their quest, they have numerous adventures. The book is fast paced and full of action though it dragged slightly here and there. Still, it was fun and the creatures, the monsters, were delightful. Most I was familiar with but there were a few that were new to me. Armstrong chose from a nice array of myths for her monsters. And really, I had a hard time of thinking of them as monsters. I kept thinking of them as creatures or animals, and honestly, that was part of Armstrong's point.
"Absolutely not," Dain calls. "You're a monster hunter, not a monster collector. Stop taking them home."
"As they like you. As Dain says, you're kind and respectful, and that's why they stay with you. But the bigger question is why they come to you at all."
I frown at her.
She chuckles. "Does this seem normal to you, child? That you just happen to stumble upon gryphons and pegasus fillies and baby jackalopes?"
"So do you still doubt you have a natural gift for monsters, child?"
She's right. I have something, and it is both gift and curse. I attract monsters, which puts anyone near me in danger. But I understand them, too. I want to understand them, and I think that makes a difference.
"The Gryphon's Lair" was fun, sweet, and full of adventure. I think children who enjoy mythology and action will enjoy this. I'm disappointed this is the last book in this series.
"The Gryphon's Lair" was even more enjoyable than its predecessor, "A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying", and I liked that one. Then again, it's the rare book by Armstrong that I don't enjoy.
Rowan, who is now the royal monster hunter, needs to return a juvenile gryphon to the wild. She also still has to deal with her uncle and other relatives hoping to displace her or her brother, now the royal heir. Relatives can be such a pain, dreadful even. Fortunately, her brother and mother are on her side and decent relatives. She also has friends who have her back, most of the time. One friend does betray her and when Rowan finds out, her feelings are hurt of course, but then she handles it beautifully. Many adults could not handle it so well. I was sorry we didn't see more of her twin brother Rhydd but this is Rowan's book. She's the hero.
The story gently delivers messages on compassion, respect, communication, problem solving, and relationships. Rowan, Dain, and the others make mistakes but they learn from them and they apologize and try to work things out. It was nice to see the growth in the characters both from this book and the first, and from the start of this book to the end of it. As Rowan and her companions set on their quest, they have numerous adventures. The book is fast paced and full of action though it dragged slightly here and there. Still, it was fun and the creatures, the monsters, were delightful. Most I was familiar with but there were a few that were new to me. Armstrong chose from a nice array of myths for her monsters. And really, I had a hard time of thinking of them as monsters. I kept thinking of them as creatures or animals, and honestly, that was part of Armstrong's point.
"Absolutely not," Dain calls. "You're a monster hunter, not a monster collector. Stop taking them home."
"As they like you. As Dain says, you're kind and respectful, and that's why they stay with you. But the bigger question is why they come to you at all."
I frown at her.
She chuckles. "Does this seem normal to you, child? That you just happen to stumble upon gryphons and pegasus fillies and baby jackalopes?"
"So do you still doubt you have a natural gift for monsters, child?"
She's right. I have something, and it is both gift and curse. I attract monsters, which puts anyone near me in danger. But I understand them, too. I want to understand them, and I think that makes a difference.
"The Gryphon's Lair" was fun, sweet, and full of adventure. I think children who enjoy mythology and action will enjoy this. I'm disappointed this is the last book in this series.
November 28, 2020
Exciting, creative, adorable, unexpectedly heart-wrenching. It's stunning how Kelley can craft an incredible story for (apparently) any age or genre! I read this in a sitting and can't wait for more!
July 5, 2020
I really enjoyed book 1 in this series and excitedly jumped into book 2. This was another great read. I really like this world filled with monsters and seeing Rowen navigate it with her friends, both human and monsters. I like how she tries to understand the monsters, but also can make tough decisions. She has her flaws, but she's also determined and works hard to fix things.
This was another action packed adventure read. Rowen and her companions again meet countless monsters and dangerous situations. There are battles, but also more strategic solutions and I especially liked the whole gryphon situation and how they handled that and how she read their body language. There also is one sad scene, but at the same time it was the right decision and I am impressed with how Rowan handled it.
I liked Rowan, she makes for a great main character. She's quite mature for her age, but that makes sense with her role of being the kingdom's monster hunter. I really like how she approaches the different situations and I like seeing her interact with the monsters. She's capable, but also has fear and gets hurt at times. She's not afraid to admit her mistakes and takes responsibility.
The side characters are great as well and I like how we get a good feel for them. From her friends Allianor and Dain to her brother Rhydd, her mother and Wilmot. They all have a role to play in the story and I like seeing how they interact. I also like how Allianor and Dain both interact with Rowan and how a difficult situation between them got resolved by talking things through, I liked that. And then there's a whole group of monster characters as well. I like seeing how Malric shows a bit more affection. And ofcourse Jacko and Sunniva. And she makes some new monster friends as well in this book. Tiera was awesome too.
It's so fun to read about all the different monsters in this world and I like how the author really makes them come alive. Each monster has their own habits and behavior and I liked learning more about them. It's also great how Rowan treat it, despite the series title they rarely slay monsters and instead try to find the best solution for both human and monsters.
I liked how we got to see a bit more of the world as well in this book, from the different clans to the different places they visit and how we see how some people are affected by the monsters or how they treat them as well.
To summarize: This was a great sequel. I really liked following Rowan and her friends as they set off on another adventure. Rowan is a great character, I like how capable and responsibly she is, but she still has fear and can be hurt as well. My favorite part is seeing her interact with the monsters. There is a great group of side character, both human and monsters. I liked seeing more of the world and more monsters in this book, I like how each monster has their own behavior and habits. I had a lot of fun reading this book and I can only hope there will be more books in this series as I would love more stories in this world.
This was another action packed adventure read. Rowen and her companions again meet countless monsters and dangerous situations. There are battles, but also more strategic solutions and I especially liked the whole gryphon situation and how they handled that and how she read their body language. There also is one sad scene, but at the same time it was the right decision and I am impressed with how Rowan handled it.
I liked Rowan, she makes for a great main character. She's quite mature for her age, but that makes sense with her role of being the kingdom's monster hunter. I really like how she approaches the different situations and I like seeing her interact with the monsters. She's capable, but also has fear and gets hurt at times. She's not afraid to admit her mistakes and takes responsibility.
The side characters are great as well and I like how we get a good feel for them. From her friends Allianor and Dain to her brother Rhydd, her mother and Wilmot. They all have a role to play in the story and I like seeing how they interact. I also like how Allianor and Dain both interact with Rowan and how a difficult situation between them got resolved by talking things through, I liked that. And then there's a whole group of monster characters as well. I like seeing how Malric shows a bit more affection. And ofcourse Jacko and Sunniva. And she makes some new monster friends as well in this book. Tiera was awesome too.
It's so fun to read about all the different monsters in this world and I like how the author really makes them come alive. Each monster has their own habits and behavior and I liked learning more about them. It's also great how Rowan treat it, despite the series title they rarely slay monsters and instead try to find the best solution for both human and monsters.
I liked how we got to see a bit more of the world as well in this book, from the different clans to the different places they visit and how we see how some people are affected by the monsters or how they treat them as well.
To summarize: This was a great sequel. I really liked following Rowan and her friends as they set off on another adventure. Rowan is a great character, I like how capable and responsibly she is, but she still has fear and can be hurt as well. My favorite part is seeing her interact with the monsters. There is a great group of side character, both human and monsters. I liked seeing more of the world and more monsters in this book, I like how each monster has their own behavior and habits. I had a lot of fun reading this book and I can only hope there will be more books in this series as I would love more stories in this world.
April 23, 2022
Rowan must make a tough and mature decision when the baby gryphon she brought home at the end of book one has grown too difficult and dangerous to keep at the palace any longer. Of course Dain and Alianor go with her, though Rowan discovers Dain has been badmouthing Rowan to Heward’s arrogant daughter, who wants to be Royal Monster Hunter in Rowan’s place.
Rowan eventually handles the situation with Dain firmly and in a no nonsense way, once she realizes that the friction between them is causing trouble to their friendship and undermining Rowan’s position, which is already under threat by the slimy Heward.
This is another fun and exciting instalment, and I like how Rowan is maturing, and figuring out how to be friends with someone whom she will have to also trust and command on dangerous hunts.
Jacko continues to be both funny and a trusty sidekick, while Malric the warg is slowly coming around. On to the next book!
Rowan eventually handles the situation with Dain firmly and in a no nonsense way, once she realizes that the friction between them is causing trouble to their friendship and undermining Rowan’s position, which is already under threat by the slimy Heward.
This is another fun and exciting instalment, and I like how Rowan is maturing, and figuring out how to be friends with someone whom she will have to also trust and command on dangerous hunts.
Jacko continues to be both funny and a trusty sidekick, while Malric the warg is slowly coming around. On to the next book!
December 18, 2021
I can't gush about this series enough. I absolutely love Kelley Armstrong's writing on this. My son and I read this one, and we loved it. He reviewed them both for our public library!
It is kinda obvious the main characters are waaaay older than the 12 tender years they're supposed to be. More like 15 or 16, just with no obvious romance, which my 16-year-old son really appreciated. But even he said, "Mom, there's no way this is a 12-year-old." And I agree. It's definitely an upper middle grade / lower YA book.
This time, Rowan's facing challenges to her right to be the Royal Monster Hunter. It starts with the pregnant gryphon's pending birth. When she interrupts a planned euthanasia of the gryphon mother and baby, and is only able to save the baby, an older girl, next-in-line to the throne after Rhydd, Rowan's brother, challenges Rowan, saying she's not fit to be the Monster Hunter because she's not slaying these creatures, which will surely threaten their subjects later on.
But now Rowan's got a baby gryphon that imprinted on her as its mother, and Tiera is growing fast. Tiera defends Rowan, breaking the challenger's arm in her beak, and .... that's it. Tiera has to go. Rowan will see her off in a quest across the mountains for a gryphon aerie that hopefully will take Tiera in and not kill her right away for reeking of human scent.
Against this backdrop is a complicated relationship with Dain, who also wants to become a Monster Hunter, although not the Royal Monster Hunter obviously, and a young girl who wants to become a Monster Healer, kind a like a veterinarian, but for monsters, not for farm or wild animals.
And Rowan's the obvious person for them both to accompany Rowan's quest. But she can only choose one.
This is a great read, perfect for post-holiday reading, sure to captivate any upper middle grade fantasy reader, and a few YA readers, as well.
Enjoy!
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
It is kinda obvious the main characters are waaaay older than the 12 tender years they're supposed to be. More like 15 or 16, just with no obvious romance, which my 16-year-old son really appreciated. But even he said, "Mom, there's no way this is a 12-year-old." And I agree. It's definitely an upper middle grade / lower YA book.
This time, Rowan's facing challenges to her right to be the Royal Monster Hunter. It starts with the pregnant gryphon's pending birth. When she interrupts a planned euthanasia of the gryphon mother and baby, and is only able to save the baby, an older girl, next-in-line to the throne after Rhydd, Rowan's brother, challenges Rowan, saying she's not fit to be the Monster Hunter because she's not slaying these creatures, which will surely threaten their subjects later on.
But now Rowan's got a baby gryphon that imprinted on her as its mother, and Tiera is growing fast. Tiera defends Rowan, breaking the challenger's arm in her beak, and .... that's it. Tiera has to go. Rowan will see her off in a quest across the mountains for a gryphon aerie that hopefully will take Tiera in and not kill her right away for reeking of human scent.
Against this backdrop is a complicated relationship with Dain, who also wants to become a Monster Hunter, although not the Royal Monster Hunter obviously, and a young girl who wants to become a Monster Healer, kind a like a veterinarian, but for monsters, not for farm or wild animals.
And Rowan's the obvious person for them both to accompany Rowan's quest. But she can only choose one.
This is a great read, perfect for post-holiday reading, sure to captivate any upper middle grade fantasy reader, and a few YA readers, as well.
Enjoy!
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
November 17, 2021
Another hit by Kelley Armstrong!
Something I love about Armstrong is she always has diversity embedded into her stories - weaved in without you really noticing its there. She makes it clear in her descriptions, but she never tries to tell the story in a way that tries to own the diverse experience which I appreciate and respect.
I also love that while Rowan and her friends are very clearly 12 year olds, and they make mistakes like 12 year olds are wont to do, they learn and grow through the story. I love that Rowan isn't ever afraid to admit she's wrong and instead aims to continue growing and bettering herself not just to prove someone wrong, but because she care about bettering herself for her kingdom.
I love the mythical creatures and the adventures they go on and I can't wait for the next installment to see what happens next.
Such a great story about growth, and sacrifice, and love!
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Pacing: 4.5/5
Overall: 5/5
Something I love about Armstrong is she always has diversity embedded into her stories - weaved in without you really noticing its there. She makes it clear in her descriptions, but she never tries to tell the story in a way that tries to own the diverse experience which I appreciate and respect.
I also love that while Rowan and her friends are very clearly 12 year olds, and they make mistakes like 12 year olds are wont to do, they learn and grow through the story. I love that Rowan isn't ever afraid to admit she's wrong and instead aims to continue growing and bettering herself not just to prove someone wrong, but because she care about bettering herself for her kingdom.
I love the mythical creatures and the adventures they go on and I can't wait for the next installment to see what happens next.
Such a great story about growth, and sacrifice, and love!
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Pacing: 4.5/5
Overall: 5/5
September 21, 2022
Another Amazing Book
August 15, 2025
4.5 stars
I loved this!
I loved this!
July 9, 2020
Incredibly amazing! Full review to come.
August 10, 2024
This book was very interesting
July 8, 2020
The Gryphon’s Lair (A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying #2) by Kelley Armstrong, 352 pages. Penguin, 2020. $17.
Violence: PG (some fighting)
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Because of the aftermath of the battle with the pregnant gryphon, Rowan is now the Royal Monster Hunter and her twin Rhydd is the heir. Rowan has to decide whether she is a Monster Hunter or a Monster Killer – and she will start with a test challenge of taking the baby gryphon to the mountains to be with its own kind. While she is escorted by her teachers, she also has along Dain, who does not seem to display much faith in Rowan. Thankfully she also has her pegasus, her jackalope, and together they may make more creature friends along the way.
I have not read book #1 in this series, but now I will be sure to go back and catch up. I didn’t really need it, though, to follow this action. Armstrong blends the right amount of danger with self-discovery and companionship and a healthy dash of mythical creatures.
Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...
Violence: PG (some fighting)
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Because of the aftermath of the battle with the pregnant gryphon, Rowan is now the Royal Monster Hunter and her twin Rhydd is the heir. Rowan has to decide whether she is a Monster Hunter or a Monster Killer – and she will start with a test challenge of taking the baby gryphon to the mountains to be with its own kind. While she is escorted by her teachers, she also has along Dain, who does not seem to display much faith in Rowan. Thankfully she also has her pegasus, her jackalope, and together they may make more creature friends along the way.
I have not read book #1 in this series, but now I will be sure to go back and catch up. I didn’t really need it, though, to follow this action. Armstrong blends the right amount of danger with self-discovery and companionship and a healthy dash of mythical creatures.
Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...
November 18, 2020
In terms of tone and what's revealed I'm reminded fondly of Thursdays with the Crown (2015) minus the foreigner jokes. However the emphasis here is on gryphons as wild animals with complex social structures.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2020/comm...
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2020/comm...
December 16, 2020
Loving this series. I love how Rowan constantly wants to save all the animals instead of hunting them like she knows she's supposed to. Perfect for younger readers and older ones alike!
October 9, 2022
·°⨳°⊹٭тнє gяуρнση's ℓαιя ٭⊹°⨳°·..·°⨳°
Rowan is now the monster hunter, but Heward threatens to take everything she's worked for. He is set on making his children Kethan and Branwyn the Royal Monster Hunter and ruler. The gryphon that Rowan found is soon to give birth to her child, but dies during the process. Now the baby gryphon, named Tiera, forms a close friendship with Rowan. But she can't stay with them forever, and Rowan will have to bring her back to her kind. Her relationship with Dain is confusing, and rumors like bitter feelings, secrets, and rumors stir tension between the two monster hunters. Rowan, Dain, and Alianor must set out on a dangerous mission to return Tiera to her kind. Both their friendship and destiny hang precariously, and along the journey they will meet ceffyl-dwrs, wargs, wyvrens, chickcharneys, encantado, khrysomallos, basan, and dropbears.
The Royal Guide to Monster Hunting quartet is giving me so much nostalgia about my favorite series, and I can't believe I didn't pick it up sooner! Being completely honest; I am not an animal person, but mythical animals are a whole other story. I love how detailed Kelley Armstrong's description is and how different and unique each creature is in the book. Every single chapter has action, and I love that Rowan is perfectly capable of protecting herself as well as others.
The world-building is done very well, and the story is extremely atmospheric. The animal-companion trope is not one I generally like but I loved how it was done here (Tiera, Malric, Jacko, Sunniva, and Doscach!). The characters are the core of the story for me. I love how Rowan is able to emotionally regulate and focus on her emotions despite all the action and fast-paced plot events. I never once lost interest while reading this book, and it was the type of book that causes late-night-reading.
Rhydd and Rowan's relationship is one I want to see more of and hope to see in the next books. Dain and Rowan's relationship is probably one of my favorites-and one of the most complicated. I myself can totally relate with Dain's reaction to sometimes withdrawing from relationships. Dain was a character that wasn't written to be likable, nor was he written to be perfect. He had so many flaws, so many of those cringe-why'd-you-say/do-that moments, yet that was what made him more human. Despite his sometimes jerk-ish behavior, we get to see a lot about what's going on and deep down that added more layers to his character.
Rowan is someone with a kind heart, who manages to always forgive. The tension between characters was the best part of the story. The different creatures added so much to the story! I'm really loving this series so far!
☑️PLOT
☑️PLOT TWIST
☑️CHARACTERS
Rowan is now the monster hunter, but Heward threatens to take everything she's worked for. He is set on making his children Kethan and Branwyn the Royal Monster Hunter and ruler. The gryphon that Rowan found is soon to give birth to her child, but dies during the process. Now the baby gryphon, named Tiera, forms a close friendship with Rowan. But she can't stay with them forever, and Rowan will have to bring her back to her kind. Her relationship with Dain is confusing, and rumors like bitter feelings, secrets, and rumors stir tension between the two monster hunters. Rowan, Dain, and Alianor must set out on a dangerous mission to return Tiera to her kind. Both their friendship and destiny hang precariously, and along the journey they will meet ceffyl-dwrs, wargs, wyvrens, chickcharneys, encantado, khrysomallos, basan, and dropbears.
The Royal Guide to Monster Hunting quartet is giving me so much nostalgia about my favorite series, and I can't believe I didn't pick it up sooner! Being completely honest; I am not an animal person, but mythical animals are a whole other story. I love how detailed Kelley Armstrong's description is and how different and unique each creature is in the book. Every single chapter has action, and I love that Rowan is perfectly capable of protecting herself as well as others.
The world-building is done very well, and the story is extremely atmospheric. The animal-companion trope is not one I generally like but I loved how it was done here (Tiera, Malric, Jacko, Sunniva, and Doscach!). The characters are the core of the story for me. I love how Rowan is able to emotionally regulate and focus on her emotions despite all the action and fast-paced plot events. I never once lost interest while reading this book, and it was the type of book that causes late-night-reading.
Rhydd and Rowan's relationship is one I want to see more of and hope to see in the next books. Dain and Rowan's relationship is probably one of my favorites-and one of the most complicated. I myself can totally relate with Dain's reaction to sometimes withdrawing from relationships. Dain was a character that wasn't written to be likable, nor was he written to be perfect. He had so many flaws, so many of those cringe-why'd-you-say/do-that moments, yet that was what made him more human. Despite his sometimes jerk-ish behavior, we get to see a lot about what's going on and deep down that added more layers to his character.
Rowan is someone with a kind heart, who manages to always forgive. The tension between characters was the best part of the story. The different creatures added so much to the story! I'm really loving this series so far!
☑️PLOT
☑️PLOT TWIST
☑️CHARACTERS
September 13, 2020
From my reading experiences, it is rare to find a book that gets 5 stars, well, period. It is more rare ("rarer" sounds weird, doesn't it??) to read a sequel to a 5 star book and have that book exceed the first in most every way possible. This book is that rare book, for me anyway. I just loved "A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying", I found so much to enjoy and savor and be amazed by, it was a blast! "The Gryphon's Lair" was more exceptional, and that made me happy. We know most of the characters already, and the new ones are just as well developed and fit perfectly into the tale. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that females/girls/women are the focus and the center of everything. The entire story revolves around Rowan, and she couldn't be a better example of how to be a wonderful human being. And she is even more mature and smarter and better trained and more understanding and more of, well, everything that makes people good, and a good friend. Seriously. The fact that she is a young woman is a bonus, as it shows readers that females can be strong and smart and caring and authentic and powerful and bad-fucking-ass!! (Not that lots of females don't already know that, but representation is a big help, seeing yourself as the heroine is HUGE!). The monsters, old and new, are fascinatingly drawn, in both senses of the word (yep, there are drawings in the back of the book too!), and they make the action exciting and harrowing and dangerous and funny as hell. Some readers complained that a jackalope named Jacko is dumb. I think it is perfect for who Rowan is. She sees the monsters as animals, as friends, as equals, they don't need crazy names to be meaningful and real. I was worried there would be too much scheming and politics and romance-y garbage, since the characters know each other better. Again with the "NO" on that, which was awesome. The story is about Rowan and her friends and her quests and her growth, so all the things that happen spring from that, and the things she isn't really involved in doing or solving just take a backseat to the monster-y stuff. I also love there isn't any fake in this book. No fake friends, no fake danger, no fake emotions. It is all very real and authentic and believable (yep, even the unicorn and gryphon! why not?!?). I could go on and on about every single aspect of this book, but that would spoil the surprises and the fun and the beauty and the magic. This was an epic follow-up to an epic first book, and I am hoping for a third, because who doesn't love epic?!?!? Seriously, read this duology, it will make you laugh and cry and cheer for monsters, and humans.
May 29, 2020
The Gryphon's Lair is the second book in the Royal Guide to Monster Slaying series by Kelley Armstrong. It is currently scheduled for release on June 2 2020. I do recommend reading the series in order, mostly to understand the characters and how they relate to each other. However, a determined reader could catch up fairly easily and still enjoy the read.
Rowan is now the Royal Monster Hunter, and her twin brother, Rhydd, is destined to be king. But her mother's cousin Heward is still determined that his children be the ones to inherit the titles, and will stop at nothing to show that Rowan and Rhydd are too immature to properly lead. After the gryphon that Rowan captured in Book One gives birth but then dies, Rowan is left with a baby gryphon she knows she cannot keep. And it grows faster than anyone can imagine. In order to save face after an accident involving the troublesome gryphon, Rowan, with the help of her friends Dain and Alianor, along with an entourage of monstrous companions, must make a journey to the mountains to release the gryphon back into the wild. What starts off as a simple enough task soon becomes a dangerous quest, as the group encounters numerous rare and deadly monsters along the way, including wyverns and ceffyl-dwrs.
The Gryphon's Lair is a book that is as much about Rowan and her friends coming together, and understanding each other and themselves, as it is the adventure of what to do with a young gryphon. I really liked the importance respect and compassion is given in this series. Rowan is trying to be a good member of the royal family, doing what is best for the kingdom while also thinking about understanding the monstrous creatures in the world rather than just killing them all. I laughed at some of he antic the crew she has assembled, cringed when those antics turned dangerous. There was action, heart to heart talks, amazing creatures, and a few heart wrenching moments. When I finished this story I was left with two thoughts. First, my daughter needs to read this series, as it is right up her alley, and second was that I hope there are more books set in this world coming because I am eager for more.
The Gryphon's Lair is a middle grade fantasy novel that has a near perfect balance of action and character growth.
Rowan is now the Royal Monster Hunter, and her twin brother, Rhydd, is destined to be king. But her mother's cousin Heward is still determined that his children be the ones to inherit the titles, and will stop at nothing to show that Rowan and Rhydd are too immature to properly lead. After the gryphon that Rowan captured in Book One gives birth but then dies, Rowan is left with a baby gryphon she knows she cannot keep. And it grows faster than anyone can imagine. In order to save face after an accident involving the troublesome gryphon, Rowan, with the help of her friends Dain and Alianor, along with an entourage of monstrous companions, must make a journey to the mountains to release the gryphon back into the wild. What starts off as a simple enough task soon becomes a dangerous quest, as the group encounters numerous rare and deadly monsters along the way, including wyverns and ceffyl-dwrs.
The Gryphon's Lair is a book that is as much about Rowan and her friends coming together, and understanding each other and themselves, as it is the adventure of what to do with a young gryphon. I really liked the importance respect and compassion is given in this series. Rowan is trying to be a good member of the royal family, doing what is best for the kingdom while also thinking about understanding the monstrous creatures in the world rather than just killing them all. I laughed at some of he antic the crew she has assembled, cringed when those antics turned dangerous. There was action, heart to heart talks, amazing creatures, and a few heart wrenching moments. When I finished this story I was left with two thoughts. First, my daughter needs to read this series, as it is right up her alley, and second was that I hope there are more books set in this world coming because I am eager for more.
The Gryphon's Lair is a middle grade fantasy novel that has a near perfect balance of action and character growth.
October 3, 2024
I enjoyed the first volume of the Royal Guide to Monster Slaying books quite a bit -- it was a fun read with a unique world and a likable protagonist. I decided it would be fun to continue the series... and so here I am having finished the second book. And it's just as good as the first, continuing the existing plot while also introducing new challenges for Rowan and her friends.
Rowan is preparing to undergo the trials to become her kingdom's official monster hunter... but first she has to do something about the baby gryphon she's found herself in charge of. Despite loving the monster and the monster loving her, it's getting too big and too rowdy to keep at the palace. So Rowan makes the difficult decision to take the young gryphon to the mountains and return her to her kind. Along the way, the simple mission becomes a dangerous quest... and Rowan starts to wonder if she can trust those she calls friends.
This book does a good job of continuing the plot threads from the previous book (Rowan growing into her role as a monster hunter, the study of gryphons, the plot to take the throne from her family) as well as introducing new ones (Rowan wondering if Dain is truly her friend, the sudden rise in monster activity, etc.). It builds on the world of the previous book and adds a ton of delightful new monsters, some familiar to mythology buffs and others new. It has plenty of action, intrigue, and humor that should keep readers entertained to the last page.
It's also great seeing Rowan grow into her role as the royal monster hunter, and learn how to manage her new responsibilities and her friendships. Her relationship with Dain turns out to be more complicated than she realized, and she has to learn to balance her fascination with monsters with her responsibility to protect people from them... and protect monsters from people. It's a delight seeing her continue to grow as these books go on.
I've already read book 3 in this series (I'm a fast reader), and you bet I'm going to finish this series. It's a wild ride full of monsters, and I love it.
Rowan is preparing to undergo the trials to become her kingdom's official monster hunter... but first she has to do something about the baby gryphon she's found herself in charge of. Despite loving the monster and the monster loving her, it's getting too big and too rowdy to keep at the palace. So Rowan makes the difficult decision to take the young gryphon to the mountains and return her to her kind. Along the way, the simple mission becomes a dangerous quest... and Rowan starts to wonder if she can trust those she calls friends.
This book does a good job of continuing the plot threads from the previous book (Rowan growing into her role as a monster hunter, the study of gryphons, the plot to take the throne from her family) as well as introducing new ones (Rowan wondering if Dain is truly her friend, the sudden rise in monster activity, etc.). It builds on the world of the previous book and adds a ton of delightful new monsters, some familiar to mythology buffs and others new. It has plenty of action, intrigue, and humor that should keep readers entertained to the last page.
It's also great seeing Rowan grow into her role as the royal monster hunter, and learn how to manage her new responsibilities and her friendships. Her relationship with Dain turns out to be more complicated than she realized, and she has to learn to balance her fascination with monsters with her responsibility to protect people from them... and protect monsters from people. It's a delight seeing her continue to grow as these books go on.
I've already read book 3 in this series (I'm a fast reader), and you bet I'm going to finish this series. It's a wild ride full of monsters, and I love it.
July 31, 2020
Rowan is training to be the royal monster hunter in her kingdom. She caught a gryphon in the previous book, and it was allowed to live because it was pregnant. Now the gryphon is having her baby, but the mother dies due to complications. The baby gryphon grows quickly and thinks that Rowan is her mother. When the gryphon goes to extreme lengths to protect Rowan, the kingdom decides that the gryphon has to be killed. Rowan convinces them to let her move the gryphon somewhere else. On Rowan’s new adventure through the country, she meets even more creatures than last time.
I really enjoyed this series. I just found out that this is the final book in this series. I would have liked to see more of Rowan as she gets older. She had to face some more mature issues in this book, such as potential suitors for her and her brother. I love how Rowan is such a strong female character. She heads right into danger to do the right thing, rather than what everyone thinks she should do. She is confident and independent.
I felt like some of the fight scenes were too long. They lasted for a couple of chapters, sometimes, and they became repetitive. One thing that could have made the fights more entertaining is if there were illustrations to go along with them. There are some illustrations of the monsters at the end of the book, but I think the story could have been enhanced with illustrations throughout the book.
This is a great middle grade book.
Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this series. I just found out that this is the final book in this series. I would have liked to see more of Rowan as she gets older. She had to face some more mature issues in this book, such as potential suitors for her and her brother. I love how Rowan is such a strong female character. She heads right into danger to do the right thing, rather than what everyone thinks she should do. She is confident and independent.
I felt like some of the fight scenes were too long. They lasted for a couple of chapters, sometimes, and they became repetitive. One thing that could have made the fights more entertaining is if there were illustrations to go along with them. There are some illustrations of the monsters at the end of the book, but I think the story could have been enhanced with illustrations throughout the book.
This is a great middle grade book.
Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2020
Just like the first book of this series this one is full of crazy monsters that I have never heard of before which is always interesting. It gives me as a reader a chance to learn about some rare creatures found in other regions lore and legends. Our book starts out with our main character Rowan, who is now the royal monster hunter left trying to raise a baby griffyon after the one she caught has died after giving birth. Rowan's brother is now in charge of the kingdom however that is also a cause for concern because their uncle doesn't see this as fitting so he is doing everything in his power to make sure that that is rectified. This situation leaves both characters struggling to prove that they deserve the titles that they are given, and Rowan is determined to make her's stick. I loved the characters in this book, Kelley Armstrong really has this knack for making strong and relatable female characters. Her characters are always able to look after themselves even if they prefer to have company. I think that this is very important in novels these days especially YA novels. Great read just as enjoyable as the first one I can't wait to see what happens next. I think that more YA novels should be like this, strong characters and subjects, however full of excitement, wonder and magic.
July 3, 2020
The second of a duology that started with A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying, this book is an action packed, monster filled installment that does leave room for more adventures with these characters, should the author decide to do so. The title of this duology is a bit of a misnomer as the focus is not really on slaying monster, but understanding them. Rowan, the incoming Royal Monster Hunter has a much more scientific approach than others might have. She learns through these two books not to come in with her weapons swinging, but to favour a more subtle approach including observation of the monster's body language in order to assess the correct course of action.
All of the old monsters from the first book are here and there are many new creatures as well, with the handy and entertaining guide in the back of the book. There are also a lot of relationships between characters that shift and are impacted by court politics. Just as Rowan uses her brains to survive encounters with monsters, she also things carefully about how to handle people as well. This diffuses conflict and allows her connections to other characters to improve. Just when the most impatient of readers begins to tire conversations between characters about court politics, there is a splash of humour and more action.
I think readers of this duology are going to hope for more adventures in this world. 4.5 stars.
All of the old monsters from the first book are here and there are many new creatures as well, with the handy and entertaining guide in the back of the book. There are also a lot of relationships between characters that shift and are impacted by court politics. Just as Rowan uses her brains to survive encounters with monsters, she also things carefully about how to handle people as well. This diffuses conflict and allows her connections to other characters to improve. Just when the most impatient of readers begins to tire conversations between characters about court politics, there is a splash of humour and more action.
I think readers of this duology are going to hope for more adventures in this world. 4.5 stars.
April 5, 2020
arc provided by the publisher and netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I absolutely loved this book from beginning to end. I really enjoyed the first book in this series but this sequel definitely outshined the first and is so worth the read.
The messages in this book were so well thought out and delivered. From learning to respect the monsters while also researching and studying them, to the conversations about friendship and trust, this novel was so impactful and I think this series is a gem for the middle grade genre.
I adored getting to see Rowan’s character development within not only herself but with her friends too. I think it is so important for younger people to see that having a conversation with someone and hashing out any assumptions and trust issues to lead to a stronger friendship is the healthy way to resolve problems.
Getting to see more monsters was also a huge highlight for me.
If you like adventure stories with a fun, intelligent and kind main character with tons of monsters of every shape and size, to an amazing group of friends and family, you will love this series.
5/5 ⭐️
I absolutely loved this book from beginning to end. I really enjoyed the first book in this series but this sequel definitely outshined the first and is so worth the read.
The messages in this book were so well thought out and delivered. From learning to respect the monsters while also researching and studying them, to the conversations about friendship and trust, this novel was so impactful and I think this series is a gem for the middle grade genre.
I adored getting to see Rowan’s character development within not only herself but with her friends too. I think it is so important for younger people to see that having a conversation with someone and hashing out any assumptions and trust issues to lead to a stronger friendship is the healthy way to resolve problems.
Getting to see more monsters was also a huge highlight for me.
If you like adventure stories with a fun, intelligent and kind main character with tons of monsters of every shape and size, to an amazing group of friends and family, you will love this series.
5/5 ⭐️
June 4, 2020
Everyone's favorite monster-loving, monster-taming, monster-hunting princess with her wide array of companions--of the human and fuzzy/feathery/scaly variety!
Princess Rowan is learning all she can as the Royal Monster Hunter. She is particularly eager to continue the study of the gryphon she brought home to the castle--and especially the baby the gryphon is pregnant with! But when things go horribly wrong, the baby is orphaned and imprints on Rowan. But as the baby grows fast and causes havoc, Rowan knows that it is her duty to bring the baby to the home of the gryphons, so that she can be among her kind. But what is a journey with a baby gryphon without a few bumps in the road? Especially of the monster variety?
The conclusion to the "Royal Guide to Monster Hunting" duology, Armstrong brings closure to these characters, while still leaving plenty of room for the imagination of the future adventures of Rowan, Dain, Jacko, and all of their friends. Fantastic in every sense of the word, "The Gryphon's Lair" is a stunning tale about friendships, growing up, responsibility, and, of course, monsters!
Princess Rowan is learning all she can as the Royal Monster Hunter. She is particularly eager to continue the study of the gryphon she brought home to the castle--and especially the baby the gryphon is pregnant with! But when things go horribly wrong, the baby is orphaned and imprints on Rowan. But as the baby grows fast and causes havoc, Rowan knows that it is her duty to bring the baby to the home of the gryphons, so that she can be among her kind. But what is a journey with a baby gryphon without a few bumps in the road? Especially of the monster variety?
The conclusion to the "Royal Guide to Monster Hunting" duology, Armstrong brings closure to these characters, while still leaving plenty of room for the imagination of the future adventures of Rowan, Dain, Jacko, and all of their friends. Fantastic in every sense of the word, "The Gryphon's Lair" is a stunning tale about friendships, growing up, responsibility, and, of course, monsters!
December 31, 2022
Ahoy there mateys! I am a big fan of Kelley Armstrong but this series was hard to get through and if I had not listened to the audiobooks, I might not have finished. In fact, I thought it was a trilogy and was actually sad when book 3 ended and I knew there had to be one more. I may have liked this if I were younger but being as I am much older, I had issues. The primary one is that the main character, Rowan is a special snowflake. The other big one is she is 12 and sent on missions to hunt with little real training. She collects an entire menagerie over the course of the book but really only a few animals are used well in the books. The number of times Rowan yells "Malric, NOOOOOO!!!!!!" was annoying. And Rowan did not use her brain and often just rushed into danger getting out by luck. The books got repetitive. Run into dangerous monster no one has seen in centuries. Fight. Rinse. Repeat. Did like the focus on science to learn about monsters though I don't know if I can recommend this to anyone who isn't under the age of nine. Arrr!
May 23, 2020
The Gryphon’s lair is the 2nd book in Kelley Armstrong’s Royal guide to monster slaying (Ages 10-14) I found it just as wonderful to read as the first book! The book picks up shortly after the first one ends. Princess Rowan, now the Royal Monster Hunter, must return a young gryphon to the wild and sets off with a small band of companions to find a nest of other gryphons. This turns into a dangerous mission as Rowan seems to attract all kinds of monsters. Rowan learns some valuable lessons on her adventure, but will they keep her safe.? As in the first book I loved the characters, both human and monsters! Rowan is such a strong and brave girl at her age, and I love the way she interacts with the different monsters! I highly recommend this book for children 10 and above (some slightly scary scenes for the younger crowd)
Arc provided by Puffin Canada and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Arc provided by Puffin Canada and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
June 3, 2020
The Gryphon's Lair is the second book in the series. The first book is a must read if you want to get a sneak peak into much of the context of the book. Both books were excellent in my opinion. The story features the same message of kindness and compassion as the first book. The Gryphon's Lair also explores trust, friendship, conflict resolution, and how to learn from mistakes. The main character, Rowan, shows great personal growth over the length of the story. She is intelligent and compassionate, all things I love in a female protagonist. As with the first book in the series, A Royal's Guide to Monster Slaying, I strongly recommend the story. I enjoyed it as an adult, but know that it would work as a wonderful companion towards teaching some of these life lessons.
A huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review The Gryphon's Lair
A huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review The Gryphon's Lair
May 9, 2020
Second book in the series, even better than the first. I thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this before publishing for an honest opinion. You should read the first book to get the lay of the world building in this series. Rowan has a hard decision to make and ultimately must sacrifice for her people, thus begins her adventure with a few chosen allies to help her. What starts out as a simple but heart felt goal turns into a monster laden adventure with education for all sides in this one after another heartstopping course of survival. Lots of lessons, mostly stop and think before acting, and learn from it. Really enjoyed this and looking forward to the next in this series.
May 18, 2020
Second book in the series, even better than the first. I thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this before publishing for an honest opinion. You should read the first book to get the lay of the world building in this series. Rowan has a hard decision to make and ultimately must sacrifice for her people, thus begins her adventure with a few chosen allies to help her. What starts out as a simple but heart felt goal turns into a monster laden adventure with education for all sides in this one after another heartstopping course of survival. Lots of lessons, mostly stop and think before acting, and learn from it. Really enjoyed this and looking forward to the next in this series.
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