{"product_id":"a-royal-guide-to-monster-slaying-isbn-9780735265370","title":"A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying","description":"\u003cb\u003eMonster hunting isn't for the faint of heart -- the first in a brand-new middle-grade series by \u003ci\u003eNYT\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author, Kelley Armstrong.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTwelve-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. \u003cbr\u003e      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.\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eOne of the School Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e’s Best Middle Grade Books of 2019\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eOne of the Ontario Library Association’s 2019 Top Ten Titles\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePRAISE FOR \u003ci\u003eA Royal Guide to Monster Slaying\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\". . . [A] fast and fun read, a great read-a-like for Tamora Pierce’s 'Tortall' series.\" \u003cb\u003e--STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A fresh take on familiar fantasy creatures and situations.\" --\u003cb\u003eSTARRED REVIEW, \u003ci\u003eShelf Awareness\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\"A rousing romp for monster hunters and monster lovers alike.\" -\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e-Kirkus Reviews\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\"A gripping middle grade debut.\" --\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Armstrong’s characters challenge gender norms, and her writing attends to themes of social justice and animal welfare, relying on strong episodic tension to drive the narrative. Highly Recommended.” \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e--CM Magazine\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“A 100% engaging romp for fans of fantasy and feisty heroes!”  --\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e49th Shelf\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eKELLEY ARMSTRONG \u003c\/b\u003eis the #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e-bestselling author of three trilogies for teens: the Darkest Powers; Darkness Rising and Age of Legends, as well as several thriller and fantasy series for adults and three YA thrillers (\u003ci\u003eThe Masked Truth\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMissing\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eAftermath\u003c\/i\u003e). She is also the co-author (with Melissa Marr) of the Blackwell Pages series, a middle-grade fantasy series based on Norse gods. \u003ci\u003eThe Masked Truth\u003c\/i\u003e received a starred review from \u003ci\u003ePW\u003c\/i\u003e (\"overflowing with twists\"), while \u003ci\u003eMissing\u003c\/i\u003e received a starred review from \u003ci\u003eVOYA \u003c\/i\u003e(\"a compelling thriller that keeps the reader hooked until the end\"). Visit Kelley online at kelleyarmstrong.com“I know you love unicorns, Rowan, but please stop staring at mine. You’re making him nervous.\u003cbr\u003e ”I do not love unicorns, as my aunt Jannah knows. Jerks. All of them. I’m not staring at Courtois. I’m staring him down. Unfortunately, she’s wrong about the third part, too. I can’t make him nervous, no matter how hard I try.\u003cbr\u003e We’re in the castle courtyard, the high stone walls stealing the morning sun. Around us, the royal hunters prepare for their mission. A mission I should be joining. My twin brother, Rhydd, is and I belong at his side, keeping him safe.\u003cbr\u003e As I scowl at Courtois, Rhydd’s hand thumps on my shoulder. “Give it up, Ro.”\u003cbr\u003e “That beast stepped on my foot,” I say. “On purpose.”\u003cbr\u003e “Yep, I’m sure he did. He is a unicorn.”\u003cbr\u003e I move away from Courtois only to stumble over my aunt’s warg, Malric. The giant wolf lifts his head, upper lip curling to reveal canines as long as my hand. The last person who tried to pet him lost two fingers. Even I know better. I quickstep out of his reach.\u003cbr\u003e “Making friends with all the monsters this morning, aren’t you?” Rhydd teases.\u003cbr\u003e As I grumble, he leans in to whisper, “I know you’re upset. You’re worried about me going on the gryphon hunt.”\u003cbr\u003e “I’m not wor—”\u003cbr\u003e “You’re worried, and this is how you show it. By grumbling and scowling and staring down unicorns.”\u003cbr\u003e “It’s not fair.”\u003cbr\u003e “I know,” he says.\u003cbr\u003e My scowl deepens, and I want to kick the dirt and growl and stomp. That would be childish, though, and I am not a child. I’m twelve. I’m a princess. One day, I’ll be queen.\u003cbr\u003e I don’t want to be queen. I’ll be horrible at it. Rhydd should get the throne. Even now, as scared as he is, he’s trying to calm me. That’s what a real leader does.\u003cbr\u003e “Rhydd?” Jannah calls. “Saddle up.”\u003cbr\u003e As Jannah climbs onto Courtois, her sheathed sword swings by her side. I look at that sword, a gleaming ebony-wood center with a razor-sharp obsidian edge. I imagine it in my hands, and a lump rises in my throat.\u003cbr\u003e This is who I want to be. This is who I should be. Not the queen, but the royal monster hunter. Everyone knows it. I hear the whispers, how my thoughtful brother should sit on the ivory throne, how his headstrong twin sister should wield the ebony sword.","brand":"Puffin Canada","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304405487845,"sku":"NP9780735265370","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780735265370.jpg?v=1767720762","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/a-royal-guide-to-monster-slaying-isbn-9780735265370","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}