Magical creatures and mystery abound in this lighthearted whodunit fantasy.
Princess Lyss can’t wait another second to meet the griffin that’s joining her father’s royal menagerie, so she ditches her lessons and heads for the stables. But the griffin isn’t the only new creature she finds. A boy is hiding—or at least trying to—in the griffin’s stall. The boy is Devin, the griffin’s trainer, and he’s refusing to leave his beloved Tam. Lyss agrees to help him.
But their arrival coincides with the revelation that someone is stealing creatures from the king’s menagerie. Devin is an obvious suspect, though Lys believes someone else is to blame. Determined to clear Devin’s name and put a stop to the endangerment of any more animals, she turns to her favorite magical creatures for help.
Thomson focuses on newfound connection, magic, and suspense to conjure a fast-paced, heartwarming mystery. —Publishers Weekly
Thomson's whodunit is well plotted, escalating to a climax that is both logical and appropriately scary. The world building is also well handled, and readers will enjoy the wide variety of magical beasts who play a role in the story. —Booklist
The fast-paced, amiable narration makes this instantly appealing for mythological creature buffs looking for a breezy mystery alternative to How to Train Your Dragon. —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Highly entertaining. —Kirkus Reviews
Sarah L. Thomson is a former children’s book editor and an experienced author. She has published original fiction and nonfiction work in a variety of categories, from high fantasy series to nonfiction picture books and has experience writing for a variety of licensed properties. She lives in Maine with her family. Visit her at SarahLThomson.com.
Anna Aparicio Català is a Spanish illustrator from Barcelona. Anna holds a degree in Fine Arts and trained in illustration at L'Escola de la Dona. She also teaches illustration. Her work has been recognized internationally and published in multiple languages and countries, including Spain, the United States, Brazil, and South Korea. She lives near Barcelona, Spain. Visit her at AparicioCatala.com.
Magical creatures and mystery abound in this lighthearted whodunit fantasy.
Princess Lyss can’t wait another second to meet the griffin that’s joining her father’s royal menagerie, so she ditches her lessons and heads for the stables. But the griffin isn’t the only new creature she finds. A boy is hiding—or at least trying to—in the griffin’s stall. The boy is Devin, the griffin’s trainer, and he’s refusing to leave his beloved Tam. Lyss agrees to help him.
But their arrival coincides with the revelation that someone is stealing creatures from the king’s menagerie. Devin is an obvious suspect, though Lys believes someone else is to blame. Determined to clear Devin’s name and put a stop to the endangerment of any more animals, she turns to her favorite magical creatures for help.
Praise
Thomson focuses on newfound connection, magic, and suspense to conjure a fast-paced, heartwarming mystery. —Publishers Weekly
Thomson's whodunit is well plotted, escalating to a climax that is both logical and appropriately scary. The world building is also well handled, and readers will enjoy the wide variety of magical beasts who play a role in the story. —Booklist
The fast-paced, amiable narration makes this instantly appealing for mythological creature buffs looking for a breezy mystery alternative to How to Train Your Dragon. —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Highly entertaining. —Kirkus Reviews
Author
Sarah L. Thomson is a former children’s book editor and an experienced author. She has published original fiction and nonfiction work in a variety of categories, from high fantasy series to nonfiction picture books and has experience writing for a variety of licensed properties. She lives in Maine with her family. Visit her at SarahLThomson.com.
Anna Aparicio Català is a Spanish illustrator from Barcelona. Anna holds a degree in Fine Arts and trained in illustration at L'Escola de la Dona. She also teaches illustration. Her work has been recognized internationally and published in multiple languages and countries, including Spain, the United States, Brazil, and South Korea. She lives near Barcelona, Spain. Visit her at AparicioCatala.com.
