Bea Reviews The Gryphon's Lair by Kelley Armstrong

Series: Royal Guide to Monster Slaying #2
Read As A Stand Alone: Yes, but not recommended
Publisher: Puffin Canada
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: June 2nd, 2020
Buying Links: Amazon* | Apple Books* | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Google Books | Kobo |
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Blurb from goodreads:

The exciting follow-up book in the fantastical duology 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 duology!

My Thoughts:

"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.

My review of book 1, A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying.