Review by Booklist Review
When Princess Alyssandra ("Lyss") meets Tam, a griffin--and the newest addition to her father's royal menagerie of magical beasts--she also discovers Devin, the griffin's keeper, who has stowed away in his cage. Lyss promises to keep mum about Devin's presence, lest he be returned to his evil master, but the disappearance of several valuable magical creatures from the collection around the same time as Devin's arrival complicates matters: Might he be the thief? 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 (including amphisbaena, dragons, manticores, naiads, vegetable lambs, and a phoenix, to name just a few) who play a role in the story. Short chapters, large print, and frequent black line illustrations will all aid younger readers in understanding the characters and setting, as will the appended glossary of magical beasts. The final chapters appear to be setting the stage for a possible sequel.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
As someone who is as fascinated by her kingdom's menagerie as she is bored of her dreary genealogy lessons, Princess Alyssandra of Aralorn is excited by the arrival of a five-month-old griffin. To her surprise, the griffin, Tam, is accompanied by stowaway Devin, former assistant to a cruel animal trader. Lyss quickly befriends both newcomers and works to prevent Devin's discovery. Then they learn that someone's stealing creatures from the menagerie. The trio embark on an intrepid investigation, but despite sniffing out the most likely culprit, Lyss's father refuses to believe her findings, prompting Lyss, Devin, and Tam to pursue justice themselves. Thomson (Two Friends, One Dog, and a Very Unusual Week) focuses on newfound connection, magic, and suspense to conjure a fast-paced, heartwarming mystery. Thomson's world is populated by resourceful protagonists, fanciful creatures, and quirky supporting characters, including a memorable librarian's apprentice, all of whom are brought to life via softly stylized, lightly comedic illustrations by Català (Sam Can't Sleep). Devin has "fair" skin and is described as "several shades paler" than Lyss. Ages 8--12. (Mar.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Princess Alyssandra works feverishly to protect an innocent boy while figuring out who's been stealing magical creatures from her father's menagerie. Bored by her tutor's genealogy lesson, Alyssandra--called Lyss--becomes distracted by the sight of a horse-drawn cart. Her uncle Raff, who travels the world searching for unusual creatures, has sent his most wonderful contribution yet: a griffin. Lyss notices a boy named Devin sneaking into the menagerie with the griffin. She learns that Devin was once employed by a cruel man who sold Tam to Uncle Raff but that he ran off in order to stay with Tam; he persuades Lyss to keep his whereabouts a secret from her father, the king. One night, the three of them observe two strange men sneaking around the castle grounds by moonlight; the next day, an amphisbaena--a two-headed, lizardlike creature--disappears from the menagerie. Lyss considers confiding in her father, but she prefers to present him with "a neat solution to a mystery rather than a problem he'd have to untangle"--a decision she may come to regret. Though this fast-moving, suspenseful tale takes place over the course of just a few days, it packs in a dazzling array of intriguing characters, both humans and mythological beasts. Laced with humor, the narrative raises thought-provoking philosophical questions as Lyss wrestles with ethical dilemmas. Català's lively artwork complements the text; Lyss appears brown-skinned, while Devin is pale-skinned. Highly entertaining. (encyclopedia of magical beasts)(Fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
