A Gryphon Year

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!

This historic year is vividly pictured as a young American surgeon and Canadian wife dare to enter exotic Manchu (Ching) Empire only a decade after the Empress Dowagers Boxers massacred foreigners. Admired as missionaries, deeply in love, Nell on the ocean liner - begins to doubt James judgment. James, eager to bring modern medicine to antique China, is shocked by the shabbiness of his assigned Hospital-of-Last-Resort with only male apprentices as aides. He faces poor patients with monstrous tumors, plague, stones, does operations never observed, is opposed by unbelievable superstitions. Astonishingly, the foreign doctor (true) is called to Military Headquarters where the Vice-roy of the two Kwang Provinces -- as large as Germany -- has called brilliantly robed Mandarins Ministers of Army, Navy, Law, Treasury, Literary chancellor. Why? Unknown anarchists tried to assonate the Tartar General! Is Revolution brewing? On return, James sedan chair is waylaid by Ming Secret Society dissidents. Different Chinese factions seek James USA support. Pretty teacher, impetuous Stephanie, sponsors returned student radicals. Medical assistants-- for Republic therefore anti-Manchu (very dangerous) -- hide a rebel in his neutral Hospital. Chinese Officials in Manchu Administration expect support for their Self-Strengthening moderates. Meanwhile Nell struggles with her new house knowing no Cantonese, then with intelligent cook-helper knowing no English. Sir Gladwyn, British diplomat, takes her to ancient pagoda; she climbs inside! Shocked at primitive child-birthing in this medieval village, shes chased as Blue-Eyed Witch! Visiting the British Yamn they hear a threatening rocket. Returning to Hospital, James is captured by the Manchu General, is horrified at cruel but brilliant strategy, watches Manchus win historic Battle of Seventy-Two Heroes. Mr.Colocott, Hong Kong tea exporter, Mr.Paronel, British consul, M.Zint, disillusioned but fluent French liaison, Mr. Fa, Hospital pharmacist, argue with the North Americans, fearful and fascinated, as this tumultuous year -1910 - will change World History.

Sam just got a hamster for a pet. But the hamster is kind of boring ... he just eats and sleeps and gets his shavings wet. Inspired by her book of mythological creatures, Sam longs for a more exciting pet. But she soon realizes that taking care of these magical beasts might not be as wonderful as she thought. Sasquatches are messy, unicorns are shy, hippogriffs scare the dogs at the dogpark, and having a fire extinguisher handy at all times makes dragons seem like an awful lot of work. In the end, Sam realizes that her hamster is a pretty sweet and safe pet ... or is he? If I Had a Gryphon is a raucous rhyming read-aloud about fantastical beasts in everyday situations--and the increasingly beleaguered heroine who has to deal with them.

Born to be the next queen of the gryphons, Sunsky of the Mountains sees her whole life ahead of her but conforming to her role is another story. Although she considers taking the mighty Dreamspinner as her official king, she shuns the expectations set upon her and strikes out to find her own path. She soon finds herself falling into a forbidden relationship with a beautiful, black winged horse named Nightsky. The hippogryph baby that is the result of their love is considered an enemy of the gryphons and will be hated and shunned by the gryphonic tribes. After putting family before duty, she is forced to leave her home in the mountains and live with her offspring in the Valley of Outcasts. In her place, the evil Talona seizes the crown and enforces a new order of repression and violence, not only on her gryphon subjects but on the hippogryphs and other subordinate creatures as well. With her family and friends enslaved, imprisoned, or killed, hope for the future begins to fade. Now, Sunsky must answer the call of destiny to return from exile, retake her queendom and unite her fractured nation before it is too late.

A new volume in the Griffith and Sabine story, this is a tale rich in the artistry, mystery, and surprise that made the original saga so beloved. Illustrations.

NY Times Bestselling Author E.G. Foley brews up a magical potion for fantasy readers of all ages! Take a dash of Harry Potter and a splash of Oliver Twist, add a pinch of steampunk and a sprinkle of Victorian fairy lore, and what do you get? The Gryphon Chronicles! A rollicking fantasy adventure series that's as much fun for grownups as it is for kids. Strange new talents... Jake is a scrappy orphaned pickpocket living by his wits on the streets of Victorian London. Lately he's started seeing ghosts and discovers he can move solid objects with his mind! He has no idea why. Next thing he knows, a Sinister Gentleman and his minions come hunting him. On the run for his life, Jake is plunged headlong into a mysterious world full of magic and deadly peril. A world that holds the secret to who he really is: the long-lost heir of an aristocratic family - with magical powers! But with treacherous enemies closing in, it will take all of his wily street instincts and the help of his friends - both human and magical - to solve the mystery of what happened to his parents, and defeat the foes who never wanted the Lost Heir of Griffon to be found... (270 pages / 100,409 words)

This historic year is vividly pictured as a young American surgeon and Canadian wife dare to enter exotic Manchu (Ch'ing) Empire only a decade after the Empress Dowager's 'Boxers' massacred foreigners. Admired as missionaries, deeply in love, Nell - on the ocean liner - begins to doubt James' judgment. James, eager to bring modern medicine to antique China, is shocked by the shabbiness of his assigned Hospital-of-Last-Resort with only male apprentices as aides. He faces poor patients with monstrous tumors, plague, stones, does operations never observed, is opposed by unbelievable superstitions. Astonishingly, the 'foreign doctor' (true) is called to Military Headquarters where the Vice-roy of the two Kwang Provinces -- as large as Germany -- has called brilliantly robed Mandarins - Ministers of Army, Navy, Law, Treasury, Literary chancellor. Why? Unknown anarchists tried to assonate the Tartar General! Is Revolution brewing? On return, James' sedan chair is waylaid by Ming Secret Society dissidents. Different Chinese factions seek James' USA support. Pretty teacher, impetuous Stephanie, sponsors 'returned student' radicals. Medical assistants-- for Republic therefore anti-Manchu (very dangerous) -- hide a rebel in his 'neutral' Hospital. Chinese Officials in Manchu Administration expect support for their Self-Strengthening moderates. Meanwhile Nell struggles with her new house knowing no Cantonese, then with intelligent cook-helper knowing no English. Sir Gladwyn, British diplomat, takes her to ancient pagoda; she climbs inside! Shocked at primitive child-birthing in this 'medieval' village, she's chased as Blue-Eyed Witch! Visiting the British Yamên they hear a threatening rocket. Returning to Hospital, James is captured by the Manchu General, is horrified at cruel but brilliant strategy, watches Manchus win historic Battle of Seventy-Two Heroes. Mr.Colocott, Hong Kong tea exporter, Mr.Paronel, British consul, M.Zinôt, disillusioned but fluent French liaison, Mr. Fa, Hospital pharmacist, argue with the North Americans, fearful and fascinated, as this tumultuous year -1910 - will change World History.