Admit this will be on the To-do reading list. Can't read the fourth and final novel when it's a series! Have to the other books to the series now. LOL!

This was a fun book that my 5th grader enjoyed. It didn't have the general princess that loves unicorns, so she was actually interested in it.

We would recommend and will have to start the series from the beginning! ( )

This is book 4 of the series and even though I had not read the other three books, I was able to follow the characters with no problem. I very much enjoyed this middle grade fantasy and will probably go back and read the other three. The characters were so much fun and the story was exciting. Rowen is a super protagonist and the fantastical beasts were exciting and magical. I loved the Monsters Field Guide at the end of the book. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, old or young, who enjoys a wonderful fantasy read. ( )

This is a fast-paced middle grade adventure and it was so much fun to read! Rowan, together with her brother Rhydd, close friends Dain and Alianor, the sort-of-prince Trysten, and her loyal companions Malric and Jacko, sets out on a journey to the neighboring kingdom of Roiva. Their mission is to meet with Roiva’s officials to ensure the safety of the dragon that decided to make Tamarel’s mountains her permanent home. The mountains are very close to Roiva’s border, and High General Corisande is concerned that the people of Roiva might be in danger. Not only that, but they suspect that the recent monster migration, which threatens to disrupt the ecosystem, is most likely caused by the same dragon. The dragon has been upset lately, and no one knows what's causing it. If Rowan can successfully handle the situation, she’ll complete her trials and finally become a Royal Monster Hunter. What Rowan doesn’t know is that both High General Corisande and the dragon have their own plans for Rowan and her friends.

The main characters, the enchanting setting, and the fantastical creatures all won my heart in this book. I absolutely loved Rowan! She was empathetic, mature, and introspective, and took the time to process her emotions, understand others and their motives, and truly get to know all of the fantastical creatures they encountered during their adventures (even if some of them scared her at first). I think that’s such a great message! I appreciate how the book encourages young readers to not only learn about and understand animals but also to respect and admire wildlife from a distance. I also loved the illustrated guide at the end of the book which provided beautiful artwork and unique details about the various creatures mentioned in the story.

This is the first book I’ve read in A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying, and I’ll definitely go back and read the entire series from the start. I had so much fun reading this book, and I am sure that I would've loved this story even more (if that’s even possible) if it had been published when I was a child. I can’t wait to share it with my nieces and nephew!

Thank you, LibraryThing, the publisher Puffin Canada, and author Kelley Armstrong for the gifted copy! I received a free copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ( )

When I requested and won The Final Trial through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program, I did so because it was by Kelley Armstrong, one of my favorite authors. I have not read the three previous books: A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying, The Gryphon's Lair, and The Serpent's Fury. It took me a few chapters to warm up to the characters. I'm used to Ms. Armstrong's heroines being adults or teens, so I was surprised to learn that Princess Rowan, Monster-Hunter Elect of the kingdom of Tamarel, was only twelve.

The mother dragon from one or more of the earlier books is spooking the kingdom of Roiva. Crown Prince Rhydd, Rowan's twin brother, is accompanying her and others to educate the scholarly people of Roiva that the dragon is not the danger they think she is. I was pleased to learn that Tamarel's monster hunters don't just kill monsters. They also try to find ways for monsters and humans to peacefully co-exist. It was another surprise to learn that the firstborn of the royal couple inherits the kingdom whether male or female. The job of Royal Monster Hunter goes to the second born. How lucky for Roman, if not her twin, that his injury means they've had to switch roles. Rhydd is better at the political stuff and Rowan has a talent for dealing with monsters.

The diplomatic party consists of the twins, their great-aunt Liliath (a member of the Royal Council), their friends, Dain (another 12-year-old), 13-year-old sort-of-Prince Trysten and Alianor (a former bandit chief's daughter), Rowan's bodyguard Kaylein, and Wilmot, Rowan's trainer and Dain's foster father. Six nameless guards are included.

Yet another pleasant surprise is that Tamarel's people are brown, Roiva's people (where Kaylein's family is from), are black; and Wilmot appears to be the only main character who is white.

As this book opens, our party has reached the ( )