Thisby Thestoop and the Black Mountain - by Zac Gorman (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Surrounded by all creatures gruesome and grotesque, Thisby Thestoop, the gamekeeper for the Black Mountain Dungeon, is getting roped into another job--saving the princess's skin--in the debut fantasy-adventure series by Zac Gorman, contributor to the hilarious Rick and Morty comic series.

In the absurd land of Nth, Thisby Thestoop can be found within the forlorn walls of Castle Grimstone, down the precarious steps of the Black Mountain dungeon, up to her nose in griffon toenails, gnoll spittle, and troll meat (to give to them, not made of them).

When the prince and princess arrive for a Royal Inspection, the much too good-looking Princess Iphigenia winds up lost in the tunnels of the dungeon--without her guards, her staff, or her younger twin brother--and it's up to Thisby to guide the princess safely past the hoards of minotaurs, wyverns, ghouls, and who-knows-what-else that would love nothing more than to nosh the royal highness for dinner.

Thisby Thestoop and Princess Iphigenia have a dangerous adventure ahead of them. If they're going to a rescue the missing prince, stop a mounting war, and keep safe all the creatures who call the mountain dungeon home, they'll have to learn how to trust each other.

Don't miss the first book in this rollicking new fantasy-adventure series from debut author Zac Gorman!

From the Back Cover

In the absurd land of Nth, within the forlorn walls of Castle Grimstone, down the precarious steps of the Black Mountain dungeon, you can find Thisby Thestoop, gamekeeper and sometime friend for all creatures gruesome, grotesque, and uncommon.

Though she is often up to her rather pointy nose in griffin toenails, gnoll spittle, and troll meat, Thisby keeps track of it all the only way she knows how--by taking careful notes. So when her black-toothed Dünkeldwarf boss informs her that the prince and princess are arriving for a Royal Inspection, Thisby knows she'll need every note she's ever written to make sure everything goes according to plan.

But when Roquat stupidly rouses a tarasque, the much-too-good-looking Princess Iphigenia winds up lost in the Black Mountain dungeon without her guards, her staff, or her younger (by two minutes) twin brother. With the dungeon in shambles and all the easy paths home blocked, Thisby is the only one who can guide the princess safely past the ghoulish creatures that would love nothing more than to nosh the royal highness for dinner.

It's a dangerous adventure ahead for these two unlikely friends. And if they want to succeed, they'll have to trust each other. It's the first book in this rollicking new fantasy-adventure series from debut author Zac Gorman.

Review Quotes

"Tweens will instantly connect with innovative, hardworking Thisby and cheer her on. The story is an intriguing page-turner." -- School Library Journal

"A proper adventure story." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Gorman makes a strong children's book debut...delivering a fast-paced, high-stakes adventure. Clever Thisby and forceful Iphigenia make a delightfully odd pairing as they form an unlikely friendship amid the chaos and danger, and Bosma's ghoulish b&w illustrations further help bring the characters and creatures to life." -- Publishers Weekly

"The strength of this first novel of a planned series is certainly its menagerie of familiar and unfamiliar monsters, which Thisby helms as a young and extraordinary zookeeper."
-- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books