AustLit

'This is the story of a creature who hatches down in the vast underground lair where monsters dwell but who looks just like a human boy. He's a child with feet in both worlds, and he doesn't know where he fits. But little does Imp realise that Thunderguts, king of the ogres, has a great and dangerous destiny in mind for him.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'The magical follow-up to The Monster Who Wasn't. The second book in this brilliantly rich and strange fantasy series will make us all believe in monsters – be they good, bad or somewhere in between.

'Sam might be half-monster and half-fairy, but since finding a loving family with the Kavanaghs, his daily life has been all human. And now he's facing one of the greatest human challenges – starting secondary school.

'But Sam barely has time to worry about the strange stuff teachers say (why do they call it the Great War when it sounds like was anything but great?) before he is thrust back into the world of monsters. Sam's school friends Amira, Hazel and Wilfred reveal that they are shifters: noble twin-souled beings who live half their lives as humans and the other half as dogs. When his new friends are kidnapped one by one, Sam is dragged into an adventure that will force him to confront both halves of his own identity, monster and fairy, if he wants a chance at saving their lives …' (Publication summary)

'Sam's life has always been strange. After all, his family have no idea that he's half monster, half fairy.

'But now he's keeping an even bigger secret. He alone has the power to bring monsters to life! (He's even got a tiny gargoyle hatchling hidden in his sock drawer.)

'When Queen Maggie finds out, she's delighted. She wants Sam to create her a whole new legion of vile ogres.

'When he refuses, she vows that she will destroy everything Sam holds dear. And so the stage is set for a final battle, one that will determine not just Sam's future, but that of the whole of monsterkind …' (Publication summary)