Knights vs. Monsters

By Matt Phelan

Renowned for their courage, their chivalry, and their ability to fight mythical creatures, the Knights of the Round Table face a new band of dangerous opponents—MONSTERS!

In the rip-roaring sequel to Matt Phelan’s acclaimed Knights vs. Dinosaurs, four daring knights and one intrepid archer face off against legendary monsters. This heavily illustrated middle grade adventure is a hilarious tale of derring-do that is perfect for reluctant readers and fans of The Terrible Two and The Wild Robot.

Award-winning creator Matt Phelan’s Knights vs. Monsters is a highly illustrated, fast-paced adventure full of uproarious knightly hijinks, surprising secrets, and terrifying monsters.

When a magical boat sweeps the Knights of the Round Table off to Scotland, they take on the evil Queen Morgause and her horde of monsters. With art on nearly every page, including an epic fight scene depicted in several graphic-novel style spreads, this engaging story is ideal for reluctant readers, aspiring knights, and fans of Gordon Korman’s Masterminds.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: May 7, 2019
• ISBN: 9780062686282

Matt Phelan

Matt Phelan's many books include the popular picture book Very Hairy Bear by Alice Schertle and the innovative graphic novel The Storm in the Barn, winner of the Scott O'Dell Award. He lives in Philadelphia. Visit him online at mattphelan.com.  

Book preview

Prologue

Something lurked in the mist. Something large. Something nasty.

Four knights and one young girl stumbled half blind on the dark, misty moor as well.

Where is it? yelled Sir Erec of the Round Table, brandishing his broadsword. BORS!

Sir Bors bounded out of the mist, swinging his sword every which way. There’s more than one! Where’s Hector?

I don’t know. Can’t see anything in this blasted mist. Erec turned sharply. There! I think—

He didn’t finish the sentence. An enormous hairy arm with fiendish claws burst from the mist and sliced Erec’s garment.

Bors raised his blade with a deep battle cry. Erec regained his footing and joined the battle.

Hector! We need you! NOW! he called.

Elsewhere . . .

Magdalena, the Black Knight, moved slowly, cautiously, a sword in one hand, a dagger in the other. Her eyes, intense and piercing, scanned the impenetrable fog.

She took a single breath.

An enormous tentacle whipped through the mist and wrapped around her legs, knocking her to the ground. She dropped her sword but still held the knife. The Black Knight slashed at the tentacle but could not quite reach it.

The tentacle dragged her across the rocky terrain. A low growl rumbled louder and louder.

Suddenly . . .

An arrow pierced the tentacle. The mysterious beast roared.

Melancholy Postlethwaite leaped from behind a stone wall, a bow in hand, a fresh arrow released in midair.

Mel landed, rolled, sprang to her feet, and helped the Black Knight untangle from the flailing tentacle. But seven more whipped furiously above them. The Black Knight found her sword, drew herself to her full intimidating height, and wiped a strand of hair from her eyes. Mel stood beside her, bow at the ready.

Meanwhile . . .

Bors and Erec soared backward through the air and landed with a thud against a small stone hut.

Winded, they slowly rallied their strength.

The sound of enormous feet crunched toward them.

They froze, eyes on the dark mist. A monster emerged from the gloom. It was huge, terrifying, fierce, and—

Wait, said Erec. Is that a wee mustache?

In a darkened hall of Camelot, two court minstrels sat by a small fire, tuning their instruments.

That’s not it, said the first. He shouted: ‘We must act!’

No, it was ‘wee mustache.’

That doesn’t make any sense.

The minstrel shrugged. That’s the most reliable tale at the moment. Some Scottish peasant came through town the other day. He’d heard the tale from a cousin of a cousin who was there and sent a letter all about it via raven. I heard it from John Muddle, the tinsmith. Who told you?

Bertha, the innkeeper. But that’s exactly the problem, you see. It’s all hearsay. Worse, it’s whisper-down-the-lane. How is a respectable minstrel expected to know all the little details?

We do what we can, Paul.

They continued tuning.

I hear the squire is now quite an accomplished archer.

"Well, that’s what I mean, John. You hear? From whom?"

Lionel. Lutist from . . . Devon, I think.

Ugh. What a hack.

I know. But he has a new song called ‘Melancholy the Erstwhile Squire Who Is Now an Accomplished Archer.’

Good title. But Lionel has no sense of melody.

Tell me about it. And how difficult is basic song structure? Verse, verse, verse, verse, verse, verse, verse, chorus, repeat.

The fire crackled. A string twanged into tune.

I wonder where he heard the archer bit.

"Who knows? We won’t have the full accurate account, the actual facts of the story, until the Band of the Terrible Lizards returns."

They shan’t return.

A dark figure emerged from the shadows of the hall.

Sir Gawain. We did not see you there.

Gawain stood by the fire and poked it slowly. I have just received word from my brother, Sir Agravaine. Grave news from our home. Gawain put the poker down and stared at the blazing fire for a moment. The Band of the Terrible Lizards has met their end. They fought bravely, of course. . . .

He turned and walked to the door of the hall.

But some things are unconquerable, even for the greatest of heroes.

Chapter One

Always Board a Magic Boat

One week earlier . . .

S

ir Erec lifted the grail to the light of the candle. He turned it gently, slowly.

An elderly couple stood a few feet away in the dark cottage. They watched Erec with bated breath.

Erec held the grail still. He examined a detail for a long moment.

No. Erec tossed the grail casually to his left hand and set it down on the table.

What do you mean, Sir Erec? the aged man asked. It is surely the Holy Grail you seek.

"It’s a nice grail, truly. Great grail. But it’s not the grail."

How can you tell? demanded the lady.

Erec turned by the door.

Because it doesn’t . . . glow or shimmer or . . . vibrate slightly. I’ll know it when I see it.

Sir Bors leaned against the door. He rolled his eyes and huffed as Erec walked past him. Bors followed Erec outside the

Reviews for Knights vs. Monsters

[albaarango · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Knights vs. Monsters is a sequel, which I did not realize when I started the book, but it did not appear necessary to have read the first one to follow this one along. It tells the story of the young Knights of the Round Table after getting aboard a mysterious ship. and their adventures fighting the evil Queen Morgause and her team of monsters.What I liked: fun story line. Any time kids fight monsters it’s a good time; and make those kids knights? Even better! The characters are unique, and their interactions are witty and enjoyable. The illustrations are fabulous, and I enjoyed the references to King Arthur folklore.What I didn’t like: I didn’t care much for the random graphic novel chapter in the middle of the book, but I suppose it is an interesting way to introduce young readers to graphic novels. I found the beginning a little slow, but the action did pick up.Overall, a good read for a transition from Chapter Books to Middle Grade. I would recommend for ages 8-10.4 out of 5 stars