Thisby Thestoop and the Black Mountain #1 by Zac Gorman

My name is Thisby, and I'm the gamekeeper for creatures living under Castle Grimstone. I've been caring for the monsters all of my life, and I'm the only one who shows them respect. People fear the beasts, but even the monsters fear what's in the Deep Down. Nothing is supposed to be able to pass through the Darkwell, but what if that's wrong? Princess Iphigenia arrived for a tour of the dungeons, but now her twin brother has disappeared. Now, the princess and I are trekking through the far reaches of the dungeon, trying to find our way back up to the castle. Something's happening in these dark depths. Could it have anything to do with the stories of the Eyes in the Dark? It's up to Iphigenia and me to unravel the mystery.

This book was a finalist for a 2018 Cybils Book Award. You're in luck if you love reading about bizarre monsters. The highlight of the book is Thisby, as she tries to cope with a princess who is used to having her orders followed without question. She carries a huge backpack everywhere that creates an amusing mental image. Thisby fears the creatures she oversees, but she understands their behaviors and needs. That's where her careful note-taking comes in. She even takes notes about the princess and learns to understand her. The princess is a dynamic character and grows throughout the plot, as she adopts some of Thisby's positive virtues. The princess has never had a friend and slowly warms to Thisby. Thisby is accompanied by a sentient slime that normally is frightened of his surroundings. Surprisingly, this minor character turns out to be a key factor in the story's conflict and resolution. Overall, this book tells an entertaining adventure, and the imagination of the dungeon-world is a highlight. It shares moments of suspense and humor that should captivate lovers of speculative fiction.