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Childhood Is A Magical Time
Dance of the Gargoyles follows a group of friends as they return to the gargoyle realm on a rescue mission that leads them to riddles, ghostly gargoyles, & waking giants. What is the most rewarding aspect of writing an adventure series?
The most rewarding aspect of writing an adventure series is getting to relive the excitement I felt as a kid reading my first adventure. Childhood is a magical time anyway and stories such as these only added to that magic. I’m also excited by the prospect that some child may read these stories and remember them fondly as I have done my favorite stories.
Gargoyles are often portrayed as frightening or ominous creatures. What drew you to making them central figures in your fantasy world?
My wife and I were watching the musical Cats, and I was fascinated by the idea that once a year the cats would come together to decide something related to the human world. Then I began to wonder what gargoyles would discuss if they did the same thing. I toyed with the idea of working this idea into one of my adult supernatural series, but it never felt right. Once I decided to make it a middle-grade series, it was only natural that the gargoyles would have their own personalities.
The riddles and puzzles add an interactive element to the story. What do you enjoy about challenging both your characters and your readers?
The riddles and puzzles also seemed like a natural element in the gargoyle realm. I loved solving puzzles as a kid, and it was something that Milo and his friends could also do, without having to be athletic or having magical abilities. My hope is that the readers have a little fun by trying to solve them before the characters do, which is why I delay the answers a bit.
Can fans look forward to more adventures withMilo Savage and the Gargoyle Hunters?
There’s a good chance that we could hear more from Milo and his friends. But there’s an even better chance that a little-sister version of the adventure is somewhere in our future. Stay tuned…
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The gargoyle realm is about to be discovered! And if that happens, all of humanity will be doomed. Not to mention, poor Gerty, the talking English sheepdog is still trapped somewhere inside the realm.
Milo and his friends must travel into the uncharted Westworld and follow a strange trail of clues to find Gerty and the talisman which controls the Moonstone. Without it, the Snarloks will take over and imprison every human on earth.
But Westworld is an ancient and mysterious place. So ancient, that it’s rumored if people venture into it, they forget who they are. And they become lost forever.
Follow along with Milo, Suzy, Sammy, and Kat, as they palaver with a giant gargoyle signpost, try to survive the Slithering Desert, and find a mirage, all while solving gargoyle riddles, in the final book – Dance of the Gargoyles!
Milo Savage and the Gargoyle Hunters – Dance of the Gargoyles
Dance of the Gargoyles by D.S. Quinton follows Milo Savage and his friends as they return to the gargoyle realm to rescue Gerty, Uncle Horace’s loyal sheepdog, who has been dragged toward the dangerous borderlands of Westworld. Their rescue mission tumbles into riddles, ghostly gargoyles, waking giants, Snarlok schemes, and a ticking clock tied to the mysterious Dance of the Gargoyles. It is the third book in the Milo Savage Series, and it carries the energy of a quest already in motion.
I enjoyed the book most when it leaned into its oddball inventiveness. Quinton has a knack for making danger feel elastic: a stone road becomes a tidal wave, a signpost becomes a trial of riddles, and the gargoyle realm seems to obey rules that are half magic and half mischievous engineering. The humor is broad enough for young readers, but it has a nimble and genuine quality that kept me smiling. Grimlo, Uncle Horace, Gorp, and the kids all bring a slightly different rhythm to the story, and that gives the adventure a lively, companionable clatter.
I enjoyed the way the book treats courage as something practical rather than grandiose. Milo and his friends are scared, confused, hungry, and frequently outmatched, but they keep moving. The friendship among the kids gives the story its ballast, especially when the realm becomes strange enough to unmoor them. I also liked that the book doesn’t sand off its weird edges; it lets the gargoyles be eerie, ceremonial, and funny all at once. That mixture gives the story its own unique sparkle.
This middle-grade fantasy is a children’s adventure and portal fantasy filled with magical creatures, gargoyles, and a friendship quest. Readers who enjoy the accessible wonder of The Chronicles of Narnia or the brisk, creature-filled adventures of Cressida Cowell will feel at home here, though Quinton’s world has a goofier, more gargoyle-haunted personality. The perfect audience is middle-grade readers who like fast-moving quests, enchanted creatures, riddles, and a little safe-creepy peril.
Pages: 140 | ASIN : B0GHPNJ96L
