Book Review of Dungeon Academy: No Humans Allowed!
The Children’s Book Review

Written by Madeleine Roux

Illustrated by Tim Probert

Ages 8-12 | 208 Pages

Publisher: HarperCollins | ISBN: 9780063039124

What to Expect: Monsters, Adventure, Inclusivity, Friendship

Combining Madeleine Roux’s talent for monster stories with Tim Probert’s magical illustrations, this first book in the Dungeon Academy series is every bit as good as one would expect from this partnership.

Zellidora Stormclash knows she’s not like the other students in Dungeon Academy. Not only is she smaller, less ferocious, and fundamentally less interested in annihilating human adventurers than her classmates – she’s also human. If her classmates knew, they’d rip her to pieces, despite the protection of her two fierce Minotaur mothers. However, it’s not until Zelli discovers her uncanny resemblance to the most feared human of all that she begins to suspect just how truly out of place she is in Faerûn.

To get answers, she will need to leave the monster-filled security of the Academy behind and venture out into the dangerous world beyond. Luckily, she won’t have to do it alone. Unluckily, her companions are far from reassuring: a vegan owlbear, a shapeshifter who refuses to take the shape of anything scarier than a decorative cushion, and a kobold with an inferiority complex. It’s going to be a long journey…

Funny and exciting, the story has everything you could wish for, from a feisty heroine and an exotic school to a heroic quest and a misfit band of friends. Woven subtly throughout the story are details that normalize differences, from differences in appearance to differences in the family make-up and lifestyle. It’s a typical D&D quest adventure, but it’s also a story about accepting yourself and your situation and having the courage to take what life throws at you. Overall, a fantastic read!

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About the Author

Madeleine Roux is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Asylum series, which has sold over a million copies worldwide. She is also the author of the House of Furies series, and several titles for adults, including Salvaged and Reclaimed. She has made contributions to Star Wars, World of Warcraft, and Dungeons & Dragons. Madeleine lives in Seattle, Washington with her partner and beloved pups.

About the Illustrator

Tim Probert is an author and illustrator whose work is made of equal parts wonder, magic, and adventure, with a dose of monsters and the occasional dinosaur. In addition to making books, he is an art director at Aardman Nathan Love, working on projects for Nickelodeon, Kellogg’s, Coca-Cola, Candy Crush, and more. Tim lives in NYC with his wife and two cats. 

Dungeon Academy: No Humans Allowed! was reviewed by Dr. Jen Harrison. Discover more books like this one by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with Adventure, Eoin Colfer, Fairies, Middle Grade Books, Spy Books, and Twins.