Monkey King and the World of Myths: The Battle of the Beasts - by Maple Lam (Hardcover)

About the Book

The legendary Monkey King, Sun Wukong, embarks on a quest to save the world from a new evil, smashing through ancient Greek mythology as he battles monsters, faces the Minotaur, and tries to secure his place among the gods.

Book Synopsis

Percy Jackson meets Dragon Ball in the second book of this adorable, funny, and action-packed graphic novel series! Now the Monkey King and his sidekick Cerberus are bursting into the world of Japanese folklore!

Monsters of the East, beware! Sun Wukong (aka the Monkey King) and his trusty three-headed pal Cerberus are headed on their next monster-hunting mission to Heian-Kyo, capital of ancient Japan--a city where long ago humans and beasts lived together in peace. But since the great war, the beasts have been cast out of the city and things seem more divided than ever.

When he crash lands in the city, Wukong finds himself in the middle of it all. He soon meets a boy named Momotaro who believes the beasts have stolen an important magical object, and a kitsune named Kit who is convinced humans have burned down the beast's only source of food in the wild. With these latest incidents, the tension between beasts and humans comes to a breaking point.

But Wukong suspects something more sinister is behind everything: a monster trying to get the two sides to fight. He and his new friends must race against the clock to uncover the true villain before all-out war breaks out in the city. Packed with characters from Japanese folklore, magical weapons, and epic battles, this will be the Monkey King's greatest adventure yet!

Review Quotes

Praise for Monkey King and the World of Myths:

A Kirkus Reviews Best of Middle Grade Pick (2025, The Battle of the Beasts)!
A Kirkus Reviews Best of Middle Grade Pick (2024, The Monster and the Maze)!
A CALA Best Children's Book Winner (2025)!

★ "A stellar illustration of the time-honored, universal power of friendship, communication, and mutual trust. Lam again weaves a colorful and exhilarating pictorial narrative that will delight readers . . . [ and her] charmingly expressive and endearing illustrations add humor to this rollicking adventure." --Kirkus (starred review) on The Battle of the Beasts

"In this fast-paced follow-up . . . community leaders learn lessons in mutual understanding through the example of these young unlikely heroes . . . [A] spirited, action-packed story." --Horn Book on The Battle of the Beasts

★ "This humorous and heartfelt series opener is packed with exciting action scenes and a whole lot of monkey business unfolding in cute, colorful, and exaggerated illustrations that are reminiscent of manga. Lam seamlessly weaves together threads from Chinese and Greek mythology to great effect, throws in a cast of highly likable characters, and presents a compelling story focused on a quest for friendship, self-acceptance, and belonging. A thrilling, wholesome remix of a classic Chinese tale." --Kirkus (starred review) on The Monster and the Maze

"Wukong is perceptive and kind, and he quickly realizes that there is almost never anything in the world as simple as pure good or evil. The artwork vibrates with action and humor. . . [but] nothing is too visually intimidating in this colorful, zippy graphic novel." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Lam intertwines lessons in employing critical thinking skills to understand others with fast-paced writing and appealing panel illustrations. With plenty of humor, adventure, and heart, this first book makes for a rousing read." --Horn Book

"A funny, inventive opener. Maple Lam weaves together elements from different world mythologies in clever, playful ways that will leave kids excited to join the Monkey King on his next adventure."--LitHub.com

"Perfect for fans of mythology or those just learning these stories for the first time, The Monkey King and the World of Myths is an extremely fun comic that makes the most of its clever premise." --Good Comics for Kids

"An action-packed and adorable blend of mythological worlds that highlights the power of understanding. Monkey King and the World of Myths reminds us that, with the help of their friends, even outsiders will find where they belong. This compelling and truly unique blend of cultural histories will fill your heart and leave you with a big smile on your face." --Andy Runton, Eisner-Award winning creator of the Owly Series

"Maple Lam does not monkey around. Monkey King is action-packed, heartfelt, and funny from start to finish!"--James Burks, creator of the Agent 9 and Bird & Squirrel series

"I had a blast following Sun Wukong on his hilarious adventures as he navigates world myths retold with a twist." --Remy Lai, award-winning creator of Pie in the Sky

"A fantastic retelling of an old classic tale from the East." --Dan Santat, Caldecott Medalist and New York Times bestselling creator of The Aquanaut and After the Fall

"A kinetic, bombastic, and wholly original cartoon take on classic mythology, exalting in the strength found in self-acceptance and the love of good friends." --Shannon Watters, Eisner Award-winning and New York Times bestselling co-creator of the Lumberjanes series

"Young mythology lovers will adore this funny, action-packed, and playful spin on the classic tales. The illustrations are so cute and fun." --BookRiot

"Filled with cute artwork... A fun introduction to the Monkey King for a younger audience, with room for sequels. Recommended." -School Library Journal

About the Author

Maple Lam is an author-illustrator originally from Hong Kong and now based in Los Angeles, California. Her previous books include the picture books Dim Sum, Here We Come! and My Little Sister and Me. She has also illustrated numerous books for other authors including What Can You Do With a Toolbox? by HGTV personalities The Cousins. Monkey King and the World of Myths is her debut graphic novel series. Visit her at www.maplelam.com.