Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Jessica Khoury (Monster and Apprentice)!
Meet the Author: Jessica Khoury
Jessica Khoury is an acclaimed author whose books for teens and young readers have been translated into over a dozen languages and recognized by awards like the South Carolina Junior Book Award and the Ignyte Award. Her bestselling middle grade debut, The Mystwick School of Musicraft, was named one of Audible’s Best Audiobooks of 2019 and is among the Top 20 Most Listened To Children’s Books ever. Also, a fantasy cartographer and illustrator, Jess’s artwork has appeared in New York Times bestsellers, games, and her own books. Drawing inspiration from her Scottish and Middle Eastern heritage, childhood, and the world around her, she lives in Greenville, South Carolina, with her husband and daughters, spending free time hiking, gaming, and creating new stories.
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About the Book: Monster and Apprentice
After a life on the streets Rolan is chosen to apprentice under a feared monster hunter to slay Cryptics—deadly magical creatures born of secrets in this middle grade fantasy perfect for fans of Witcher and Demon Slayer.
Rolan Strider has never belonged—not at school, not in the city of Crisanth, and definitely not in the life of his crime-lord father. So when he’s caught vandalizing one of the city’s lanterns—a serious offense in a world where darkness breeds monsters—he expects prison. Instead, he’s claimed by the Arcanist, a legendary warrior who hunts Cryptics: terrifying creatures born from the secrets people hide.
Dragged beyond the safety of the city, Rolan is forced to train under Luc’s harsh guidance—learning to read, fight, and wield Arcana, the strange power drawn from slain Cryptics. And for the first time, Rolan begins to feel at home.
But the beast Luc has been hunting for years is closer than Rolan ever imagined—and tied to his own past in ways that could destroy them both.
To survive, Rolan must face the truth, wield the power of the very secrets he fears, and decide who he wants to be in this action-packed adventure: an outlaw, a hero…or something else entirely.
~Author Chat~
YABC: What inspired you to write this book?
Growing up, many of my favorite stories were about masters and apprentices, and so I’ve always had a desire to write my own story featuring that particular relationship dynamic! For years, I had the title of this book ready to go: Monster and Apprentice (because I can never resist a pun!) But I wasn’t sure for a while what sort of story would go with it. Would it be adult, or maybe young adult? Would it be very romantic, or perhaps sci-fi? It wasn’t until I found Rolan, the main character, that it all finally clicked into place. But once I knew who he was, I knew the entire story.
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
I have a lot of favorite moments in this story, perhaps more than in any other book I’ve written. But the one I’m most proud of comes at the very end, when Rolan makes an incredibly important—irreversible and life-changing—decision that he could never have made earlier in the story. All of the experiences he has, the struggles he faces, the growth he shows throughout the story, all of it pays off in that moment. And when I wrote, it felt right, and true to his character, and that was how I knew the story was not only working—it was exactly what I had envisioned it to be.
YABC: Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
Going back to the beginning of my writing career—which was, goodness, 16 years ago now!—I have certainly learned and grown a lot. One big thing I’ve learned to prioritize above else is character, character, character. If the characters aren’t right, if they don’t feel real and true and relatable and dynamic, then no amount of plotting or worldbuilding will save that story. I put much more care into my characters now than I think I did early on, and I think it shows in the stories I write.
YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?
The cover of Monster and Apprentice is so different than any cover I’ve had before. I love how artist Susanne Helmigh captured the ferocity and darkness of the Cryptics. These monsters, formed from secrets people carry too long, are truly terrifying and dangerous, and she went all out in communicating that through this cover. It definitely conveys why Rolan and the rest of the characters would be so afraid of these creatures!
YABC: What is the main message or lesson you want your reader to remember from this book?
The heart of this story is in the relationship between Rolan, an abandoned and abused troublemaking kid, and Luc, the lonely, bitter old warrior who takes him in. Their story is about breaking down walls of mistrust and secrets, and learning to accept love and care from other people. I hope readers walk away from the story inspired to connect with the people they love, to appreciate and seek out the community that wants to support them, the same way Rolan and Luc must learn to do.
YABC: What are your favorite themes or tropes?
In this story, I used a lot of my favorite tropes—the master and apprentice dynamic, the grumpy father figure, and above all else, found family!
YABC: Do you have a playlist you listened to while writing?
Of course! For this series, I’m listening to a lot of anime soundtracks, particularly Demon Slayer. It helps me visualize the big fight scenes! I also use a lot of video game soundtracks, particularly from The Witcher and Skyrim, as those are both worlds which inspired the one in Monster and Apprentice.
YABC: Do you have an unusual office supply that helps you in your writing routine?
I have gotten into custom keyboard building lately—creating keyboards that are really pretty but also have lovely, sensory sound output when I’m typing. It’s almost like ASMR, really! It makes writing all the more delightful, and I use different keyboards for different books.
YABC: What kind of animal would your main character be and why?
Rolan would be a stray puppy, one that’s really mistrustful of people and would bite anyone who came too close. Luc would be a bear, big and scary and dangerous—but very soft and nurturing to the ones he chooses to protect!
YABC: If you could collaborate with any other writer in history, who would it be?
Ursula K. Le Guin! I don’t think I’d every be worthy of collaborating with her, but I would love to just sit and listen to her speak about stories and storytelling. She was such a genius, and so revolutionary and groundbreaking with the stories she told!
YABC: What would you say is your superpower?
My writing superpower is definitely world building! I love crafting magic systems in particular—ones that are new and dynamic, and I got to flex that muscle quite a lot in Monster and Apprentice.
YABC: How do you cope with criticism from editors or the public?
Now that I’m on my sixteenth book release, fifteen years into my career, I honestly just shrug it off. Because by now, I’ve really heard it all! Criticism can sting a lot, and I was far more sensitive to it as a new writer. But I’ve learned how impersonal criticism really is, how subjective reading is, and it helps to know your book won’t be for everyone, and that’s ok! It doesn’t bother me. Well. Not much! XD
YABC: What new release book are you looking forward to in 2026?
I recently read an advance copy of a new middle grade fantasy called Socks and Secret Quests by Triona Murphy. It was really delightful and fun, playing with fantasy tropes and characters in super fresh ways. It comes out in September and would be a fantastic read for any kids who love fantasy stories!
YABC: What’s up next for you?
After Monster and Apprentice comes out in July, I have seven more books lined up for release! Next will be the fourth and final book in my Mystwick School of Musicraft series, and then the first book in my new Scholastic series, My Not So Charmed Life, which I’m also illustrating! And of course, the sequel to Monster and Apprentice will be out next year!
YABC: Is there anything you would like to add?
Thanks so much to YABC for having me over for a virtual visit! I hope readers will fall in love with Rolan and Luc as much as I have, and remember: Beware the shadows!
Title: Monster and Apprentice
Author: Jessica Khoury
Illustrator: Jessica Khoury
Release Date: July 14, 2026
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/McElderry
Genre: Fantasy
Age Range: Middle Grade
