Book excerpt: In this epic new adventure series that "is sure to keep lovers of Rick Riordan running to the shelves" Sam London is recruited by the Department of Mythical Wildlife and sent on a covert mission when the secret that legendary animals are real is in danger of being exposed (School Library Journal)! Haunted by a dream of a mythical gryphon, Sam London uncovers an ancient secret that will change the way he sees the world forever. Recruited by Dr. Vance Vantana, an eccentric zoologist and park ranger sent by the government, Sam is whisked away on an adventure that takes him to the farthest reaches of the globe. Along this journey, Sam learns an incredible truth: mythical creatures are real and living among us in our national parks. A special department in the U.S. government ensures that their existence remains hidden. But Sam’s dream is an omen that the secret may now be in danger. Someone seeks the power to expose these creatures and overthrow humankind—and that power can only be found in a magical talisman known as the gryphon’s claw. "A death-defying, globe-spanning adventure, packed with creatures out of folklore and myth....[Guardians of the Gryphon's Claw is] a solid series opener and debut for Gallicano, who stocks his story with engaging characters, human, and otherwise."-Publishers Weekly “So original and exciting. This is the best fantasy-adventure novel I have read in some time.”—Martin Olson, New York Times bestselling author of The Adventure Time Encyclopaedia