An Awfully Beastly Business

An Awfully Beastly Business is a children's fantasy book series that came out from 2009 to 2011. It was written by three authors—David Sinden, Matthew Morgan, and Guy Macdonald—with illustrations by Jonny Duddle. The story centers on a werewolf named Ulf, who is an apprentice for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Beasts (RSPCB). This organization, founded by the late Professor Farraway, protects endangered magical creatures. Ulf works alongside a giant named Orson, a fairy named Tiana, and a veterinarian named Dr. Fielding to stop poachers from capturing the beasts.

The first two books, *Werewolf versus Dragon* and *Sea Monsters and Other Delicacies*, were released by Simon & Schuster on July 7, 2009. By 2009, the series had been translated into around 10–12 languages. The three authors met at The Judd School and wrote the books in various locations, including the Cornish coast, a caravan in Sinden's garden, and the St Julians club in Sevenoaks. They used Knole Park as inspiration for the RSPCB's headquarters. *The Morning Call* described the series as fantastic for children ages 8 to 12.

The books in the series are: *Werewolf versus Dragon* (2009), *Sea Monsters and Other Delicacies* (2009), *Bang Goes a Troll* (2009), *The Jungle Vampire* (2009), *Battle of the Zombies* (2010), and *The Big Beast Sale* (2011). *The Sunday Mail* called *Werewolf versus Dragon* a gripping adventure. *Kirkus Reviews* said fans of Philip Ardagh or Cressida Cowell would enjoy the first two books. However, *School Library Journal*'s Walter Minkel found *Sea Monsters and Other Delicacies* similar to the first, with shallow characters and a predictable plot, though the concept of a fantasy beast preserve was intriguing. *The Horn Book Magazine*'s Shoshanna Flax noted that the pen-and-ink drawings in *Bang Goes a Troll* mixed humor with the sinister. *The Sunday Mail*'s Vicky Edwards called *The Jungle Vampire* a great read that expects the unexpected. Flax also said *The Jungle Empire* balances dark situations with absurdity, and its angular illustrations add humor. In a review of the audiobook of *The Jungle Empire*, *School Library Journal*'s Amy Olson praised narrator Gerard Doyle for maintaining intensity and mystery, calling it a good choice for fantasy fans and children with short attention spans.