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WORK TITLE: Llama Quest
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WEBSITE: https://www.kaydavault.com
CITY: Nashville
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COUNTRY: United States
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LAST VOLUME: SATA 407
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PERSONAL
ADDRESS
CAREER
Illustrator and comic artist.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Kay Davault is a Nashville-based illustrator and comic artist. She is the creator of the graphic novels Star Knights and Misfit Mansion, which mix her love of horror and fantasy. In an interview on the American Booksellers Association website, Davault talked about the priorities of story creation in terms of beginning with visuals or a plot. Davault insisted that she usually “starts with the idea of a character. I love character design and imagining what their world is like, and what they want out of life.”
In Star Knights, Tad the Frog is rejected when he asks to join a group playing the game Star Knights in the forest. He is denied because, as a Mud Dweller, it is believed that he cannot ascend to the heavens. Tad goes off with a salamander. When a star falls, Tad helps who he thinks to be Stello, the Star King, return to the heavens. In return, he makes wishes that cause things to change and the creation of a new legend.
Booklist contributor Ronny Khuri opined that “smooth linework, rounded edges, and a soft palette of teals and deep reds lend a squishable feel to” each page. A Kirkus Reviews contributor remarked that “unlikely and unexpected heroes and cosmic royalty in disguise underscore the lively quest, while intriguing reversals serve to emphasize Tad’s emotional growth.” Writing in School Library Journal, Emilia Packard called it a fantasy novel “with lots of heart, bursting at the seams with plot, and should prove a delight with fantasy lovers and cute cartoon fanatics.”
With Misfit Mansion, monsters who have been threatened by humans have taken refuge in Misfit Mansion. Mr. Halloway is responsible for finding monsters who need a safe haven and brings them to the mansion. One of the monsters, Iris, wishes to live with a human family. When Mr. Holloway is out, she takes the other monsters to a nearby harvest festival, where they hoped to blend in. The monsters are generally a big hit, particularly after they save the festival from an escaped dreamon who tried to cause nightmares.
In an interview on Young Adult Books Central, Davault shared the inspiration behind writing this book. She recalled: “I grew up in a single parent household, so I always felt like my life was different from other kids who had two parents. It was like I was missing out on a ‘normal’ family, or even that I somehow wasn’t worthy of one. I wanted to write something for kids who have gone through similar things, and show them that true family comes in many forms.”
In a review in School Library Journal, Gretchen Hardin suggested that the novel “would make a strong fit for most juvenile graphic novel collections, especially those where gently spooky stories circulate well.” A Kirkus Reviews contributor described it as being “a warm play on the theme of inclusivity, with horrors more huggable than otherwise.” Booklist contributor Kristina Pino conceded that “cute character designs make the story less scary considering most of the characters are monsters.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, July 1, 2022, Ronny Khuri, review of Star Knights, p. 54; July 1, 2023, Kristina Pino, review of Misfit Mansion, p. 54.
Kirkus Reviews, May 1, 2022, review of Star Knights; May 15, 2023, review of Misfit Mansion.
School Library Journal, May 1, 2022, Emilia Packard, review of Star Knights, p. 79; June 1, 2023, Gretchen Hardin, review of Misfit Mansion.
ONLINE
American Booksellers Association website, https://www.bookweb.org/ (June 29, 2022), Ernio Hernandez, “An Indies Introduce Q&A With Kay Davault.”
Comics Beat, https://www.comicsbeat.com/ (July 27, 2023), Avery Kaplan, author interview.
Kay Davault website, https://www.kaydavault.com (November 24, 2023).
Young Adult Books Central website, https://www.yabookscentral.com/ (July 27, 2023), Cherokee Crum, author interview.*
Kay Davault is an illustrator and comic artist who spends her time creating stories about cute characters in vibrant worlds, which may or may not contain a monster or two.
Her debut graphic novel STAR KNIGHTS was chosen as an Indie Next book, was a part of the 2022 Indies Introduce list, and was featured in ALA’s 2022 Best Graphic Novels for Children list. MISFIT MANSION was chosen as a 2023 Indie Next Book, an ALA Round Table Best Graphic Novel for Kids, and is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection book.
Kay is proudly represented by Britt Siess of Britt Siess Creative Management.
Please note I am not currently open for freelance for self-published works. Please contact my agent for work inquiries regarding book illustration or comic work. If looking for personal commission info, follow me on Instagram or Twitter, where I periodically open them.
FAQ!
Q: Will Star Knights have a sequel?
A: Unfortunately Star Knights will not, but feel free to continue Tad’s story in your own imagination, or create your own Star Knights!
Q: Will Misfit Mansion have a sequel?
A: Yes!! A sequel to Misfit Mansion is currently planned to be in stores in 2026! Please look forward to it.
Q: Do you do school visits?
A: I do, shoot me a message below for details. I’m also available for digital visits.
Davault, Kay ODDITY WOODS Atheneum (Children's None) $24.99 8, 5 ISBN: 9781665915847
Mystery and confusion reign in Oddity Woods, where haunted passages and dangerous dealings with shadowy creatures await.
When 13-year-old Marietta's adoptive father disappears after a cryptic SOS call, she seeks help in the nearby town of Perdita, where he worked with the police. But the town's police are dismissive, saying they're too busy to follow up on a "silly ghost story." To keep children out, people say that "deep in the woods, a ghost train appears, which steals your soul if you ride it." Trusting her instincts, Marietta runs directly into those storied woods. Upon crossing a mystical threshold that disappears behind her, she finds herself in an otherworldly realm. A boy named Wyatt with a mysterious past appears to be the only living human in a landscape otherwise populated with monsters and ghosts. After escaping a terrifying encounter with the conductor of the ghost train, the two team up, working together to find Marietta's father and get Wyatt home. Originally released as a webcomic, this series opener features luminescent and evocative artwork reminiscent of chibi-style manga. The illustrations effectively convey threats, movement, and emotions. Though the latter half of the book gets a bit complicated by added characters and side quests, the magical gadgets, compelling characters, and exciting twists give the story strong appeal for young fantasy fans. Most human characters are white presenting.
A visually thrilling adventure. (author's note, character files)(Graphic fantasy. 8-13)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Davault, Kay: ODDITY WOODS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 June 2025. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A841814759/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=9509ba3d. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
Danger in the Dragons' Den (Llama Quest #1)
Megan Reyes, illus. by Kay Davault. Random House, $6.99 paper (128p) ISBN 978-0-593-80854-2
To prove he's mature enough to visit the mainland like his older brother, eight-year-old Dak doubles his chore load, which includes the stinkiest job on his family's farm: scooping llama poop for fertilizer and fire fuel. He's soon approached by Fenn, the mysterious, purple-haired girl who lives with the monks next door, and her talking purple llama, Lucy, who request Dak's help in tracking down magic stones scattered across the kingdom. The first, a fire stone, is guarded by a family of dragons who will only talk to children because they "make the best humans." To get it back, the self-dubbed Team Llama Quest must fetch frost flowers to cure the dragons of fire sickness. But the trio aren't the only ones to have made this deal, and time isn't on their side. Reyes (the Heroes of Havensong series) employs fast-paced storytelling to highlight Fenn and Dak's adventurousness and bravery while gradually revealing world details via fluid and flexible third-person text. Animated spot illustrations by Davault (Misfit Mansion) emphasize the characters' emotions and body language, elevating the suspense and stakes. Dak and his family have brown skin; Fenn reads as white. Ages 6-9. Author's agent: Jenniea Carter, New Leaf Literary. Illustrator's agent: Britt Siess, Britt Siess Creative. (Jan.)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
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Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Danger in the Dragons' Den (Llama Quest #1)." Publishers Weekly, vol. 271, no. 38, 7 Oct. 2024, p. 133. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A812513527/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=a7f8c188. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
Davault, Kay LLAMA QUEST #2 Random House (Children's None) $6.99 1, 7 ISBN: 9780593808573
A trio of adventurers search for the second of 12 missing magic stones in order to safeguard the Kingdom of Ravenwood.
Picking up a week after the events chronicled in the first installment (summed up in a quick recap), this book sees the Stone Seekers--youngsters Dak and Fenn and Lucy the magical llama--preparing for a new mission by researching in the library. After they teleport to the forest near the royal castle, they realize that the alicorns--winged unicorns capable of telekinesis--have the stone. Alicorns are notoriously shy, so the team members seek help from Queen Luna. Though the palace is aflutter with preparations for a royal wedding, the queen invites them to consult the royal library. Along the way, they befriend Prince Kamoni and his friend Antonia (both wizard students) and encounter the alicorns. While Reyes relies on well-trod fantasy themes and tropes, young readers will find this book a welcome introduction to the genre. The writing is clear and the pacing effective. Compared with the first volume, this tale offers more character growth and minor but significant internal conflict. Dak deals with complex feelings toward Fenn; he finds her a bit bossy but wishes he could emulate her bravery and confidence. The cartoon art is at its best when depicting the alicorns. Dak, Queen Luna, and Kamoni appear brown-skinned in the illustrations, while Fenn and Antonia are light-skinned.
Fun escapades for budding fantasy fans. (map, excerpt from Fenn's creature journal, questions and activities)(Fantasy. 6-9)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Davault, Kay: LLAMA QUEST #2." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Nov. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A813883612/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=39a19774. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.