Impossible Creatures

Utterly brilliant - it has echoes of all the classic children's series that have come before it: his dark materials, narnia, Harry Potter, but remains entirely original. An instant classic, and Katherine Rundell's best piece of children's fiction so far. Already eagerly anticipating the next in the series.

She’s done it again! Katherine is one of our booksellers’ favourite authors, whether she’s writing for adults or children. This is the start of her first fantasy series and I (like so many others) couldn’t wait to read it. I loved it! The beautiful hardback will be the perfect Christmas present for 9 yrs + in my view.oolong forward to recommending it!!

A boy from our non-magical mortal world joins with a girl in the hidden, magical world of the Archipelago to restore the stolen magic that is putting both existences into danger

Absorbing fantasy that intrigues and captivates from the very start. The main characters have real heart and you root for them all the way; the plethora of supporting cast and creatures add depth and variety. Rundell's world building is exquisite, and her writing is as classy. as always. A beautiful read that is hard to put down

Impossible Creatures is an absolute joy to read. Katherine Rundell is a word weaver extraordinaire; unequivocally a masterful storyteller and this latest offering is spellblindingly brilliant. Filled with the essence of a timeless classic, Rundell draws the reader into a wondrous imagined world and one that many would love to live in. There is much to enjoy in this story that is filled to the brim with magic, adventure and wonderfully created imaginings and that is what makes this a truly fantastical read.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for this early read.

Oh my goodness how I love this book! I felt a sense of loss when finishing it, I enjoyed it so much. Any book that starts with a bestiary of magical creatures has made an excellent beginning in my opinion and it has to be said that Katherine Rundell’s usual brilliant text more than lived up to my hopes of an amazing read. I shed some tears whilst reading and was enthralled by the descriptions of this new world with events that affect our own world and characters that reflect the nature of mankind, both good and bad - I’d give this book ten stars out of five if I could, yes it really is that amazing.

Filled with all the action and adventure you could ever want, this book will have you swept up on a quest to save the Archipelago. We follow our brave and fearless protectors, Mal and Christopher who embark on their journey to figure out why the magical creatures of the islands are dying.

The beginning of the book shows us a ‘Guardians Bestiary guide’ which will introduce you to all the creatures you may encounter throughout the books journey. From centaurs to dragons, griffins and Ratatoska’s, it’s a vivid and imaginative world which will immerse you as soon as you flip open the first page. The accompanying drawings were also beautifully designed.

The story itself was fab and I found it no problem at all becoming thoroughly invested and addicted. It was so hard to put down and so easy to read, I ended up racing through the book in no time.

The characters were all great along with the creatures and people you meet along the way. They all added something to the story and it was fast paced and engaging throughout. The whole concept of the immortal was an intriguing one and it was an expertly crafted story for children (and adults!) alike. I really enjoyed it from beginning to end.

A joy to read. Honestly, at this point, Katherine Rundell could write the phone book and I would savour every magical word. Some books, I fly through with a burning desire to know the plot, many I read at a more plodding progress, but just a few magical, wildly incredible books, I read at a medium pace, absolutely entranced and eager for the story to unfold, but simultaneously wanting to savour every word. Impossible Creatures comes into the category of the wildly incredible books. Katherine Rundell just has a beautiful way with words, which makes me stop, digest and savour every description. I feel so fortunate to have been able to read this book early and I would urge you not just to buy it for yourself but for everyone you know as well. I envy you your first reading. And no, it’s not just for children.

How can anyone resist a book where the first chapter starts with "It was a very fine day, until something tried to eat him" and the second with "It was a very fine day, until somebody tried to kill her."? In very few words, we are introduced to Christopher and Mal, the problem which will unite them, and given a succinct impression of the world we are about to enter. Add to this a cast of fantastic creatures, each described in detail in the Guardian's Bestiary, and wonderfully memorable supporting characters - Ratwin is a brilliant creation - who accompany the two on their world saving quest. Full of suspense, peppered with humour, especially through the dialogue and imbued with a real sense of danger where some characters do not survive, this is a thrilling and totally absorbing read. I have no hesitation in adding any Katherine Rundell children's book to our library: her writing is of the highest quality, and the variety of setting and plot is a breath of fresh air when so many children's novels, many of them extremely good, are part of a series. The minute I had finished reading this I wanted to start again at the beginning, so enraptured was I with the world I had inhabited for a short time and enamoured of the characters I had shared it with. I absolutely loved it.

An incredible story of adventure and fantasy. Rundell's best book yet and one that cements her as the successor to Diana Wynne Jones and CS Lewis in perfect time. She is clever, and kind and understands the exact perfect way to write a story.
My book of the year.

Thoroughly enjoyed this fantastical romp through the world of mythical beasts. The story is fast paced and you never know what might happen to the group of travellers next! Will they achieve the goal and mission they have set out on or will it end in disaster? The very end of the story leaves you wondering about what might happen in the future. It’s a great read and I would recommend it. This author was unknown to me prior to reading this book but I think she’s set to be one of the great names in YA/children’s fiction.

Katherine Rundell is one of the most exciting, original and unpredictable of children's authors; every story she creates is set against a different backdrop, location and even period in time. Impossible creatures takes the reader into new waters - the magical world of the Archipelago- a world beyond ours where all the mythical creatures of legends gone by are now living under protection. But something is happening in the Archipelago- the waters are are changing and the creatures are suffocating as the 'glimourie' that they all depend on is fading - but why?

Christopher Forrester is a young boy who has to spend a holiday with his grandfather in remote Scottish countryside; Christopher doesn't know his grandfather is a guardian or a gatekeeper between this world and the magical world. But ignoring the guidance of his grandfather Christopher soon discovers that the hill near is grandfather's home is anything but 'normal ' or safe. Christopher soon finds himself pulled into the world of the Archipelago through an encounter with Mal who is escaping a 'murderer' and protecting a baby griffin. So begins a truly wonderful fantasy adventure story with a cast of incredible creatures and colourful characters.

The two young people understand that the creatures of the Archipelago are in danger and set out to escape the 'murderer' as well as discovering how to save the creatures. Through their journey , they escape a multitude of terrifying incidents, sail the seas, make use of a flying coat find the love, kindness and strength of new friends, battle through a maze and discover a secret that has a powerful impact on them both as well as the inhabitants of this fantastical land.

The story is fast paced and also very moving in parts. Katherine Rundell has a magical touch of weaving a spell around you and pulling you into this amazing world. The imagery within the writing is incredible and the vocabulary /prose is beautiful and powerful. At the start of the book there is a beautifully illustrated compendium of the mythical creatures - some that are familiar -all from different cultures and times past. These really add to the reading experience.

This is highly recommended for the upper key stage 2 range -but ultimately for all lovers of great fantasy adventure. fiction .

As a KS2 educator, I cannot recommend this enough as a class text with so many wonderfully opportunities for creative follow on activities.

Children's fiction book of 2023!

A sweeping, spellbinding fantasy adventure from the magnificent Katherine Rundell. Loved spending time in this wondrous world with its incredible creatures and its brave young protagonists. This book has all the hallmarks of a classic. A superb start to an exciting new trilogy.

As well as the content on my social media pages being almost exclusively children’s book-related, the type of emails I receive is also heavily skewed by the various newsletters I am sent by publishers, bookshops and Net Galley. Usually, I don’t give them more than a quick scan but when one dropped into my inbox from Net Galley to tempt me with this gem from the incredible talent that is Katherine Rundell, I immediately paid significantly more attention.

Ignoring my usual strict rule that I won’t request a virtual read if have several paper titles waiting patiently on the bookshelf for their turn to be picked up, I checked my emails slavishly until one appeared to tell me I had been approved. Finishing what I was then reading, I bumped this to the front of the queue and was quickly drawn into a wonderfully drawn magical world – one populated by the impossible creatures of the title and one full of mystery and the most fantastic adventure.

Like all the best adventure stories, this one is preceded by a beautiful map – however readers are treated not just to a map of The Archipelago but also a copy of The Guardian’s Bestiary, a detailed written guide of a wide assortment of the mythical animals which live there to whet their appetites for what is to come. These creatures are far from the mind of Christopher when he arrives in Scotland to stay with his grandfather and is distracted from what is going on around him by a crowd of squirrels that gather around him, to the astonishment of those looking on. At the same time, within the Archipelago, Mal has returned from flying above the treetops to the home she shares with her Aunt Leonor, unaware that a murderer is lurking outside.

Arriving at his grandfather Frank’s home where he is to stay while his father is away working, the two of them discuss their ability to attract all sorts of wildlife to them – something that Christopher’s father doesn’t approve of – before Frank warns his grandson that his father has requested he is to stay well way from the top of the hill close to the house – a rule that Christopher very quickly decides is pointless and chooses to disobey. Meanwhile, Mal has taken off again and heading deep into the forest, sets up an experiment to investigate the increasing areas of grey soil which are expanding between the trees, only to also discover the latest of many creatures that have inexplicably died there. Alarmed by what she has found, Mal returns home again only for the murderer to burst in and told to run by Leonor does just that, leaping into the nearby river in her efforts to get away.

When Christopher climbs towards the top of the hill, he is stunned when an assortment of unfamiliar animals stampedes past him before he becomes aware of a high-pitched cry and rushes to the top to see what has caused it. Spotting something thrashing about in the small lake there, he wades in and finds an injured griffin. Taking it back to Frank’s, Christopher is shocked when his grandfather produces a map of the Archipelago, telling him that it is the last magical place on Earth, and he is a guardian of the way through which is hidden at the bottom of the lake, before revealing that something bad is affecting the magic and the creatures of the islands. Taking the griffin back to the lake, in the hopes of returning it, Christopher meets Mal who tells him she needs his help. Together with the griffin, they travel back to the Archipelago, only to be confronted by the murderer from whom they manage to escape. Deciding to head to the Azurial Senate – the court of law which covers the Archipelago – Mal and Christopher set off with no real plan other than to ask for help but it soon becomes apparent that they will not find support there. With the murderer in pursuit the two children soon find themselves on an astonishing adventure, one on which they will find allies and enemies in the most unexpected places. Will they be able to work out what is damaging the Archipelago and its wildlife and put things right before it is too late?

To describe this as an adventure story or a fantasy is to sell it very short, it is complex and richly imagined with a cast of characters that I cannot imagine any reader not becoming emotionally involved with. Christopher and Mal are opposite sides of the same coin and when they meet it is soon clear that their relationship is going to be the sort that not everyone is fortunate enough to be blessed with during their lifetime. Both brave and determined, they are prepared to do all that is necessary to bring the magical world back into balance and as a result go above and beyond what might be expected of them time and time again, making this an unputdownable read.

There will be many readers who – like me – pick this up simply because it is Katherine Rundell who has written it and for those individuals, I promise you are in for an astonishingly good read – one which is destined to be on many Best of 2023 lists, my own included, and one which will surely be enjoyed for many years to come. I adored it and cannot recommend it highly enough for those in Years 5 and 6 upwards.

Publishing on 14th September in hardback, this will make a very special Christmas or birthday present and is one that I am already hoping will be the Primary School Book Club read for October on Twitter as I am desperate to chat about it and know that I will not be alone in that.

As always, the most enormous thanks go to publisher Bloomsbury Children’s Books and to Net Galley for my advance virtual read.

I’m actually going to rate this a five because although it’s aimed at younger readers I as an adult found it thoroughly captivating. I’d like to say Christopher is a normal boy but actually he’s pretty much not as animals follow him and it’s not until he goes to stay with his grandfather that he learns his family guard the entrance to a world full of mystery. The group of islands known as the Archipelago are home to creatures of myth and legends and Christopher encounters a baby Griffin but trust me he has no idea how to handle it ! Luckily Mal, a young girl from the Archipelago finds them both but she’s running away from a very bad man who seems determined for whatever reason to murder her !
This was an adventure that just kept me eagerly turning the pages. I loved Christopher from the start as he’s pragmatic and dare I say kindhearted ? Mal is a slightly precocious young miss , stubbornly brave and yet there’s a certain vulnerability to her that the author captures. The supporting characters add greatly to the proceedings and the various creatures we meet are well thought out with attitudes that made me smile. It’s not just creatures that the author brings to life though as she’s given us humans with their faults, fallibilities , fears and hopes to cheer for too with emotions that never feel sentimental. I did find myself drawn in and indeed touched by these events as the story progressed. Yes I happily recommend this book and will certainly look for more by this new to me author.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair