This was just pure joy from start to finish. Each book is as good as the last one and I can't wait for the next instalment. Rundell is really so talented and the heir to a long tradition of children's fantasy authors like Rowling, Pullman and Lewis.

Oh Katherine you have done it again! The Neverfear is everything it should be and more. If you haven’t read the first two books in the Impossible Creatures series then go and do so, they are brilliant. This book follows on so seamlessly from the first two and the adventures start straight away.
Christopher and Anya are back and still looking after all the creatures on the Islet of Glimt but are charged with travelling to the City of Scholars to seek council from the Flying Senate accompanied by Ratwin and Jacques. They travel on the ship, the Neverfear and are challenged to complete three Herculean tasks after the kidnapping of their friend Irian.
This book moves very quickly and draws the reader straight back into the story. Katherine certainly knows just how to entertain her audience. Her characters are so real and it is so easy to get invested in them. They are so interesting and fun that their stories leap out of the page and into the mind and become a part of you. These books can be loved at any age from about 8 onwards, they are a delight for adults and children alike. Out at the end of July, make sure you get a copy. It is so worth it.

Oh my gosh, where do I even begin with this magnificent third Impossible Creatures adventure? If there’s anyone out there yet to start the series, count this review as your sign to start ASAP so that you can be up to date in time for the release of The Neverfear because I’m telling you this is one book you don’t want to miss this summer! Honestly, Katherine Rundell’s nickname should become The Neverfear because I Never-Fear (clock the pun) about whether she’s going to knock it out the park with each release!
 
Being three adventures in with The Neverfear, one thing I’m really wanting to praise Katherine Rundell for is the structure of these adventures. For a long time, I feel middle grade fiction was favouring the school year approach to releases, but Impossible Creatures going for a more Chronicles approach akin to Narnia is so appealing to me because it makes me immediately want to jump in to find where the characters are up to! The absolute masterclass in The Neverfear is the way Rundell catches us up and gets the action unfolding. I was gripped INSTANTLY.

Knowing how beloved this series is, I don’t want to give almost anything away because I know readers around myself love discovering the new creatures, new places, never characters all in real time so all I will say on those is that there are introductions of each and they are all exceptional! There’s one creature that appears to change the game moving forward but I’ll let everyone discover that for themselves. Yet again, grounded in history and legend, nothing feels outside the realms of reality and that’s what makes Impossible Creatures sparkle!
 
Our core four are exquisitely developed throughout The Neverfear also. Katherine Rundell’s allowing these characters to grow up and discover things about themselves in a very true to form way and it works wonderfully alongside the plot of this marvellous novel. Ratwin, Jacques, and Anya all begin to delve into what they’re willing to stand for, sacrifice, protect, and the outcomes will surprise a lot of people (and the one maybe spoilery thing I will say is not all of those surprises are the cheery birthday party kind. One of them had me sobbing!).
 
And speaking of sobbing, there is one particular scene for Christopher that I know I’m going to have to talk more on once the book is released but I couldn’t stop crying for a while after reading it. In fact, as I typed that last sentence thinking about it I teared up again. You will know it when you get to it, but Katherine Rundell’s view on the world and its relationships is majestic and the way she can convey what should be globally upheld principles in something as short as a sentence or a paragraph should be shouted about from the rooftops in every major city or middle-of-nowhere village alike. I will remember this book forever for a lot of reasons, but this scene is something I’ll carry will me for the rest of my life.
 
Again, not wanting to be too spoilery, I’ll end this review here for now and revisit it when The Neverfear is released this August. Perfect for anyone aged 8-180, I stand on the hill of if you haven’t started this series yet, now is the time so that you can enjoy The Neverfear amongst the excitement of its release and reread it for decades to come. While you head off to preorder it, I’m off to consider how I’m going to pass the time until book four…

While Mr S and I agree on many things, one of those on which we disagree is what sort of stories are the best. For him, the fiction he enjoys has to be possible to be believable, meaning that he reads a lot of thrillers set in the real world, while for me, with fantasy being my favourite genre, a narrative being able to be true is as far from my mind as is possible. Obviously it would be very dull if readers all liked the same things, but as far as I’m concerned, he is the one that is missing out when I get to enjoy books like this one.

The third in a middle grade series that is as beloved by adults as it is younger readers, here we return to the Glimourian Archipelago in an adventure that is filled with magic and wonder but has as its core what it is to be human – to live, to experience fully all the emotions that come along with that, and in particular what it is to love another individual.

Following their previous adventure, Christopher and Anya have spent three months on the Islet of Glimt, where they have spent their time caring for the creatures too young or old to look after themselves, and when we join them again it is on the day of the Midsummer Feast – a celebration of the longest day of the year, preparations for which have been going on for weeks under the supervision of their friend Fidens Nighthand.

When the evening comes, the festivities are interrupted by the arrival of an uninvited guest who tells them of a terrible attack on a small community and asks Nighthand to pass on the news to the Flying Senate. Unable to leave the islet because of his sworn duties, Nighthand watches Christopher and Anya set sail on his boat the Neverfear for the City of Scholars, accompanied by some of their friends, to speak with the Senate, but shortly after their arrival they are attacked and one of their number is abducted.

Determined to mount a rescue attempt, when they receive a ransom note telling them that if they speak of the kidnapping to anyone – and in particular Nighthand – their friend will be killed, Christopher and Anya realise that they must take charge of the situation themselves. Together with ratatoska Ratwin and Jaculus dragon Jacques, the two children set sail to retrieve the items demanded by the kidnappers. But as they face greater dangers than ever, can Christopher and Anya not only acquire what is demanded of them but also prevent news of the abduction reaching Nighthand? And what will happen to them and their missing friend if they can’t…?

Having met Anya in Book 2 and helping her to right a terrible wrong, Christopher and the former princess are now firm friends and have settled into a routine on the islet that has brought great happiness for both of them. When the party is interrupted with the terrible news of the attack, neither of them hesitates to leave in order to alert the Flying Senate, little suspecting that once again their lives are about to be turned upside down. As we watch them step up to do all that is asked of them in order to save their friend, we are swept away by an incredible adventure that has its roots very firmly in ancient mythology yet manages to be highly original.

In both Christopher and Anya, we are given characters who are brave and utterly selfless in their attempts to do what they know they must, but who are not saccharine-sweet goody-two-shoeses as a result. When things go right for them, we are cheered and given hope that all will be well, but when things go wrong – as they sometimes must – we are left in little doubt that the narrative may not play out in the way that we would like it to, making this a tense and compelling read that treats its young audience as the intelligent individuals that they undoubtedly are.

I am totally invested in this series and cannot wait to read the final two titles next year and, presumably, in 2028. Until then, I am – as I always am – enormously grateful to publisher Bloomsbury and to NetGalley for my advance virtual read of this book. The Neverfear publishes August 27th in hardback.

MAPS!

I'm going to start a petition that means if an author writes a series and there's significant time between releases, there should be a page just reminding the reader of what happened in the previous book because I'd all but forgotten everything that had happened in the series so far.

Having said that, I immediately felt taken in by this book, the characters, the magical animals, that it didn't necessarily matter whether I remembered everything that had come before.

I didn't particularly enjoy the first book. It's was okay but it didn't feel like anything new. But the second book I really liked.

Once again, the little dragon Jacques is my favourite character. He's so witty and funny and rude and outspoken and I just love him.

This series has got better and better and I can see this being a future children's classic.

I could see this as a TV series or film series. It's got a similar filmic quality that Narnia has.

There's magic and dragons and sphinxes and chimeras and centaurs and all manner of wonderful magical creatures that are wonderful.

It's got quite a lot of chapters and they're all relatively short which I like. It helps add to the fast paced nature of the story and helps it go by really quickly.

I read that Katherine plans this to be a series of five books so we've got at least two more which is exciting. Like I said, I didn't overly like the first one but I enjoyed the second. And then this one. So by the time we get to the fifth book it should be really thrilling.

It's not an overly long book but nor is it really short, but it is enjoyable and so easy to lose yourself in that it zooms by and I read it in one night.

I really enjoyed the link between Christopher and the animals. It's a subplot that has gone through the series but it's explored more in this one which was relaly good.

It had a different tone to it than the others but I can't quite put my finger on it. It felt a bit flat. The plot is a bit like join the dots. A bit like "he went there then she went there and he did this". And because it's the third book, she doesn't need to do the character development any more and I missed that. It's the characters who make this series and I found them lacking somewhat here. Still very enjoyable and I'd highly recommend it but it was lacking a certain something.

The Neverfear is a spectacular marriage of heart-pounding, blood-shedding action with soul-touching truths, written with all the intelligence, insights and virtuosity that I have come to expect from Katherine Rundell. I was fortunate to listen to her reading the first chapter aloud to a rapt audience at a recent Waterstones Children’s Festival event, and feel privileged to have been able to read the rest of the novel via an e-ARC from NetGalley. This third book in the Impossible Creatures series carries readers deeper into the mythology of the Glimouria Archipelago, plunging us into a dark plot which gradually reveals its dastardly nature leading to a climactic battle, and leaving readers hyperventilating in desperation for book four.

The story opens with the birth of a unicorn and Christopher Forrester’s realisation that his previously observed connection with animals is now taking on an even more powerful metaphysical form, with the manifestation of a blinding green-yellow light arcing between him and any creature with which he connects. He has become able to communicate mind-to-mind with the impossible creatures living in the Archipelago. This ability becomes a key plot point as Christopher and Princess-warrior Anya Argen, accompanied by Ratwin the ratatoska and Jacques the dragon journey between the islands of the Archipelago aboard Fidens Nighthand’s boat, The Neverfear, to complete three impossible tasks to save the life of a beloved friend. They willingly face fearsome opponents, defy death at every turn and display unconditional love as they race against time, unknowingly manipulated by a deeply ruthless villain.

I do not want to give away any more plot details than strictly necessary because the story is so beautifully plotted and so exquisitely written that I do not want to spoil any reader’s enjoyment of discovering its joys for themselves. Katherine Rundell treats her readership with the utmost respect, presenting them with jokes (including the statutory Belgian one), a magnificently immersive plot and vocabulary and philosophy to challenge their imaginations. There is so much scholarship behind this novel that it virtually pulsates with thought-provoking themes, which I think will grip readers, aged 10 years and above, every bit as much as the thrilling plot and richly imagined fantasy world. I am not supposed to directly quote from an ARC, so cannot directly reference the sentences that halted my reading and brought a lump to my throat, but a line late on about angels laughing is one that is seared into my heart.

The Neverfear will be published in late July 2026, so if you have not already read Impossible Creatures or The Poisoned King (links to my reviews), then I advise you to do so before picking up a copy of The Neverfear.

Really enjoyed this new instalment, it was a good story, lots of twists and turns, had a strange habit of being really slow in parts and then rushing through the action but I’ll forgive it as it is aimed at a younger audience. Never the less I will look forward to the next book

" I asked what he required, and he said : loyalty. I should have known even then: it is the virtue most prized by thugs."

Terror is crossing the Glimouria Archipelago; a group of thieves- the Astorians- is spreading fear across the islands. Their leader Astor Morax demands respect and controls through evil ; the power of snakes and a mysterious Tiger. They need to be stopped and what is their goal?

A new Katherine Rundell read is always to be looked forward to and this third book in the Impossible Creatures series is another superb story combining adventure, fantastical creatures, a peppering of humour and our two fearless heroes- Christoper Forrester and Anya Argen .

When their friend Irian Guinne is kidnapped, the two children accompanied by Jacques the dragon and Ratwin the ratatoska embark on an adventure to save her. Travelling on the ship the Neverfear, they are challenged with three Herculean tasks; retrieving whiskers from a three headed dog; taking the belt from the body of a pirate king and tracking down a golden apple protected by a serpent.

Crossing islands, encountering an array of incredible beasts and battling against time ( there is a race which is simply brilliant) the two children face disaster as the bandits get closer to their goal.This is a story of treachery, loyalty and overcoming evil.

It is the richness of Katherine Rundell's imagination, the magical plot and the power of the vocabulary within these stories that make them head and shoulders above many other fantasy adventures. Already a modern classic, this series is getting better and better.

Perfect bedtime reading for 9 yr olds -adults, a great class read or one to shared with young and old. The Neverfear is another edge of the seat read.

I'm already looking forward to Book 4.

Highly recommended but do read the series in order for best impact.... A masterclass in children's fantasy literature.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Children's Books and NetGalley for the advance copy .

It's the longest day and everyone of Gilmouria is celebrating with a feast. However, all anyone can talk about is reports of masked men burning villages. Something is wrong and when Irian is kidnapped, it's up to Christopher and Anya to rescue her ... without Nighthand discovering what is wrong. Along with Ratwin and Jacques, they set sail to recover three precious treasures that they hope will save Irian before it's too late.

The Neverfear is a book I've been anticipating since reading The Poisoned King last summer, so the opportunity to read an early copy on NetGalley is one I was never going to turn down! At this point, I have to say that I finished reading the book on Sunday and I have been trying to write my review since then - 4 attempts later and I still can't do the book justice! But I want everyone to know how wonderful and beautifully written it is so here's my best effort:

Christopher and Anya are caught in the most impossible situation: they are desperate to tell Fidens what has happened, but the threat of Irian being killed if he finds out proves too much of a risk. They have no choice but to work their way through the three trials to find three impossible objects linked to Hercules to help their friend.

At the beginning of the book, Christopher is just beginning to realise how powerful his connection to animals is and the more he works at it, the more he discovers, but it comes with consequences: blackouts, vomiting, exhaustion, the risk of forgetting himself. If he is to save his friend, he needs to find a way to anchor himself. He needs to dig deep. Christopher is brave (we've seen this since the first book) but I feel that it is Anya who really grows in this book: her determination and bravery really come to the fore as she begins to discover how strong she can be.

As you would expect, Katherine's writing is, once again, superb. Vivid description transports you to this magical world of wonderful creatures and heroes (those who know they are heroes as well as those who are still discovering the strengths they have). The intricately woven plot will have readers entranced and will leave you desperate for the final book in the series which is due for publication in the summer of 2027. As I said earlier, I really can't do this book justice so I highly recommend pre-ordering it to find out for yourself how wonderful it is.

Impossible Creatures The Neverfear publishes 27/8.