Impossible Creatures (Impossible Creatures #1)
Impossible Creatures (Impossible Creatures #1)
written by Katherine Rundell; illustrated by Ashley Mackenzie
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About the Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • THE FIRST BOOK IN THE LANDMARK NEW FANTASY SERIES THAT CONTINUES WITH THE POISONED KING
“A glorious fantasy adventure . . . Brimming with intelligence, inventiveness and generosity of heart.”—The Wall Street Journal (One of the Best Children’s Books of the Year)
Two kids race to save the world’s last magical place in this instant classic from “a writer with an utterly distinctive voice and a wild imagination.” (Philip Pullman, author of The Golden Compass)
*This spectacular book features foil and embossing on the jacket, full-color designed endpapers, red stained edges, and a red case cover with gold stamping.*
The day that Christopher saved a drowning baby griffin from a hidden lake would change his life forever.
It’s the day he learned about the Archipelago—a cluster of unmapped islands where magical creatures of every kind have thrived for thousands of years, until now. And it’s the day he met Mal—a girl on the run, in desperate need of his help.
Mal and Christopher embark on a wild adventure, racing from island to island, searching for someone who can explain why the magic is fading and why magical creatures are suddenly dying. They consult sphinxes, battle kraken, and negotiate with dragons. But the closer they get to the dark truth of what’s happening, the clearer it becomes: no one else can fix this. If the Archipelago is to be saved, Mal and Christopher will have to do it themselves.
Katherine Rundell’s story crackles and roars with energy and delight. It is brought vividly to life with more than 60 illustrations, including a map and a bestiary of magical creatures.
A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, KIRKUS REVIEWS, AND SHELF AWARENESS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
About the Author
Katherine Rundell is the internationally bestselling author of Impossible Creatures. Her other books for children include Rooftoppers, Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms, The Wolf Wilder, The Explorer, and The Good Thieves. She grew up in Zimbabwe, Brussels, and London, and is currently a Fellow of St. Catherine’s College, Oxford. For adult readers, Rundell has written Vanishing Treasures: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures and Super-Infinite: The Transformations of John Donne, which won the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction. She was the recipient of the British Book Award for Book of the Year and Author of the Year.
Ashley Mackenzie is a Canadian artist and illustrator with a special affinity for dragons, dryads, and all magical creatures.
Editorial Reviews
“Well nigh irresistible.” —The New York Times“A glorious fantasy adventure….Brimming with intelligence, inventiveness and generosity of heart.” —The Wall Street Journal
“Powerful and charming, Impossible Creatures [is] a modern fantasy with a classic feel. It’s hard not to fall in love with the Archipelago.” —BookPage, starred review
“Rundell has a great deal of infectious fun with these creatures. Her grand theme—in worlds both real and imaginary, in the great outdoors and in the human soul—is the vital necessity of wildness.” —The New Yorker
“I heartily recommend it to readers of all ages—especially animal-lovers, lovers of magic, fans of fairy tales, and anyone who needs the comfort of an optimistic, healing story in turbulent times.” —Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series
“A bold and unforgettable start to a captivating series. Impossible Creatures places itself in a class all its own.” —Shelf Awareness, starred review
“Katherine Rundell is her generation’s J.R.R. Tolkien.” —The Washington Post
“An epic fantasy with timeless themes and unforgettable characters.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“A boy with an affinity for animals, a girl who can fly when the wind blows, and a secreted-away world in need of saving propel this realms-roving dazzler. Rundell deploys fresh language, epic stakes, bonds both tender and devastating, and fierce kid characters.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Classic storytelling.” —Parade
“A quintessential fantasy that will delight readers of all ages.” — School Library Journal, starred review
“Rundell has delivered a welcome reminder of what makes the genre great. By taking risks, honoring her ancestors, and weaving a magic of her own, she adds her voice to the ancient, ongoing chorus of storytellers.” —Booklist, starred review