Impossible Creatures: The Poisoned King

🐦‍🔥🏰🫗☠️

by Katherine Rundell

★★★★

Things I loved:

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 The return of old friends like Ratwin, Nighthand, and Jaques

🍳 Nighthand’s exquisite cheffing skills

🐀 Ratwin (of course)

🐉 The legend meets myth vibe

🦄 New and exciting creatures!!

🔪 The mix of suspense, action, humour and MURDER!

📖 The gorgeous sprayed edges and illustrated creature index

📚 Challenging vocabulary

At a glance

✍🏼  Author: Katherine Rundell

🎨 Cover artist: Tomislav Tomic

📅 Release Date: 11th September 2025

📚 Book type: Chapter, 336 pages

🌟 Reader level: Confident (9+)

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Review

I preordered this as soon as I could because I loved the first Impossible Creatures book—and this one was just as magical! The edition I received was beautiful, with sprayed edges and an illustrated guide to the creatures at the back.

I really enjoyed how the story brings back old friends—like Ratwin the mischievous ratatoska and Nighthand (who turns out to be a surprisingly good cook!)—while also introducing amazing new creatures. My favourites were the gaganas, who show loyalty and courage, and of course Jaques the jaculus, who remains Christopher’s most loyal companion.

This book is packed with excitement, suspense, and humour, with a perfect mix of danger and heart. The writing is challenging in a good way—it makes you want to learn new words while being swept up in the adventure.

I also listened to the audiobook on Spotify and absolutely loved it. The narrator, Samuel West,  is divine, giving every character a unique voice and really bringing the whole Archipelago to life—it felt like being inside the story.

I’d recommend this series to confident readers who love mythical creatures, epic quests, and stories where friendship and courage shine brightest against dark threats.

Blurb

When Christopher Forrester is unexpectedly woken by a miniature dragon chewing on his face, his heart leaps for joy. For months he's dreamed of returning to the Archipelago - the secret islands where all the creatures of myth still live. But he did not know it would involve a rescue mission on the back of a sphinx, or a plan to enter a dragon's lair. Nor did he imagine it would involve a girl with a flock of birds at her side, a new-hatched chick in her pocket and a ravenous hunger for justice...

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