Although animals and birds have always been drawn to Christopher, he never thought he’d see a unicorn running his way!
It’s not long since he arrived at his grandfather’s house, far from civilisation, Wifi or any cell phone coverage. But why this is, is soon clear. After breaking the only rule his grandfather gave him (don’t go to the top of the hill), Christopher finds a lake. He’s soon besieged by an avalanche of mythical animals streaking past him. When he finds a small creature, frightened and alone, he takes it back to his grandfather who now must explain.
Their family are guardians of a gateway between the human world and a magical one called the Archipelago. These worlds used to be bound together, but in order to save this plethora of magical creatures from humankind, the gateways were formed. Christopher’s father never wanted him to know, but the secret is now out. He’s told to take the small creature back to the lake while his grandfather rounds up anything else that crossed the gateway. But why have they come through now?
Back at the lake, Christopher meets a girl called Mal. She’s like him, but from the Archipelago, and she begs for his help. Someone is trying to kill her! He follows her into a world of wonderous things. There are Phoenix and Unicorns, Manticores and Mermaids. Dragons reign the skies and Kraken’s the oceans.
But in equal measure there is danger everywhere and battles to be fought. Mal needs even more from Christopher. Something is wrong with the Archipelago and she is determined to try and save it. A journey must be taken to strange meetings and places, through tests of courage and knowledge. Betrayal is never far away by man or beast, but these two children brave every task in their mission to save their worlds.
Loyalty and love is found along the way in new friends who were once thought foes, and terrible evil must be found and faced. Loss too is in the mix and almost overwhelming. Can they save themselves, their friends and their worlds from an all encompassing evil, keen to control it all?
We’ve all heard of Unicorns, Dragons and Centaurs. But what about Ratatoskas, Karkadanns and Kankos?
This first episode of a trilogy begins with a Beastiary – showing the Impossible Creatures that main characters Christopher & Mal encounter. Some are good, and some are very very bad – which makes this magical land story very thrilling.
But this is no fluffy magical kingdom. There is humour within but there is a serious undertone throughout this story, making it more suitable for Readers 10+
Two children from different lands, working together to heal their worlds (what could be more apt in our world today?) all mixed in with the wonder of magical creatures we all thought were relegated to myth and childhood memories.
Being a huge fan of the World of Narnia, I did feel the same excitement as I travelled across oceans and the islands of the Archipelago. Impossible Creatures is a gripping read, and I’m intrigued where children’s literary treasure Katherine Rundell will take us next.
Author – Katherine Rundell
Age – 10+
Read more reviews of Katherine Rundell novels here
(2023, Bloomsbury, Magical Land, Courage, Adventure, Action, Animals, Betrayal, Friendship, Murder, Fantasy, Unicorns, Bestiary, Archipelago, Islands, Dragons, Griffin, Centaurs, Bravery, Krakens, Ocean, Mermaids, Evil, Maze, Leonardo DaVinci, Ancient, Magical Creatures, Phoenix, Sphinx, Quest, Journey, Sacrifice, Immortal)