Impossible Creatures
Part of the collectionImpossible Creatures→Best for strong readers who want a proper fantasy world full of mythical creatures, danger, beauty and big-hearted adventure.
- Books3 / 5
- Arcs2
- Span2023–2026
- StatusOngoing
The series
At a glance.
Impossible Creatures is Katherine Rundell's fantasy series, illustrated by Tomislav Tomic in the current seeded editions. It begins when Christopher discovers the Archipelago, a hidden realm of mythical creatures, and joins Mal on a dangerous journey to understand why the world's magic is failing. The first book introduces the world and its ecological-mythic crisis; The Poisoned King returns to the Archipelago with dragons, murder and justice; The Neverfear continues the adventure with a sea voyage, giants, treasures and deadly enemies. The series is lyrical, high-stakes and emotionally generous, best for confident readers who want wonder and peril together.
Best for strong readers who want a proper fantasy world full of mythical creatures, danger, beauty and big-hearted adventure.
Primary themes
Overall tone
- Adventurous
- Exciting
- Suspenseful
- Thought provoking
Read in publication order. The first book establishes Christopher, Mal, the Archipelago and the crisis of fading magic.
Two arcs
A series that changes as it goes.
- INarrative arcBook 1 · 2023Moderate sensitivity
The Archipelago awakens
Christopher and Mal enter the Archipelago and discover that its magic and creatures are under threat.
The opening arc is the cleanest entry point and the book that establishes the series' unusual force: an old-fashioned-feeling fantasy adventure with a very modern ecological and emotional charge. Christopher's discovery of the Archipelago gives readers dragons, griffins, sphinxes, unicorns, krakens and other mythic creatures, but the story is not simply creature-spotting. The magic is failing, the world is endangered and the children must act within a moral landscape bigger than themselves. The writing is rich and highly read-aloud friendly, though the peril and creature harm make this moderate rather than cosy.
- IINarrative arcBooks 2–3 · 2025–2026Moderate sensitivity
Kings, dragons and the Neverfear
The sequels expand the Archipelago through murder, justice, dragons, sea voyages, giants and treasure quests.
The seeded sequel arc expands the Archipelago from first discovery into a broader, more dangerous fantasy world. The Poisoned King brings murder, dragons, revenge and justice into the foreground, increasing the political and moral stakes. The Neverfear continues the saga through a daring voyage, dangerous enemies, giants, magical creatures and the search for precious treasures. This is best read after the first book because the emotional force depends on knowing Christopher, Mal and the endangered world they are trying to protect. The series remains middle-grade, but the danger, deaths and creature harm make the parental-guidance envelope moderate.
Fit check
Right for your reader?
Where the series lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- 15
- 17
- 19
- Best fit · 9–13
- Read aloud · 9–12
- Independent · 9–13
Reluctant-reader friendliness
Workable
Read-aloud quality
Excellent
Adult crossover
High
Grows with the reader
Designed to
Sensitivity envelope
Moderate overall, and consistent.
Content notes
- Violence
- Animal harm
- Death of character
- Scary imagery
Per-arc breakdown
Where it sits
In conversation with other series.
Read this before…
Series that lead readers naturally into this one.
- How to Train Your Dragon →
Similar in feel
Different shelves, same wavelength.
- The Last Wild →
- Skandar →
- The Explorer →
About the author