“There was Tolkien, there is Pullman, and now there is Katherine Rundell. A wonderful creation, stunning writing.” – Michael Morpurgo

“Rundell’s first foray into fantasy is both a subtle, rich homage to the greats of children's literature and an absorbing, deeply moving quest story for ages 9+ – probably her best yet.” – The Guardian

“A book full of fantastic, magical delight and a world richly imagined with wonders.” – Cressida Cowell

• WINNER OF THE WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD
• WINNER OF THE BOOKS ARE MY BAG READERS' AWARD
• FOYLES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD
• SHORTLISTED FOR THE AMAZON KIDS AND YA BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD
• THE TIMES BOOK OF THE WEEK
• THE INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE WEEK
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH BOOK OF THE WEEK
• SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER SEPTEMBER 2023

There is a place where all the wildest stories began … From Katherine Rundell, winner of the Costa Children’s Book Award, the Blue Peter Book Award, and the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, comes the first novel in a major trilogy for fans aged 9+ of His Dark Materials.

Christopher is shocked when he discovers a passage to the Archipelago: a group of magical islands where all mythical creatures live and breed. There he meets Mal: a girl from the islands who has a magical coat and a baby griffin, and who is being chased by a killer. Together, they embark on a frantic quest to discover why the creatures are suddenly dying, traversing the stunning beauty of the Archipelago, where the sphinxes hold secrets and centaurs attack, trying to save both the islands and the world from an emerging evil – before it’s too late.

“A stunning, fantastical story told with style and brilliance – a book you can read in a day and keep for a lifetime.” – Jacqueline Wilson

“The world of this new book is so captivating and so well-crafted that I couldn’t resist. Readers who already know her books will grab it with delight, and new readers will love it and demand all the others at once.” – Philip Pullman

“A masterpiece that can stand comparison with Tolkien and Pullman.” – The Daily Telegraph

“Fantastically vivid, wildly imaginative, irresistibly bright. Rundell’s best yet, which is something to be admired.” – Kiran Millwood Hargrave

“A refreshing, colorful adventure, packed with emotion and sometimes sorrowful.” – Frances Hardinge

“Within the pages of Impossible Creatures lies a world as enchanting, as perilous, as richly imagined as Narnia or Middle-earth.” – Frank Cottrell-Boyce

“Rundell’s book has imagination and creativity in their purest form. She has created a story that has the potential to be loved by fantasy lovers for years.” – The Independent

“With a delightful band of characters, thrilling adventures, and plenty of myth and magic, Impossible Creatures delivers the best of fantasy.” – Aisha Bushby

“A wild, fantastical adventure that roars with imagination. I devoured it like a hungry dragon.” – Sam Sedgman

“A rare and remarkable achievement of brilliant fantasy from a truly masterful storyteller.” – Catherine Doyle

“The action is breathtaking. Every sentence shines. You can feel the rustle of the griffin’s wings and the threat of strange venomous rodents. Majestic.” – The Times

“Definitely the next classic.” – The I

“My Book of the Year.” – Lauren St. John

Pages: 368, Year of Publication: 1031, Dimensions: 13.5x13.5cm