Impossible Creatures is a fantasy fiction novel written by Katherine Rundell, a multi-award-winning British author known for her children’s fiction. It was published on September 14, 2023. Rundell has been celebrated for her previous works like Rooftoppers (2013) and The Explorer (2017), which have garnered her numerous literary awards.
The story follows a boy named Christopher who stumbles upon a magical Archipelago. It is home to all manner of mythical creatures such as griffins, sphinxes, and centaurs. Alongside Mal, a girl with a flying coat and a baby griffin, Christopher embarks on a quest to save these magical creatures. Their journey is filled with danger and wonder as they uncover a rising evil threatening both the Archipelago and the wider world.
The book has been praised for its richly built world drawing comparisons to classics like His Dark Materials and The Chronicles of Narnia. The Guardian wrote, “Rundell's first foray into fantasy is both a deft, rich homage to the greats of children's literature and an absorbing, profoundly poignant quest story for those aged 9+ – quite possibly her best yet.”
