Book Review: Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell

Impossible Creatures is a gripping fantasy adventure from beginning to end. The fast pace never relents as the two main characters, Christopher Forrester and Mal Arvorian, race from island to island in an archipelago somewhere in the North Atlantic, which is inhabited by all of earth's half forgotten "mythological" beasts. These impossible creatures' existence is threatened by something foul and mysterious within the Archipelago. Christopher, an ordinary boy from London who has a special way with animals, discovers he has inherited the role of guardian of the previously unheard-of Archipelago. He and Mal, on the run for her life from a murderer, are made increasingly aware of the damage to her islands' ecosystem. They are the only ones who can save our world's last surviving magical creatures and the Archipelago.

This book (also available in eBook format), like any good fantasy, comes with a map, and also a helpful guardian's bestiary which lists the defining characteristics of the impossible creatures. Christopher can enter the Archipelago from our known world via a portal; in his case a small Scottish loch. Mal who is a citizen of the Archipelago, has a special skill, the ability to fly - with the aid of a good wind and a long coat. 

As the children sailed from island to island meeting the different islanders and creatures, I was reminded a little of The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin, except Impossible Creatures is set in a hidden part of our own world, rather than an alternative world. The intended audience for this novel is middle grade readers and above; it doesn't shy away from violence, or even death, dealing with both well.

Katherine Rundell is a talented writer no matter what she chooses for her subject matter; she won the UK's top adult non-fiction award in 2022 for Super-Infinite, about the poet John Donne. I first came across her little red book, Why You Should Read Children's Books Even Though You Are So Old and Wise, a few years ago, and it serves as a reminder to adults about how children's books can ignite both children's and adults' imaginations. In it she says: "Read a children's book to remember what it was to long for impossible and perhaps-not-impossible things." Rundell's Impossible Creatures is a perfect starting point for igniting your imagination no matter your age.