Impossible Creatures Series by Katherine Rundell 2 Books Collection Set - Ages 8-12 - Hardcover

Titles in This Set
Impossible Creatures
The Poisoned King

Details
Condition: Brand New
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Age Range: Ages 8-12 (Grades 3-7)

Overview
This two-book hardcover collection brings together Katherine Rundell's Impossible Creatures series, a modern fantasy adventure set across the Archipelago, a hidden cluster of islands where griffins, phoenixes, and other mythic beasts still roam. Following young Christopher and island-born Mal, the story blends breathless adventure with sharp wit and genuine warmth as the pair race to protect a dying magic from a rising threat. Rundell's lyrical, propulsive prose makes this set a standout addition to any young reader's shelf, whether it's for a birthday gift, holiday reading, or a classroom library.

About the Books
Impossible Creatures introduces readers to the Archipelago, a secret world tucked behind the fabric of our own, where unicorns still gallop and sphinxes guard ancient secrets. When Christopher discovers a way into this hidden realm, he meets Mal, a fiercely resourceful girl with a flying coat and a baby griffin in tow, and together they're thrust into a desperate race to save the islands' creatures from extinction. The story moves at a thrilling clip, layering wonder and danger as the pair uncover a conspiracy that could unravel magic itself. The Poisoned King continues their journey, raising the stakes as a spreading corruption threatens both the Archipelago and the human world beyond it. New allies and formidable adversaries emerge as Christopher and Mal dig deeper into the mystery, testing their courage and their friendship along the way. Across both books, Rundell weaves in her signature blend of vivid world-building, brisk pacing, and emotional depth, treating young readers to a story that never talks down to them. The Archipelago itself functions almost as a character, a living, breathing ecosystem shaped by myth and threatened by greed, giving the series a strong environmental undercurrent beneath the high-flying adventure. Together, the two books offer a satisfying, self-contained arc while leaving the door open for future installments in the wider series, making this collection an ideal starting point for new readers as well as a must-have for fans already following the saga.

Key Benefits

• Complete two-book hardcover set of Katherine Rundell's Impossible Creatures series
• Immersive fantasy world-building with griffins, phoenixes, sphinxes, and centaurs
• Fast-paced, accessible storytelling ideal for confident middle-grade readers
• Sturdy hardcover format built to withstand repeat reading and library use
• Perfect gift for birthdays, holidays, or back-to-school reading
• Great addition to a home library, classroom, or school book fair display

Book-by-Book Guide
Impossible Creatures — Christopher stumbles into the Archipelago and joins Mal on a race to save its vanishing magical creatures.
The Poisoned King — A spreading corruption forces Christopher and Mal to confront a rising evil threatening both the Archipelago and the wider world.

About the Author
Katherine Rundell is a British author celebrated for richly imagined children's fiction, including Rooftoppers, The Explorer, and The Wolf Wilder. Her books have earned multiple honors within children's literature and been translated into numerous languages, and she is also known for her nonfiction writing for adults. Rundell studied and later taught at Oxford University, an experience that has informed the intellectual curiosity and lyrical style running through her fiction. With Impossible Creatures, she launched an ambitious new fantasy series that showcases her gift for blending high-stakes adventure with genuine tenderness and wit.

Why You'll Love This Set
Bursting with mythical creatures, daring escapes, and real emotional stakes, this collection is a fantastic pick for summer reading, holiday gift-giving, stocking stuffers, or growing a young reader's home library. Fans of immersive, character-driven fantasy and classic quest tales will find themselves swept away from the very first page, eager to return to the Archipelago again and again.

Please Note: This is the UK edition with the ISBN as listed; the cover may vary slightly from the image shown.