It was a very fine day, until something tried to eat him.
A boy called Christopher is visiting his reclusive grandfather when he witnesses an avalanche of mythical creatures come tearing down the hill. This is how Christopher learns that his grandfather is the guardian of one of the ways between the non-magical world and a place called the Archipelago, a cluster of magical islands where all the creatures we tell of in myth live and breed and thrive alongside humans. They have been protected from being discovered for thousands of years; now, terrifyingly, the protection has worn thin, and creatures are breaking through.
Then a girl, Mal, appears in Christopher's world. She is in possession of a flying coat, is being pursued by a killer and is herself in pursuit of a baby griffin. Mal, Christopher and the griffin embark on an urgent quest across the wild splendour of the Archipelago, where sphinxes hold secrets and centaurs do murder, to find the truth – with unimaginable consequences for both their worlds. Together the two must face the problem of power, and of knowledge, and of what love demands of us.
The series
In a world where the boundaries of nature’s creatures are stretched beyond the imaginable, Impossible Creatures immerses readers in a universe where the extraordinary is not only possible but expected. Katherine Rundell’s captivating series weaves a tapestry of danger, magic, and adventure, where the creatures of the wild are far from ordinary.
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Set against breathtaking, untamed landscapes, the series introduces readers to a host of wild, mythical creatures—each with its own story, mystery, and unique power. The world Rundell builds is rich in detail, where every corner of nature holds secrets and every animal hides an impossible truth. It's a place where the laws of science bend, and what we thought we knew about animals, magic, and the very fabric of existence is upended in the most stunning of ways.
At its heart, Impossible Creatures follows bold, resilient characters—young, brave souls who dare to venture into the wilds, seeking to uncover truths about themselves and the creatures they encounter. Each character embarks on a journey of self-discovery, finding strength in the most unexpected places and forming bonds that transcend the natural world.
Rundell’s storytelling, always poetic and charged with emotional depth, brings these worlds and creatures to life with an enchanting beauty. The series explores themes of survival, courage, and the power of empathy in the face of the impossible. It’s a narrative that invites readers to challenge their perceptions of the world around them, to wonder about the magic that lies just beyond the known, and to witness how far one can go in the pursuit of the fantastical.
Impossible Creatures is more than a collection of adventures; it’s an exploration of the uncharted terrain of both the Earth and the heart. With a balance of mystery, wonder, and thrilling suspense, this series will captivate anyone with a sense of adventure and a love for the wild, strange beauty of the unknown.
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