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The Poisoned King
Discover the epic adventure series loved by readers around the world
Series: Impossible Creatures
Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.
Check link for latest rating. ( 4,718 ratings, 799 reviews)
Brief Description
The unmissable new story in the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling Impossible Creatures series, for fans of Philip Pullman, Percy Jackson and Skandar. When Christopher Forrester is unexpectedly woken by a miniature dragon chewing on his face, his heart leaps for joy. For months he’s dreamed of...
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The Poisoned King
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See moreReturn to the magic of the Archipelago… The Poisoned King is the dazzling second book in Katherine Rundell's epic and bestselling Impossible Creatures series.
Return to the magic of the Archipelago… The Poisoned King is the dazzling second book in Katherine Rundell's epic and bestselling Impossible Creatures series.
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Description
The unmissable new story in the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling Impossible Creatures series, for fans of Philip Pullman, Percy Jackson and Skandar.
When Christopher Forrester is unexpectedly woken by a miniature dragon chewing on his face, his heart leaps for joy. For months he’s dreamed of returning to the Archipelago – the secret islands where all the creatures of myth still live. But he did not know it would involve a rescue mission on the back of a sphinx, or a plan to enter a dragon’s lair. Nor did he imagine it would involve a girl with a flock of birds at her side, a new-hatched chick in her pocket and a ravenous hunger for justice...
Awards and praise for Impossible Creatures
WINNER Waterstones Book of the Year
WINNER British Book Awards Children's Book of the Year
WINNER Foyles Children's Book of the Year
WINNER Books Are My Bag Readers Award
'A book stuffed full of fantastical, magical delight' – Cressida Cowell
'I love Katherine Rundell and everythings she writes. I defy anyone not to lose their heart to her stories' – Maggie O'Farrell
'Readers will seize this with delight' – Philip Pullman
'A masterpiece to rival Tolkien' – Daily Telegraph
'There was Tolkien, there is Pullman and now there is Katherine Rundell' – Michael Morpurgo
'Every sentence sparkles ... Magnificent' – The Times
Impossible Creatures Sunday Times bestseller, December 2023
Series: Impossible Creatures
View all-
Impossible Creatures
‘There was Tolkien, there is Pullman and now there is Katherine Rundell. Wondrous invention, marvellous writing.' – Michael Morpurgo ‘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’ – The Guardian 'A book stuffed full...Paperback$1999Elsewhere:$2299Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Poisoned King
The dragons call out, and the ratatoskas tell of murder. Come with us now. There is justice to be done. Return to the magic of the Archipelago... The Poisoned King is the dazzling second book in Katherine Rundell's epic and bestselling Impossible Creatures series. 'There was Tolkien, there is Pullman and now there is Katherine Rundell' – Michael Morpurgo When...Paperback$2000Elsewhere:$2299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Impossible Creatures
There was Tolkien, there is Pullman and now there is Katherine Rundell. Wondrous invention, marvellous writing. – Michael Morpurgo ‘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’ – The Guardian A book stuffed full...Paperback$2000Elsewhere:$2299Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips mid August -
Impossible Creatures
‘There was Tolkien, there is Pullman and now there is Katherine Rundell. Wondrous invention, marvellous writing.' – Michael Morpurgo ‘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’ – The Guardian A book stuffed full...Hardback$2499Elsewhere:$2699Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips mid September -
The Poisoned King
Katherine Rundell returns with a perfect fantasy Telegraph The unmissable new story in the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling Impossible Creatures series, ideal for fans of Philip Pullman, Percy Jackson, and Skandar. There was Tolkien, there is Pullman and now there is Katherine Rundell – Michael Morpurgo When Christopher Forrester is unexpectedly woken by a miniature dragon chewing on his face,...Hardback$2499Elsewhere:$2699Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Impossible Creatures
There was Tolkien, there is Pullman and now there is Katherine Rundell. Wondrous invention, marvellous writing. – Michael Morpurgo ‘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’ – The Guardian A book stuffed full...Hardback$3299Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Poisoned King
The unmissable new story in the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling Impossible Creatures series, for fans of Philip Pullman, Percy Jackson and Skandar. When Christopher Forrester is unexpectedly woken by a miniature dragon chewing on his face, his heart leaps for joy. For months he’s dreamed of returning to the Archipelago – the secret islands where all the creatures of myth...Paperback$1999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Poisoned King
'Katherine Rundell returns with a perfect fantasy' Telegraph BOOKS ARE MY BAG READERS' AWARD WINNER The unmissable new story in the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling Impossible Creatures series, for fans of Philip Pullman, Percy Jackson and Skandar. 'There was Tolkien, there is Pullman and now there is Katherine Rundell' – Michael Morpurgo When Christopher Forrester is unexpectedly woken by a...Hardback$3299Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Pre-orderThe Neverfear
A world of richly-imagined wonder Cressida Cowell It’s the Midsummer Feast on the Islet of Glimt and on this magical moonlit evening, the word on everyone’s lips is bandits. Reports of masked men burning villages are spreading throughout the Archipelago, but worse is still to come: Christopher and Anya are ambushed and one of the people they love most is...Paperback$1999Elsewhere:$2299Unit price /UnavailableOut 1 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Impossible Creatures
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • THE FIRST BOOK IN THE LANDMARK NEW FANTASY SERIES THAT CONTINUES WITH THE POISONED KING “A glorious fantasy adventure . . . Brimming with intelligence, inventiveness and generosity of heart.”—The Wall Street Journal (One of the Best Children’s Books of the Year) Two kids race to save the world’s last magical place in this...Paperback$3900Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781408897478
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 07 May 2026
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Bloomsbury Childrens Books
Audience: Children
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 26.0mm
Width: 128.0mm
Height: 196.0mm
Weight: 268g
Pages: 336
About the Author
Katherine Rundell is a multi-million-bestselling author whose novels for children have won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the Blue Peter Book Award and the Costa Children’s Book Award, among many others. Impossible Creatures was Waterstones Book of the Year 2023, and in 2024 Katherine was named the British Book Awards Author of the Year and Impossible Creatures won the Children’s Fiction Book of the Year. She is a Quondam Fellow of All Souls College and a Fellow of St Catherine’s College, Oxford, where she works on Renaissance literature. Her books for adults include Super-Infinite, winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize. Very occasionally she goes climbing across the rooftops of Oxford, late at night.
Also by Katherine Rundell
View all-
Impossible Creatures
‘There was Tolkien, there is Pullman and now there is Katherine Rundell. Wondrous invention, marvellous writing.' – Michael Morpurgo ‘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’ – The Guardian 'A book stuffed full...Paperback$1999Elsewhere:$2299Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Poisoned King
The dragons call out, and the ratatoskas tell of murder. Come with us now. There is justice to be done. Return to the magic of the Archipelago... The Poisoned King is the dazzling second book in Katherine Rundell's epic and bestselling Impossible Creatures series. 'There was Tolkien, there is Pullman and now there is Katherine Rundell' – Michael Morpurgo When...Paperback$2000Elsewhere:$2299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Impossible Creatures
There was Tolkien, there is Pullman and now there is Katherine Rundell. Wondrous invention, marvellous writing. – Michael Morpurgo ‘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’ – The Guardian A book stuffed full...Paperback$2000Elsewhere:$2299Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips mid August -
11% offSuper-Infinite
A sparkling and very modern biography of John Donne: the poet of love, sex, and death, shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize and now in paperback. Shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize 2022 A Sunday Times top ten bestseller 'Masterly.' - Observer 'Wonderful, joyous.' - Maggie O'Farrell 'Frankly brilliant.' - Sunday Times 'Unmissable.' - Simon Jenkins 'Every page sparkles.' -...Paperback$2500Usually:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Poisoned King
Katherine Rundell returns with a perfect fantasy Telegraph The unmissable new story in the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling Impossible Creatures series, ideal for fans of Philip Pullman, Percy Jackson, and Skandar. There was Tolkien, there is Pullman and now there is Katherine Rundell – Michael Morpurgo When Christopher Forrester is unexpectedly woken by a miniature dragon chewing on his face,...Hardback$2499Elsewhere:$2699Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Impossible Creatures
‘There was Tolkien, there is Pullman and now there is Katherine Rundell. Wondrous invention, marvellous writing.' – Michael Morpurgo ‘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’ – The Guardian A book stuffed full...Hardback$2499Elsewhere:$2699Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips mid September -
Rooftoppers
Winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize Winner of the Blue Peter Book Award Shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal From the winner of the Costa Children's Book Prize 'A writer with an utterly distinctive voice and a wild imagination' – Philip Pullman Everyone tells Sophie that she was orphaned in a shipwreck – found floating in a cello case...Paperback$1899Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
One Christmas Wish
Go on an adventure with Katherine Rundell ... NOMINATED FOR THE CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL NOMINATED FOR THE CILIP GREENAWAY MEDAL From the winner of the Costa Children's Book Award 'A writer with an utterly distinctive voice and a wild imagination' – Philip Pullman 'A book that will be treasured forever' - Irish Times 'A moving, witty and magical tale' -...Paperback$1899Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Wolf Wilder
'A writer with an utterly distinctive voice and a wild imagination' - Philip Pullman 'A truly compelling read … totally original and yet has the familiar feel of an established classic' - Jacqueline Wilson A story of friendship, hope and sweeping adventure in the snowy wilds of Russia, The Wolf Wilder is a modern classic from internationally bestselling author Katherine...Paperback$1899Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Good Thieves
'An amazing adventure story, told with sparkling style and sleight of hand' - Jacqueline Wilson FOYLES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR 2019 A glittering, page-turning adventure set amidst the streets of New York, The Good Thieves is a modern classic from internationally bestselling author Katherine Rundell. Fresh off the boat from England, Vita Marlowe has a job to do. Her...Paperback$1699Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips mid September -
The Golden Mole
A lavish edition of Katherine Rundell's gloriously illustrated and fascinating bestiary, featuring three new additions to the treasure trove of vanishing wonders. 'Exquisite and timely.' Maggie O'Farrell 'A rare and magical book. I didn't want it to end.' Bill Bryson 'A witty, intoxicating paean to Earth's wondrous creatures.' Observer 'A total miracle.' Max Porter A Sunday Times Bestseller Shortlisted for...Hardback$4500Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips mid September -
Impossible Creatures
There was Tolkien, there is Pullman and now there is Katherine Rundell. Wondrous invention, marvellous writing. – Michael Morpurgo ‘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’ – The Guardian A book stuffed full...Hardback$3299Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks
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