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#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • THE SECOND BOOK IN THE LANDMARK NEW FANTASY SERIES THAT BEGAN WITH IMPOSSIBLE CREATURES
"Rundell is back with a sequel . . . which offers magical thrills for young readers and adults alike." —New York Times
Return to the magic of the Archipelago in the dazzling sequel to the runaway, smash hit Impossible Creatures, hailed as "an instant classic!" (Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal Winner for The One and Only Ivan)!
*This paperback edition features beautifully designed stenciled edges!*
Christopher Forrester woke to find a dragon chewing on his face—and his heart leapt for joy! He'd been dreaming of going back to the Archipelago, the secret cluster of islands where all the creatures of myth still live, and here was his summons.
But there is a poison spreading in the Archipelago. Rooting it out will involve a daring rescue mission on the back of a sphinx, a stealthy entrance to a dragon's lair, and a death-defying plan to save a prisoner held in the heart of a castle. At the center of this storm is Anya: a small girl with a flock of birds at her side, a new-hatched chick in her pocket, and a ravenous hunger for justice.
Katherine Rundell's second thrilling installment in the Impossible Creatures series involves castles, dragons, and revenge—the things of which great stories are made. The splendors within are brought to life with fifty illustrations, including a map and a bestiary of magical creatures.
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"If you’ve read the first book, Impossible Creatures, then you need this second book. My 10 year old daughter is into the fantasy books for her age/grade. Great addition to her growing book collection."
— Jkat P. (5/5)
FANTASTIC TO DEVELOP IMAGINATION
"My 10 year old daughter loves this book. She literally can't put it down. 1st thing after school she has to grab this book. Almost any spare time she has she just wants to keep reading this. Highly recommend this author."
— Laz G. (5/5)
10 - 11 year old is a big fan
"My son got the first of this series for his 10th birthday and it quickly became his favourite book. He had to wait eleven months for this sequel to come out and it did not disappoint. We would definitely recommend it."
— Kait M. (5/5)
Title gave a clue but not the plot. Well named. Illustrations were excellent.
"Book 2 was well written with very good descriptions of characters, places and events. It surpassed book 1 in intrigue and was a definite page turner!!! Highly recommend!"
— Diletta C. (5/5)
Great sequel!
"This is a sequel and if you liked the first, you’ll like this! Love indigo deals because we got the signed version on discount!"
— Ally (5/5)
Great book
"My 11 year old loves this series and can’t wait for the third book."
— Nelson25 (5/5)
An outstanding follow up to an already excellent book.
"The Poisoned King is just as good maybe better than book 1 (Impossible Creatures) my daughter and I are reading this together before bed. Or only complaint is we have to put it down each night. It starts off with a bang and keeps on going."
— Tyler B. (5/5)
Huge hit. Amazing story!
"My 10 year old absolutely tore through this book. He loved it so much! Gave me Harry Potter vibes from back in the day with how excited he was to read it, and the excitement for the third book to be released!"
— Mama C. (5/5)
Great story for kids
"Loved this sequel. Magical, mysterious and engaging. My 9 year old loved it!"
— M. V. (5/5)
Instant classic!
"Brilliant. My 8 year old son and I both loved The Poisoned King, at least as much (or more) than Impossible Creatures. We can't wait for the next book in the series!"
— Kate (5/5)
Q&A
Appropriate for: Ages 9-12 Years
Published date: Aug 04, 2026
Language: English
No. of Pages: 304
Publisher: Tundra Book Group
ISBN: 9781774889008
Dimensions:
5.56" W x
0.78" L x
8.25" H
An American Library Association Notable Children's Book of 2026 One of Kirkus Reviews' 90 Most Anticipated Fall Books for Young Readers, 2025 One of Barnes & Noble's Best Young Readers Books of 2025 One of Amazon's Best Children's Books of 2025, Ages 9-12 An NY Mag Best Kids Book of 2025 One of The Telegraph's Best New Children's Books of 2025
"Following the events of Impossible Creatures, a devoted Guardian teams up with a brave princess to fight her power-hungry uncle and save the Archipelago’s dragons from a strange new threat. . . . A spectacular return to a magical world." —STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews
Katherine Rundell is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Impossible Creatures and The Poisoned King. Her other books for children include Rooftoppers, Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms, The Wolf Wilder, The Explorer, and The Good Thieves. For adult readers, Rundell has written Vanishing Treasures: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures and Super-Infinite: The Transformations of John Donne, which won the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction. She was the recipient of the British Book Award for Book of the Year and Author of the Year. She grew up in Zimbabwe, Brussels, and London, and is currently a Fellow of St. Catherine’s College, Oxford.
Ashley Mackenzie is a Canadian artist and illustrator with a special affinity for dragons, dryads, and all magical creatures.
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