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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I ADORED this fantasy book from Katherine Rundell. Using her great mix of writing for children whilst including a brutal realism, Rundell has once again managed to capture a whole world in her book, without overwhelming with how much is going on.
Impossible Creatures was the Waterstones book of the year in 2024, and for good reason! It had a great mix of common knowledge mythical creatures that just exist, and book-specific lore that was built on throughout the book.
There is something that I just really love about reading a book with a child protagonist, and I think that Rundell writes them exceptionally well, remembering that they're children and children make mistakes and don't have as concrete of a grasp on the world as adults. But she still writes them with a grit that I've not yet found with other children's authors which I think makes her a great writer.
Definitely recommend and will absolutely be picking up the next installment at the end of the year!
Impossible Creatures was the Waterstones book of the year in 2024, and for good reason! It had a great mix of common knowledge mythical creatures that just exist, and book-specific lore that was built on throughout the book.
There is something that I just really love about reading a book with a child protagonist, and I think that Rundell writes them exceptionally well, remembering that they're children and children make mistakes and don't have as concrete of a grasp on the world as adults. But she still writes them with a grit that I've not yet found with other children's authors which I think makes her a great writer.
Definitely recommend and will absolutely be picking up the next installment at the end of the year!
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Impossible Creatures is a wildly imaginative adventure set in a hidden archipelago where mythical animals still exist. Katherine Rundell’s writing is evocative and immersive—I often felt like I was right there in the boat with the characters, surrounded by wind, water, and wonder.
The book’s setting is richly drawn, and the humor sparkles in unexpected places. One line I loved described a manticore as having “the tail of a scorpion, the face of a human, the teeth and body of a lion, and the personality of a self-righteous politician.” That blend of wit and world-building kept me smiling.
At its heart, the book carries a powerful message: that asking for help isn't weakness but strength. The words “I need your help” become a turning point in the story, and I found that idea moving. Rundell also weaves in moments of philosophical depth—some quotes that stayed with me include:
- “Love has fear baked into it.”
- “Hope is a little lie that the powerless use to comfort themselves.”
- “Jealousy is not like anything else. It is a locus. It eats a great deal that cannot be spared.”
- “We will eat grief for dinner; but tomorrow, we will dine on joy for what she did.”
Despite all this beauty, the book was a bit slow to start, and I struggled to connect deeply with some of the characters. While love and connection are frequent themes, they didn’t always feel fully earned.
Overall, Impossible Creatures is a rich and lyrical fantasy that feels both timeless and modern. It didn’t quite soar all the way for me, but it came close—and I’m glad I took the journey.
fast-paced
I liked this! It is very much a children's book which kinda limits it because nothing really unexpected happens, but it had a lot of really cool illustrations throughout and was very charming.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed this book, but I felt the story start to flag at around halfway.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Christopher är på besök hos sin morfar i de skotska högländerna när han plötsligt upptäcker en annan värld: Arkipelagen. Där lever fortfarande mytologiska varelser av alla de slag, men de håller på att utplånas. Christopher träffar Mal, en flicka som kan flyga med hjälp av en rock. Hon jagas av en mördare, men hon vet inte varför. Kan de två rädda öriket och dess omöjliga varelser?
Jag var nyfiken på boken eftersom den klassas som vuxen fantasy på mitt jobb, men originalet vänder sig till 9-12-åringar. Jag skulle säga att den passar bra att läsa från ca 10 år och uppåt, men om den står på vuxen-sidan så kanske fler vuxna faktiskt läser den också.
Boken är full av äventyr, magi och mytologiska varelser - både snälla och de som inte är fullt så snälla - och passar dem som gillar t ex Narnia och Harry Potter. Det är inte helt barnvänligt hela tiden, ibland blir det våldsamt och dödligt, men det förekommer ju i många böcker som riktar sig mot barn. Jag njuter av att befinna mig bland sfinxer, gripar, enhörningar, drakar och alla andra mytiska väsen och jag vill definitivt läsa nästa del när den kommer till hösten!
Jag var nyfiken på boken eftersom den klassas som vuxen fantasy på mitt jobb, men originalet vänder sig till 9-12-åringar. Jag skulle säga att den passar bra att läsa från ca 10 år och uppåt, men om den står på vuxen-sidan så kanske fler vuxna faktiskt läser den också.
Boken är full av äventyr, magi och mytologiska varelser - både snälla och de som inte är fullt så snälla - och passar dem som gillar t ex Narnia och Harry Potter. Det är inte helt barnvänligt hela tiden, ibland blir det våldsamt och dödligt, men det förekommer ju i många böcker som riktar sig mot barn. Jag njuter av att befinna mig bland sfinxer, gripar, enhörningar, drakar och alla andra mytiska väsen och jag vill definitivt läsa nästa del när den kommer till hösten!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit