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Katherine Rundell’s *Impossible Creatures* Expands to Five-Book Series
Knopf Books for Young Readers has revealed that Katherine Rundell, the acclaimed British author, will expand her popular middle-grade fantasy series, *Impossible Creatures*, from an original trilogy into a five-book series. Nancy Siscoe, who serves as the senior executive editor at Knopf and Rundell’s U.S. editor, secured North American rights for the additional books through a deal facilitated by Pete Knapp of Park, Fine & Brower Literary Management, representing Claire Wilson of RCW Literary Agency.
The series made its debut in the U.K. in September 2023, receiving widespread acclaim. It quickly became a bestseller, topping the *Sunday Times* list and earning spots as Children’s Book of the Week in notable publications like the *Times*, *Independent*, and *Daily Telegraph*. Additionally, it won the Waterstones Book of the Year award. In the U.S., Knopf released *Impossible Creatures* in September 2024, where it has enjoyed continued success on the *New York Times* bestseller list, launching at #1 and later being named Barnes & Noble’s Children’s Book of the Year.
The highly anticipated second installment, titled *The Poisoned King*, is set for global release on September 11. The initial print run will comprise 750,000 copies for North America. Readers can expect to find it in hardcover, ebook, and audio formats, with exclusive editions available from major retailers such as Barnes & Noble, Target, and Walmart in the U.S., as well as Indigo in Canada, and Waterstones and independent stores in the U.K. Launch events are planned at various bookstores and libraries around the world this fall.
Rundell’s work in *Impossible Creatures* has drawn parallels to the literature of some of her inspirations, including Ursula K. Le Guin, C.S. Lewis, Philip Pullman, and J.R.R. Tolkien. Additionally, the series was partially inspired by a work of John Donne—his unfinished epic poem “Metempsychosis,” which explores the idea of a soul’s reincarnation across ages and forms, and aligns with themes Rundell examined in her adult biography, *Super-Infinite*.
The narrative continues with protagonist Christopher Forrester being called back to the Archipelago, a hidden cluster of islands where enchanting creatures face the threat of extinction. Rundell expressed her vision for the Archipelago, stating, “I hope to make the Archipelago a place large enough to fit every child’s imagination; a world they long to return to. I want there to be jokes, and the burning warmth of friendship and care, and real thrilling peril; I think when you put a child character in peril, you honor their capacity to rise to it, and you honor the child reader alongside. These are hard times we live in; I would love the books to be a place children can go to rejoice, a place they can go to explore and fly.” Rundell also mentioned her intent to introduce a variety of mythical creatures throughout the series, emphasizing her excitement for the project and the vision she holds for the concluding installment.
The paperback version of *Impossible Creatures* will be available in the U.S. and Canada on August 26, featuring an initial print run of 500,000 copies. Special editions will be offered at various retailers, showcasing unique stained edges that depict different magical creatures. Additionally, these editions will come with a bonus short story featuring magical spectacles from the Archipelago that have mysteriously entered our world.
In reflecting on her collaboration with Rundell, Siscoe remarked, “It is a privilege to be on this journey with the remarkable Katherine Rundell. Her books are so packed with adventure, danger, love, discovery, loss, and wild joy that reading them is like a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart: they make you feel alive and hopeful and ready to face whatever challenges might await. I suspect it is this quality that makes adult readers love them as much as children do.”
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