Picking up roughly a year or so after Book One, Christopher (white) awakens in his London home to a dragon nibbling on his face. It’s Jacques, a jaculus dragon, summoning Christopher to return to the Archipelago because his Guardian powers are needed to save dying dragons. Meanwhile, in the Archipelago, a new character is introduced. Anya (white) is the princess, second in line to the throne, though the formality of royal life in the castle does not suit her. Until recently, Anya and her father were sequestered in a forest home on the palace grounds, he with his books and botany work, and Anya with the royal gaganas, magical birds that are her constant companions. In a swift series of events, the king is poisoned, and Anya’s father is jailed for treason. With the gaganas’ help, Anya deduces that her uncle orchestrated the murder plot to secure his position as king—and Anya’s next on his list. Anya’s escape from her uncle coincides with Christopher’s return to the Archipelago. As they take sanctuary at a compound for injured creatures, the pair surmise that Christopher’s dragon-tending and Anya’s kingdom troubles are intertwined. Clue-gathering reveals that Anya’s uncle is poisoning the dragons to steal their wealth. Together, the friends plot a way to protect the dragons and bring Anya’s uncle’s treachery to light. Short, fast-paced chapters filled with rich descriptions and witty banter make this an engaging middle grade fantasy.

Return to the magic of the Archipelago in the dazzling sequel to the runaway, #1 New York Times bestseller Impossible Creatures, hailed as “an instant classic” (Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal Winner for The One and Only Ivan)!

*This spectacular book features foil and embossing on the jacket, full-color designed endpapers, and brilliant stained 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 more than fifty illustrations, including a map and a bestiary of magical creatures.