The Poisoned King

Discover the epic adventure series loved by readers around the world

Katherine Rundell author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Published:11th Sep '25

Should be back in stock very soon

This hardback is available in another edition too:

The Poisoned King cover

Return to the magic of the ArchipelagoThe Poisoned King is the dazzling second book in Katherine Rundell's epic and bestselling Impossible Creaturesseries.

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 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...

The unmissable sequel to Impossible Creatures, WINNER of the Waterstones Book of the Year, British Book Awards Children's Book of the Year, Foyles Children's Book of the Year and the Books Are My Bag Readers Award

'A book stuffed full of fantastical, magical delight' – Cressida Cowell on Impossible Creatures

'Readers will seize this with delight' – Philip Pullman on Impossible Creatures

'A masterpiece to rival Tolkien' Daily Telegraph on Impossible Creatures

'Every sentence sparkles ... Magnificent' – The Times on Impossible Creatures

Katherine Rundell returns with a perfect fantasy * Telegraph *
Rundell is back with a sequel to her runaway middle-grade fantasy hit “Impossible Creatures,” which offers magical thrills for young readers and adults alike. * New York Times *
An exquisitely written, expertly plotted, emotionally affecting and totally immersive triumph! * LoveReading4Kids *
A mythical and magical world, the Archipelago is full of colour and opportunity for children to lose themselves in their imaginations.Katherine Rundell delights with this sequel: Exceptional * Children's Books Ireland *
Few writers today channel the wild heart of children’s literature quite like Katherine Rundell. The award-winning author of Rooftoppers, The Explorer and Impossible Creatures, Rundell has a rare gift: she writes with both intellectual muscle and reckless wonder. * iNews *

ISBN: 9781408897447

Dimensions: 218mm x 142mm x 28mm

Weight: 420g

336 pages