About “The Poisoned King”

#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.”—The 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 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 fifty illustrations, including a map and a bestiary of magical creatures. A GOOD HOUSEKEEPING KIDS' BOOK AWARD • A WALL STREET JOURNAL BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR (Description courtesy of Penguin Random House.)

Awards & honors

  • Selected — Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Books (2025)
  • Selected — Amazon Best of the Year (2025)
  • Selected — Junior Library Guild Selection (2025)
  • Selected — Barnes & Noble Best Book of the Year (2025)

Praise for “The Poisoned King”

“Rundell is back with a sequel....which offers magical thrills for young readers and adults alike.”

— The New York Times

“A brilliantly imaginative, wildly adventuresome, heartstring-tugging sequel in a series destined to become a classic....With many moments of deadly peril, luminous triumph, deep grief, and sweet wisdom, it's a thrilling, emotional ride.”

— Common Sense Media

“A high-energy and imaginative sequel....Rundell expertly shapes another magical adventure in The Poisoned King.”

— Shelf Awareness

Book details

First published
2025
Latest edition
2025 · ISBN 9780593809907
Pages
336

Frequently asked questions

How many pages is The Poisoned King?

The Poisoned King by Katherine Rundell has 336 pages.

Book descriptions, author biographies, award records and review quotes on this page are courtesy of Penguin Random House.