Get Ready to Return to the Archipelago: Katherine Rundell is Coming to York!

Right, let's have a chat. If you’re anything like me, you probably spent a good chunk of last year completely lost in the world of Impossible Creatures. You know, that place where griffins soar and unicorns aren't just glittery pictures on a notebook. And ever since you turned that last page, you’ve been waiting. Wondering what happens next.

Well, the wait is almost over. Katherine Rundell, the brilliant author who brought that world to life, has penned the sequel, The Poisoned King, and she’s holding a special event in York to celebrate. This is not a drill! The dragons are calling, there’s talk of murder, and a brand new rescue mission is about to begin. So, grab a cuppa and let's get into what’s happening.

So, what's this new book all about?

Remember Christopher Forrester and the magical Archipelago? That secret cluster of islands where every creature of myth and legend is real? He’s back. The story, The Poisoned King, kicks off when Christopher is woken up by a tiny dragon chewing on his face. Honestly, that’s probably the best alarm clock ever. He’s been dreaming of getting back to the Archipelago for months, but this trip isn’t exactly a holiday. It’s a full-blown rescue mission.

The press release gives us a little taste: “The dragons call out, and the ratatoskas tell of murder. Come with us now. There is justice to be done.” Chills, right? The ratatoskas are creatures from myth, and if they're talking murder, you know things are serious. This new book sounds like it’s packed with even more adventure. We're talking:

• A desperate rescue mission on the back of a sphinx.
• A daring plan to sneak into a dragon’s lair.
• A mysterious new girl with a flock of birds who is absolutely determined to see justice served.

It seems like Christopher is in for another wild ride. He thought he knew what to expect, but this new adventure throws everything he thought he knew out the window. There are dragons, a powerful sphinx, and a quest for justice that will take him into the most dangerous corners of this magical world. It’s everything we loved about the first book, but dialled up to eleven. If you're a fan of myth and magic, this new book is one you won't want to miss.

The big event in York

Okay, this is the really exciting bit. You can actually meet the author, Katherine Rundell! She's doing a special event in York, and it’s the perfect chance to hear her talk about the new book and the incredible world she's built. It’s not just a book signing; it’s a chance to step into the story a little bit. The details are all here, so pop them in your calendar now.

What:	An Evening with Katherine Rundell
When:	Wednesday 17 September, at 18:30
Where:	Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Street, York, YO1 7FR
Tickets:	Available from the Waterstones website

Imagine being in a room full of people who love this story as much as you do, listening to the person who created it all. It’s going to be a fantastic evening. Going to a live author event is a totally different experience from just reading a book at home. You get to hear the passion in their voice and maybe even ask a question about that one burning plot point you've been thinking about. This is a brilliant opportunity for any fan of her work.

Who is this Katherine Rundell person anyway?

If you've only read Impossible Creatures, you might not know that Katherine Rundell is a bit of a superstar in the book world. She’s a multi-million-bestselling author whose books for kids have won a massive pile of awards, including the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the Blue Peter Book Award. Basically, the book world thinks she’s amazing, and they’re not wrong.

Impossible Creatures was Waterstones Book of the Year in 2023, and just this year, Katherine was named Author of the Year at the British Book Awards – that’s like the BAFTAs for books. It’s a huge deal. Her incredible book also won the Children’s Fiction Book of the Year award. And she doesn’t just write for kids. Her book for adults, Super-Infinite, is about the poet John Donne and it won the prestigious Baillie Gifford Prize. So, she’s clearly got a massive brain. She’s a Fellow at All Souls College and St Catherine’s College in Oxford, where she studies Renaissance literature. But the best bit? The press release casually mentions that “very occasionally she goes climbing across the rooftops of Oxford, late at night.” How cool is that? She’s a literary genius with a taste for adventure, which explains why her stories feel so real and exciting. Katherine is an author who truly embodies the spirit of her characters.

A return to impossible creatures

Let's just take a moment to remember why Impossible Creatures was so special. It wasn’t just a book; it was an escape. Katherine Rundell created a world that felt both brand new and completely timeless. A world of myth and magic, where creatures we've only read about in old stories are alive and breathing. The Archipelago is a place you feel you could almost find if you just looked hard enough.

The first book introduced us to this incredible place and a host of amazing beings. Now, with The Poisoned King, we get to go deeper. We get more dragons, a sphinx, and a whole new mystery involving murder. It’s a chance to revisit the characters we love and explore more of the Archipelago's secrets. This isn't just a sequel; it's a continuation of a global phenomenon. The story of Christopher and his journey for justice continues, and we are all invited to join him on his dangerous rescue mission.

Fancy working together?

Finally, there's a little note for any creators out there. Are you a journalist, a blogger, a podcaster, or just someone with a really cool platform? The team behind this incredible book is looking for people to work with. The press release mentions exploring "media and collaboration opportunities."

What does that mean? Well, it could be anything from arranging an interview with the author to featuring the book on your channel. If you have an idea for a collaboration that you think would be a great fit for the world of Impossible Creatures, they want to hear from you. This is a fantastic chance to connect with a major book launch and share the magic with your own audience. If you're interested in these collaboration opportunities, it sounds like now is the time to reach out to Bea and the team behind the brilliant Katherine.