Just So Stories

Bloomsbury

ISBN	9781408897454 (p/b)
Imprint	Bloomsbury Children’s Books

RRP: $18.99 (P/b) $29.99 (H/b) $15.19 ebook editions

I have raved over Impossible Creatures since I first ate it up greedily and, trust me, I am not the only one. Evidence of that is in the fact that it was the Children’s Book of the Year in the 2024 British Book Awards, while, at the same time, Katherine was named the Author of the Year – the first children’s author to do so. Is it any wonder? Everything she has written is superlative.

My reviews of her work are always attracting multiple views on this blog, and I’ve previously mentioned that my review of The Explorer still attracts the most visitors of any of my posts, eight years after I first posted it [currently over 3000!].

So you can probably imagine my unseemly squeal of excitement when I opened this limited edition proof copy of #2. With great restraint, I finished the last 100 pages of the book I was about to review (at record speed!) and dived straight in. Over two nights I was deeply back in the world of the Archipelago. My eyes were getting tired, and I would realise I’d read for an hour in what seemed like mere minutes. Does that tell you something?

It has been a year since Christoper first went to the Archipelago, and he misses it fiercely. He also deeply misses Mal, the Immortal. His heart is full, and though he continues with his ordinary life of school, mates and home, he longs to be back in the realm of glimourie.

When he wakes up with Jacques, the tiny dragon with the big ego, nibbling at his face, he is thrilled – not so much with the nibbling but the prospect of returning through the waybetween. When Jacques explains that there is some dreadful calamity befalling all the dragons and the Guardian’s help is needed, Christopher needs no further encouragement. His backpack filled with necessities and a note left behind for his father, and they are off.

When the two of them arrive and are greeted by the Sphinx, Naravirala, she urges them to detour on their quest to save the dragons, because a young girl desperately needs their help. And so we meet Anya, a little girl in line for the throne of Dousha. Princess Anya Phoebe Cornelia Argen of the Island of Dousha, Duchess of the Silver Mountains, Countess of the Winged Forests, who is, as Christopher gets closer, scrambling over the roof of her grandfather’s castle.

With blood under her fingernails, dirt-streaked face and tangled hair, she has rescued a gagana egg that guards, for some reason, are hunting on orders from her uncle, Claude. Her grandfather is the current king, her father is not keen for a kingdom and lives in the forest along with Anya and her trusted flock of royal gaganas, except for the times they are commanded to appear at the castle.

While there is far too much to explain, let’s just summarise by saying Anya’s grandfather is murdered, her father is blamed, her uncle becomes regent and Anya’s life hangs by a thread. It doesn’t take an Einstein to know what’s happened here but the race to protect Anya, is closely tied to the ongoing murders of the Archipelago’s dragons. Christopher and Anya – who is as fierce as any street urchin (after all, she’s basically been raised in the forest) – along with their allies, are determined to succeed and fight for justice, despite the odds.

We meet again with Iriana the scientist, and Berserker, Nighthand, who it appears are also on an important mission, searching for something or someone. There is a rather lovely but subtle love match brewing there. The whole is once again chockful of fabulous creatures from myth and legend, along with many from pure imagination.

There are moments of high drama, laugh-out-loud humour, wonder and amazement. I love that the librarian in charge of a mysterious long-hidden library is a very wise and knowledgeable harpy – she is clearly of my tribe *grin*. Nighthand’s complete resistance, in fact denial, to the very idea of being in love is highly amusing. Jacques may be a dragon but he always reminds me of Reepicheep – the smallest warrior with the biggest heart as well as his ego.

Once again, it is an absolutely marvellous piece of high adventure and fantasy, with so many underlying themes to unpack: loyalty and treachery, greed and generosity, revenge, justice, courage and compassion.

What can I say? Again I put it easily on a par (if not surpassing) with such as Pullman, whose work I adore, creating a world in which readers will become fully immersed, forming attachments to characters who become real to us and rousing our emotions on their behalf as they strive against all odds.

What a magnificent writer she is! And you know the very best thing? Just as you are sad to leave again – you find out there’s going to be ANOTHER one!! Huzzah!! There’s some lovely backmatter of The Guardian’s Bestiary which is fascinating to explore as well, and just look at the cover art ! The shiny ARC is gorgeous but the artwork for the actual book is just brilliant.

Obviously, it gets a 5 🏝️🏝️🏝️🏝️🏝️ rating from me. I would suggest for your sophisticated readers from 10 years upwards. Don’t miss out! While it’s not released until September, it will be in high demand so I advise you to pre-order now direct from Bloomsbury or your preferred supplier.