Review: The Poisoned King

REVIEW: THE POISONED KING by Katherine Rundell

Fiction, YA, Middle Grade, Mythology, Fantasy

Impossible Animals Series

5*****

Blurb: 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.

THOUGHTS: This was an amazing fantasy story aimed at YA readers, but as a senior adult, I really enjoyed it as well. It is the second in the series and you don’t need to have read the first one to know what’s going on, but I strongly recommend that you do, if only to enjoy more of this world.

The world building is excellent with impossible animals, scenery, and events to capture your imagination. I especially loved the creatures – especially the royal birds and the gesture language they taught to Anya, the princess. And I laughed out loud at the Harpy for a librarian! The story is peppered throughout with imaginative images and there is an extensive section at the end of the book that shows what the animals look like and describes them and their abilities.

Christopher is back in this second book, but the story is more about Anya – though it takes both her and Christopher working together to solve the problems they are faced with. There is a lot of action, adventure, treachery, and revenge—and finding out what your true self is. And the ending definitely satisfied.

Recommended.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”