Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 08/01/2024 Gr 3–7—An immersive low fantasy in a similar vein to The Chronicles of Narnia, this novel begins with a boy named Christopher who saves a griffin named Gelifen from drowning. Upon seeing the griffin, his grandfather tells him that Christopher is the guardian of the Archipelago: a wondrous world hidden within this one teeming with impossible creatures such as dragons, unicorns, and manticores. However, the creatures are dying. In order to save them and the Archipelago, Christopher goes with Mal, Gelifen's owner, to see why that world is dying and if they can save it. From start to finish, readers embark on a dragon ride with many emotional highs and lows. Both main and supporting characters are fleshed out, making it easy to empathize with them, and character development is enhanced by intense action scenes. Even though the cover is sweet, do not be fooled: Rundell is the George R.R. Martin of middle grade fantasy. Do not give to children who are sensitive to the deaths of beloved characters. Violence occurs throughout the story, but it is never explicit or gratuitous. Though the book will evoke sadness, readers will also be left with some hope. VERDICT A quintessential fantasy that will delight readers of all ages who can handle intense storylines; this will circulate well in public and school libraries alike.—Wilsinia Ocasio - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 08/01/2024 *Starred Review* Impossible ExpectationsRundell's new middle-grade fantasy hearkens back to the genre's classicsIt feels like, every year, one publisher or another claims to have discovered the Chosen One: the next world-shattering middle-grade fantasy in the tradition of His Dark Materials, Percy Jackson, and, of course, Harry Potter. Fortunately, that particular status can only be bestowed over the course of time by actual readers—not marketing campaigns, trade reviews, or even a slew of awards—and while it's much too soon to compare Rundell's new series starter to its luminous ancestors, it's hard to deny that it does kindle some of the secret fire that connects the classics.Impossible Creatures is a quintessential portal fantasy, and readers will be transported even before the first page, as they're greeted by Allyn's beautifully rendered map of the Archipelago, a magically concealed consortium of islands that is home to all the fantastical creatures of myth. Short, punchy opening chapters alternate between the book’s two young leads: Christopher, a boy from our own mundane Otherlands who learns he's a descendent of the guardians of the way between worlds, and Mal of the magical isles, an orphan unaware of the murderer on her trail. Of course, the two tweens inevitably cross paths and, along with a merry band of seafaring adventurers, join forces to save the last griffin—and all the mysteriously fading magic of the Archipelago.There's a comforting familiarity to Rundell's fantasy world, promising huge kid appeal and easily tying the work to the canon. As the plot speeds along, taking readers on a whirlwind tour of various islands and their inhabitants, readers will meet several recognizable beasts (dragons, unicorns, phoenixes, sphinxes) as well as many less familiar (ratatoskas, karkadanns, kludde, al-mirajes), made more real by Mackenzie's interstitial art (finals not seen) and a back matter bestiary illustrated by Allyn. The tidy geological structure of the Archipelago likewise brings a cozy organization to prospective explorers: each island promises something new, be it a beauty or terror, and what child won't yearn to discover their own way between worlds and island-hop from one adventure to the next?Fantasy fans will also recognize many tropes (the orphan hero, the unbeatable weapon, the world-spanning quest), plus more subtle parallels to the likes of Lewis, Tolkien, and Pullman. These are another source of familiarity, but what sets this work apart from its contemporary counterparts are the enchanting fantastical concepts, which bring fresh life to the genre. Mal wears a long-tailed coat that allows her to soar on the wind, a stunningly poetic device. The Archipelago itself is tied to a being called the Immortal, who is always reincarnated in a new body, always retaining their memories—until a century ago, that is, when the Immortal took a potion of forgetting, and their identity was subsequently lost.In a relatively slim page count, Rundell covers a lot of ground (and sea). The Archipelago is introduced with sweeping scope, but the brisk chapters typically feature one segment of the heroes' ever-branching quest, offering only short stints on each island and not allowing for much depth of setting. Similarly, Christopher and Mal, while likable, feel a bit lacking in development, thanks to a focus on plot and a shifting narrative point of view that tends to keep its distance. And yet! These choices also grant the novel a wonderfully fairy-tale feel, and it's in the tone and the telling that this book finds its deepest magic. A true sense of wonder is unlocked, and Rundell's prose is the key, operating through an omniscient narrator who is unafraid to step back from the story and pause to give readers a glimpse of the infinite.It's easy to reference the classics and even invoke a taste of their power, but a book earns immortality only by casting its own spell and enchanting a generation. While Impossible Creatures may carry that classic feel, it's much too soon to declare this series an heir; future installments and their readers will have final say on the matter. Regardless of expectations, though, Rundell has delivered a welcome reminder of what makes the genre great. By taking risks, honoring her ancestors, and weaving a magic of her own, she adds her voice to the ancient, ongoing chorus of storytellers. Is this the often-prophesied instant classic? No. Does it have the potential to grow into that power? I say yes. But only time will tell. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.