Christopher and Anya face a new set of challenges when a mysterious villain captures one of their own in The Neverfear, the enchanting, heart-stopping third installment in author Katherine Rundell's middle-grade fantasy adventure series Impossible Creatures, illustrated by Ashley Mackenzie.
Midsummer is fast approaching on the islet of Glimt in the Glimouria Archipelago, where guardian Christopher and once-princess Anya have been living for the past three months. The teens, who spend their days helping tend magical creatures, are excited about the Midsummer celebrations. This year, however, whispered ominous warnings slink through the festivities: a dangerous crew of bandits is burning and slaughtering its way across the archipelago. When the bandits kidnap Glimt's beloved scholar Irian Guinne, they leave a note: "We have taken what is precious to you. We require the most precious objects in Glimouria in ransom." Christopher and Anya set out to rescue Irian, but the journey is deadlier than either is prepared for, and Christopher realizes he has never faced a foe so lethal.
The Neverfear discusses change, resiliency, and the price of love as Christopher and Anya encounter new creatures--friend and foe--and meet with familiar characters. Mackenzie's realistic grayscale art ramps up the magic and tension, featuring spot illustrations of animals and treasures as well as full-page action images of a growling Cerberus or Anya wielding twin blades. The book's ending Bestiary, illustrated by Virginia Allyn, features all the title's new creatures. Rundell continues to deliver whimsy, charm, and action in The Neverfear, a spellbinding and lively addition to her magical series. --Kyla Paterno, freelance reviewer