The Poisoned King

Gr 2-6–At the start of The Poisoned King, Christopher, whom readers met in Impossible Creatures, is awoken by dragon Jacques and pulled back into the Archipelago. Christopher has been summoned to help Anya Argen, a young princess who would rather talk with birds than with courtiers. Anya is devastated when her gentle scientist father is falsely accused of the murder of his own father, the king, and she is forced to escape. After Christopher rescues her, they work to clear Anya’s father’s name and to help the Archipelago’s dragons, which are mysteriously dying. The production of this audiobook is spare and effective, without music or effects. West’s narration brings a quiet dignity to the story. He is not overly dramatic, and that style will pull readers in with its gravity. The narration has other notable strengths: the various magical creatures’ voices are excellent and often very funny, Jacques above all. At the other end of the emotional spectrum, West effectively conveys with empathy Anya’s impatient snarls and anger as she tries to find out who has killed her grandfather and framed her father. The book feels like a story that is meant to be read aloud with the whole family gathered around.