Creatures of the In Between

by Cindy Lin

Overview

Princess Mononoke meets How to Train Your Dragon in this magical middle grade adventure from Cindy Lin, author of The Twelve, featuring a blend of East and Southeast Asian folklore and mythical creatures, and starring a boy with a hero’s destiny.

Prince Jin is running out of time.

He must find a monster companion before his thirteenth birthday or lose the throne completely.

And that means travelling to the only place where monsters still live: the legendary, dangerous Whisper Island.

But untold perils await Jin there. The magical creatures he seeks are not so easily swayed, and an even greater threat looms on the horizon—one that could threaten everything Jin hopes to achieve.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063064799
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	04/11/2023
Series:	Creatures of the In Between
Pages:	416
Sales rank:	480,957
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.50(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

A former journalist with degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University, Cindy Lin has worked for Sony Pictures Entertainment and has written and produced many multimedia news features for children, one of which received a Peabody Award. Cindy is the author of The Twelve, Treasures of the Twelve, Creatures of the In Between, and the upcoming Beasts of the Uncanny Wild, and you can find her at cindylinbooks.com.

Editorial Reviews

02/27/2023

The sole remaining scion of an imperial family visits a monster-filled island in order to secure the throne in this action-packed, East and Southeast Asian folklore–inspired duology starter from Lin (The Twelve). In the empire of Samtei, also known as the Three Realms, crown prince Jin approaches his 13th birthday and subsequent ascension to the Triad Throne. But tradition requires emperors to gain the trust of a monster companion, and no such creatures have been seen in the kingdom for years—save for his powerful empress dowager grandmother’s malicious phoenix. Inspired by an overheard conversation and planning to return with a monstermate, Jin travels to legendary monster sanctuary Whisper Island, joined by his dog, Shishi, and a stowaway servant, Bingyoo. Upon arriving at the island’s ruined village, he encounters creatures he’s only read about and slowly befriends the handful of people living there following an attack. With their help, Jin learns the art of Whispering, a skill used to bond with magical beings, and finds an even greater conflict than his own looming large. Court intrigue, daring escapades, and quick-moving battle sequences characterize this entertaining read. Though supporting personalities are not as developed as Jin’s, Lin’s lush descriptions bring her mythical creatures and the mysteries of Samtei’s past to life. A bestiary concludes. Ages 8–12. Agent: Josh Adams, Adams Literary. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"Court intrigue, daring escapades, and quick-moving battle sequences characterize this entertaining read... Lin’s lush descriptions bring her mythical creatures and the mysteries of Samtei’s past to life." — Publishers Weekly

"Perfect for fans of monsters, magic, myth, and learning about the stories and heroes of East and Southeast Asian lore." — Booklist

Praise for Cindy Lin: “[A] rip-roaring debut…Ideal for fans of stories with lots of heart, great lore, and plenty of twists along the way.”  — ALA Booklist

“Aficionados will delight in the plethora of fast-paced action scenes sprinkled with martial arts wisdom, and there is much potential for sequels…and, of course, for Usagi to continue developing her powers.”   — Booklist

"Full of heart and brimming with action, what a read! I couldn’t put it down, but I didn’t want it to end! I know I'll return to this enthralling and inventive world time and time again." — Amie Kaufman, New York Times bestselling author of Elementals: Ice Wolves

From the Publisher

2023-01-25
A prince seeks to fulfill his royal ambitions.

In the kingdom of Samtei, no ruler has ever ascended the throne without having formed a bond with a magical beast, or monstermate, by the age of 13. That is why Jin, the 12-year-old crown prince, decides to sneak into the forbidden Bureau of Divination and find out more about these now scarce mythical creatures. Before he is caught, Jin overhears ministers in conversation with his grandmother, the empress dowager, suggesting that he visit Whisper Island, a sanctuary for creatures of the in between. Despite Grandmother’s harsh punishments, Jin—with the aid of servant girl Bingyoo—gets into scrapes and is banned from going to the island where he hoped to find a monstermate until he can prove to her he is worthy. Nevertheless, Jin hires a ship to take him to Whisper Island, unexpectedly joined by stowaways: Bingyoo and Jin’s dog, Shishi. On the island the trio find wild monsters, the ruins of an attacked city, and some survivors, twins Mau and Masa and their Aunt Ayie. Solid storytelling outlines Jin’s growth as he gradually learns Whispering, a skill used to bond with magical creatures and cultivate true companionship. Unfortunately, other characters in this Asian-inspired fantasy world are not as well fleshed out. Readers will be left with some lingering questions about the political intrigue surrounding Jin’s family; a sequel may bring more clarity.

An intriguing adventure with promise. (author’s note, bestiary) (Fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews