The Un-discovered Islands by Malachy Tallack
Illustrated by Katie Scott
Published: October 2025
Summary from Goodreads:
Gathered in this book are two dozen islands once believed to be real but no longer on the map. These are the products of imagination, deception and simple human error. They are phantoms and fakes: an archipelago of ex-isles and forgotten lands.
From the well-known story of Atlantis to more obscure tales from around the globe; from ancient history right up to the present day. This is an atlas of legend and wonder, of places discovered and then un-discovered.
Malachy’s words will be accompanied in the book by glorious full-colour illustrations by Katie Scott, who has previously worked with the New York Times, Kew Gardens and the BBC. She is the illustrator of the beautiful Animalium and the forthcoming Botanicum.
Confession:
This was a very interesting read and an easy one to dip in and out of. The descriptions of each of the islands is only two to three pages long and are accompanied by beautiful illustrations. I had no idea going into this book, just how many islands were placed on maps only to be undiscovered later. Some stories were intriguing and others were less so, but I still found it to be a well written book.
As I mentioned this book is beautifully illustrated, but they are not illustrations of the islands themselves. Just little drawings of objects that are associated with the ocean, ships and civilizations. Things such as plants, shells and bones, sea creatures both real and mythical and even birds and animals. I loved the one of the narwhal and the octopus. The illustrations helped break up the incredibly small text, and gave my eyes something to rest on as I contemplated the story.
The book is broken up into six sections that the author has grouped these un-islands into. There are then four islands in each section for a total of 24 islands. These sections ranged from islands that were mythical in nature, such as places where the dead went, and others were about islands that were made up and then became mythical, think Atlantis. Many of these islands were just plain made up, so that the explorers that found them, could name them after their rich investors, to of course then get more money invested in their adventures. I loved those stories.
I did find it very interesting that islands appear and disappear on maps throughout the centuries as the oceans were explored. Many of these islands were possibly illusions brought on by tired sailors who are just longing to find land. There are some that sailors claim to have visited and interacted with people who lived there. But when other ships try to find them, they are not where they are suppose to be. I also found it interesting that many of these islands have survived into modern times, despite satellite imagery and GPS and other advanced technology.
A very interesting and at times intriguing look at how islands were discovered and then removed from the maps, sometimes centuries later. A book that is easy to dip in and out of and one that I recommend to traveler’s in both heart and spirit.
Confessions of a Serial Reader 