Children of the Red King, Book 1

As the reader, I’m sort of in charge of managing the pacing of the story and thinking up voices for the characters. I’ve got to admit, though, that I just couldn’t get into the story as easily as I did Harry Potter. It’s the same genre, after all (Book 1 being published 4 years after Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone). In fact, it’s incredibly similar to Harry Potter in many respects—the wizardly kids, the school of magic, the two-boys-and-a-girl team of protagonists—but it’s not nearly as intricate or entertaining. To me, the story feels off, and Nimmo’s universe feels too darkly depressing. The thought of reading seven more of these books aloud sort of hurts my brain. It likely won’t happen.

In an effort to find a new-ish, entertaining series to read to the kids at night, we tried out this first book about Charlie Bone and the “endowed” children of the Red King. At 400 pages, it took us a while to bulldoze through, and I was only minimally impressed.

The story follows Charlie Bone, a boy with a special gift: he can hear voices inside photographs. He comes to discover that he’s gifted because he’s one of many heirs of the Red King, an ancient sorcerer whose rebellious children couldn’t get along. Charlie’s Uncle Paton informs him of their history at one point:

Only five are intent on achieving power. The others left the castle, they disappeared into the country. Some even sailed to other lands, hoping to escape their terrible siblings and reluctant to use their strange endowments. But they couldn’t escape, Charlie, because some of the children became wicked too, and often the children of the bad were born good. In this way the families were bound together, forever, never able to break free from their past; and so it has continued until today. Just when a family thinks it is clear of wickedness, up pops a thoroughly bad one, with a talent to cause havoc. So many warring families, so much heartache, so much distress. (350)

Whenever an heir of the Red King comes of age and his or her endowment becomes evident, they’re encouraged to attend a school with other children just like him or her (essentially, everyone’s a distant cousin). Here, at Bloor’s Academy, Charlie meets a horde of children just like himself, though their giftings all differ. Some gifts seem silly and useless, and others are wildly powerful. And as Uncle Paton noted, the children are often split between the good and the wicked.

Children aren’t the only ones endowed, however, for the world is teeming with adults who also share in the gifts, as well as in the good and evil. Some adults have become teachers, others civil servants, while others remain hidden; but they’re all apparently everywhere, magical powers either secret or exploited. Even inside Charlie’s own home, Grandma Bone and Uncle Paton seek to mold and sway the young Charlie. Grandma Bone and her two sisters appear to be more on the wicked side, while Uncle Paton (whose strange power is to explode lightbulbs) proves himself friendly and good. At one point, Grandma Bone says this of Charlie and his gifts:

You don’t deserve your gift, you stupid boy, but seeing as you’ve got it, you’re now responsible for improving it. Improve, respect, foster your inheritance– don’t waste it on trashy, foolish affairs. Save it for important things. (121)

As Charlie seeks to navigate these new, strange waters, he’s also introduced to a package containing an invention which might contain the secrets of his father’s disappearance. Wicked magicians at school and elsewhere want the package back, and they’re willing maim and kill if need be to get it. Several friends help Charlie Bone along the way, though it’s also clear that not all of them have pure motives. Also popping up here and there to rescue Charlie at key moments is a strange man with three fireball cats.

I think what I disliked most about this book was its consistently dark atmosphere. It felt like watching a Tim Burton movie, sans any humor. It was long, occasionally wordy, depressing, and at times slightly confusing. In all honesty, we tried listening to Book 2 through the Libby app, but only made it through the first chapter. The kids couldn’t get into the story (which starts in the past) and they disliked the voicing. We quit before starting the second chapter, and none of us are missing it.

I suppose this means that we’ve officially given up on the series, and I’m OK with that. Yes, my kids could read the books on their own, but knowing how dark this first one was, I don’t think I’d want them to. There’s much better reading options out that won’t depress my children, and as long as I’ve got a say in the matter, I’m playing the “Dad” card!

Obviously, I’m not recommending this book or series. If you’re looking for a new-ish, entertaining series, you’re much better off reading Harry Potter, A Series of Unfortunate Events, or The 39 Clues. The Children of the Red King series is well worth ignoring.

©2023 E.T.