Children of the Red King is a popular series of children's fantasy novels written by British author Jenny Nimmo. It is also known as the "Charlie Bone" series and, before it was extended to six books, (approaching eight) as the "Red King Quintet". The protagonist of the series is Charlie Bone, a twelve-year-old boy endowed with supernatural talents to converse and "visit" people contained within photographs or paintings. As a result of his powers, Charlie is sent to Bloor's Academy, a boarding school for those endowed with magical, artistic, dramatic or musical talents. While he makes enemies among the owners, the Bloors, who persist in mayhem and havoc as they attempt to bring every endowed person under their control, he also makes a significant number of friends who assist in his attempts to preserve the good. The series follows Charlie as he aids those who have been persecuted by the Bloors, and searches for clues over his father's disappearance many years ago. There are currently six books released in the series, published by Egmont in the United Kingdom and by Scholastic in the United States. (Original English titles first, followed by American titles):
- Midnight for Charlie Bone (UK: 1 February 2002, US: April 1, 2002)
- The Time Twister (1 April 2003) / Charlie Bone and the Time Twister (3 April 2003)
- Charlie Bone and The Blue Boa (1 April 2004) / Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy'" (1 July 2004)
- The Castle of Mirrors (5 June 2005) / Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors (2005)
- Charlie Bone and the Hidden King (UK: 5 June 2006, US: 2006)
- Charlie Bone and the Wilderness Wolf (4 June 2007) / Charlie Bone and the Beast (1 June 2007)
- Charlie Bone and the Shadow of Badlock (4 June 2008) / Charlie Bone and the Shadow (1 June 2008)
- Charlie Bone and the Red Knight (Release date unknown)
Jenny Nimmo originally intended to write only the first five books, and the primary storyline is resolved in those five, but later decided to also write a trilogy focusing more on the evil children. Charlie Bone is the protagonist of the first five, but will take less of a prominent position in the later three.[1] It was later revealed when Charlie Bone and the Wilderness Wolf came out Charlie is still the main character.
Contents |
Midnight for Charlie Bone
The story begins with ten-year-old Charlie Bone making a birthday card for his oldest friend, Benjamin. He intends to use a photograph of Benjamin's dog in the card, but when he opens the envelope from the photo developer he finds a picture of a man cradling a baby. He begins to hear static noises, followed by voices out of the photo. Later that day Charlie's great-aunts, Venetia, Lucretia and Eustacia Yewbeam, and his grandmother Grizelda Bone, test Charlie to confirm if he is magically endowed. When they realize that he can hear voices from photographs, they send him to Bloor's Academy. However, Bloor's Academy is a corrupt school under the influence of Manfred Bloor (a hypnotist) and his great-grandfather Ezekiel Bloor (an evil, flawed magician). But with the assistance of his new friends (including musical genius Fidelio, actress Olivia, and endowed students Gabriel, Tancred and Lysander), Charlie begins to discover secrets concerning himself, the academy, and his father. Charlie returns the photograph to its owner - bookshop owner Julia Ingledew, who lives near the cathedral where Charlie's father once played. Julia reveals that the man and baby in the photograph are her brother-in-law, Dr. Tolly, and his daughter Emma, as well as giving Charlie a heavy metal case and a metal dog (a tape recorder). At Benjamin's house, Charlie plays the tape stuck inside the dog, which gives the more finer details of Dr. Tolly's story, as well as instructions to open the case and awaken the baby, who would now be the same age as Charlie. Returning to Bloor's, Charlie realizes that endowed student Emilia Moon must be Emma Tolly, and plans to rescue her from her hypnotic state. Emma is returned to Julia Ingledew - her endowed power is that of flight. However, Charlie is impressed upon by the Bloors that betrayal is not rewarded, when he is nearly killed on their orders during a school game in the castle ruin.
Charlie Bone and the Time Twister
The year is 1916, and brothers Henry and James Yewbeam have been sent to stay with their cousins at Bloor's Academy during the coldest winter in living memory. While Henry hides from his evil cousins by playing marbles, his elder cousin Ezekiel Bloor slips him a marble-shaped contraption known as the "Time Twister", which may transport the victim through the past or the future with one look. Too late, Henry has looked, and is transported to the present day, at the exact temperature as it was in 1916, to the shock of his descendant, Charlie Bone. Charlie prompts Henry to hide in the Music Tower. Unfortunately, his existence is noticed by seven-year-old spy Billy Raven, who quickly alerts the ancient Ezekiel Bloor, and a man-hunt begins. When Henry wanders too far from his sanctuary, he is imprisoned by the Bloors, but of course rescued by the heroic Charlie and his friends. Henry eventually returns to his cottage by the sea, and is reuinted with his brother.
Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy
Uh oh. .. more problems for Charlie! Art teacher Mr Boldova reveals his brother, Ollie, has been imprisoned in the Academy attics. When Charlie and Emma investigate, they discover Ollie, who reveals a strange story involving a blue boa that may turn a person invisible. Meanwhile, problems arise in the arrival of a mysterious new student, Belle Donner, who brings misfortune for Charlie and his friends. This book also has the alternate title: "The Blue Boa"
Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors
Charlie's magical gifts begin to take on a new dimension, as he attempts to escape a ghostly horse loose in the castle ruin. Strange new characters emerge, such as teacher Tantalus Ebony, florist Alice Angel and student Joshua Tilpin, who possesses the power of magentism. Meanwhile, Charlie's close friend Olivia begins to suffer a crisis when she is turned down for a movie role, and Billy Raven is ecstatic to be offered a home with the de Greys... although with devastating consequences. Charlie also comes a few steps closer to finding his lost father.
Charlie Bone and the Hidden King
Charlie awakens one morning to find the city covered with snow, and every animal vanished. Benjamin returns from Hong Kong to be snared in another perilous adventure concerning an evil Count Harken Badlock, who threatens doom and despair for all who offer opposition. Olivia becomes actively involved in the adventures of the endowed, as she puts to good use her endowment of illusions, while a strange girl appears outside Charlie's house with a demand to follow her. Meanwhile, Charlie has reached the end of his journey as he finds his lost father - but at the risk of losing someone else especially important in his life...
- Apparently this book takes place in 2004 or 2005, according to Charlie turning twelve the week earlier and Charlie being born in late December or earlier January 1992.
Charlie Bone and the Wilderness Wolf
Charlie returns to Bloor's Acadmemy, surprised at the disappearance of Asa Pike, and the appearance of Dagbert Endless, who threatens the security of Charlie's close circle of friends. As his friends are driven away by Dagbert's snooping and insults, Charlie finds that he is powerless to save the mysterious Wilderness Wolf, who howls in depseration at night.
Characters
The Endowed
Charlie Bone GOOD. Charlie was sent to Bloor's by his horrible Yewbeam aunts and his Grandma Bone when they found that he was a traveler. He is related to the Red King's youngest daughter, Amoret, through his dad, Lyell Bone. He is related to a Welsh magician, Mathonwy, who was the Red King's friend, through his mom, Amy Jones/Bone. He is kind of like the leader of the good children of the Red King and goes against the Bloors in whatever they're planning. Emma Tolly GOOD. Emma was traded shortly after her birth by her father, Dr. Tolly, for a chance to re-animate their ancestor, the knight from Toledo. Emma was hypnotised by Manfred Bloor for eight years and re-named Emilia Moon until Charlie rescued her with the Tolly Twelve Bells invention. Her surname is derived from the Spanish swordsman Toledo. Emma is an exceptional artist and her endowment enables her to transform herself into different types of birds. She eventually created her own bird called the Tollroc. She strongly resembles her mother, and owns a duck called Nancy (named after her mother). Her greatest weaknesses are her fingers or hands, and she cannot fly when these are sore or weakened. She has a crush on Tancred Torsson. Emma lives with her Aunt Julia in her bookstore. Olivia Vertigo GOOD. Olivia is a spirited, independent-minded drama student who often assists Charlie in his efforts to foil evil plans at Bloor's. Her outstanding acting skills probably keep her from being expelled. In the fourth book, when she doesn't receive a hoped-for movie role, she sinks into a bout of depression. She, like Gabriel, is descended from the Red King's daughter Guanhamara who fled the Red King's castle and married an Italian Prince. Olivia is an illusionist, and she has used her powers to create a giant alligator, a swarm of bees, a medieval knight on his warhorse wielding a bloody axe... that aren't really there. Her endowment has been kept secret from the Bloors so that they won't try to take over her. Gabriel Silk GOOD. Gabriel is a friend of Charlie. He owns many gerbils, and is descended from a long line of psychics. He, like Olivia, is descended from the Red King's daughter Guanhamara. An interesting note is that the Red King's portrait in Bloor's Academy originally belonged to the Silk family. Gabriel's family also owns the Red King's cloak. He can feel what the person was feeling when they last wore the clothes, which makes it impossible to wear used clothing. The Red King's cloak is the only clothing that he can wear that has someone has worn already. He predicted in the first book that Charlie's father was not dead, but lost. Billy Raven GOOD. Billy is a friend of Charlie's, but for the first three books was unsure whether to be good or bad. He is an orphan and is only 7 years old in first book. Although he acted as spy for Ezekiel Bloor, who promised that he would be adopted, he later decided to become friends with Charlie and aid him. Billy can speak and understand animals like his ancestor Amadis, and inherit the Red King's "House of Mirrors". In the fourth book, he was adopted by the de Greys, who locked him away in Passing House. Currently, Billy lives in Bloor's Academy during the week, like the other students, and sometimes with Charlie during weekends. He is close friends with Cook, and also with Ezekiel Bloor's dog Blessed (or Percy), whom he has long chats with. In the sixth book, Billy lost his endowment, but basically recovered soon after when he had to speak to Asa while Asa was a wolf. Tancred Torsson GOOD. Tancred is one of Charlie's friends. His Scandinavian ancestor was named after the thunder god, Thor. Like his father, Tancred is an Atmokinetic; he can create rain, wind, thunder and lightning. In the fifth book, he also created snow. He lives in the Thunder House. Also like his father, he has a short temper and is very impatient. He is descended From Petrello, like Dagbert Endless. His short temper makes unexpectable storms, and if roused greatly, he cannot control it. Although he has dated Tracy Morsell, it is implied that he also has a crush on Emma Tolly. Lysander Sage GOOD. He is one of Charlie's friends, and best friend of Tancred. He is descended from an African wise man. Lysander is able to summon his spirit ancestors in times of need. Lysander is also noted as a remarkable sculptor. His father is a judge. Lysander has two sisters named Hortense and Alexandra aged ten and fourteen, as well as another, unnamed sibling. His endowment is passed down from his mother. He currently dates Lauren, who attends a normal school with Benjamin. Bindi Loom GOOD. She is a friend of Olivia's. Her magical talent has not yet been developed. She soon left Bloor's Academy, and is the sister of Dorcas, Albert and Alfred Loom. Paton Yewbeam/Uncle Paton GOOD. Paton is Charlie's kind great-uncle. He is the mentor of the good endowed children at Bloor's and frequently assists as a voice of reason, historian or adult supervisor. He is endowed with power-boosting, which causes lightbulbs to explode; as a result, he rarely leaves the house during the day. Evidence from the books seems to suggest that this ability is closely tied to Paton's emotions. Paton discovered this power when he was seven years old. During his birthday party, he was so excited that he burst all of the light bulbs around him, and everyone had to go home. His family was so delighted that they let him eat everybody else's ice cream and he became sick. Paton and Miss Ingledew are in love. On their first date, he thought she was so beautiful that he burst the light-bulbs surrounding their table and ran out without paying the bill. She has since forgiven him, and even Charlie smugly suggests that the two should marry. Paton is the only protagonist of the Yewbeams, which his sisters despise him for. They ran over him in the second book with a car. Fortunately, he survived. Cook/Treasure GOOD. One of Charlie's friends and the "lodestone," who keeps the balance of endowed children at Bloor's. Her real name is Treasure and she has a sister named Pearl. Cook has many secret rooms under Bloor's Academy. Cook has the power of good luck and grace (trainquility). She takes care of Blessed (semi-bad dog). She is a messenger between Charlie and the outside world. As a young woman, she was living on an island with her family and her fiance. However, when she refused to marry a wizard named Lord Grimwald, he destroyed her family, her fiance and her home. Pearl GOOD. The sister of Treasure (Cook) and endowed with the gift of tranquility. Is the housekeeper of Charlie's great grandfather, and his 103 year old great great uncle. Mr. Orvil Onimous and Mrs. Onoria Onimous GOOD. The owners of the Pets' Cafe on Frog Street. They repeatedly help Charlie and his friends, and also care for the Flame cats - Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. Mr. Onimous is endowed, but his endowment is never described. A popular hypothesis is that he shares the gift of speaking animal tongues with Billy Raven. Mrs. Onoria Onimous is stated that animals always do what she says, so this could be implied as her being able to talk to animals as well. Orvil Onimous most probably has the gift of healing as stated in the first book, when he cured Runner Bean. Naren Bloor GOOD. Bartholomew Bloor's adopted daughter. She is descended from the Red King's grandson who was abducted by pirates and taken to China. Naren means sunflower in Chinese. Naren can shape shadows to form messages and send them like a magical form of instant messaging, umbrakinesis, but only if she has access to a possession of the recipient. In the sixth book, she sends a shadow message to Charlie saying "good-bye". It is not known where her family moved to. Una Onimous GOOD. Mr. Onimous's five year old niece. She is endowed, but her talent is unknown as the Onimouses are keeping it a secret until it has been fully developed. Her endowment is assumed to be the ability to turn invisible. Dr. Saltweather GOOD. His endowment is the immunity to drowning in water, as illustrated when Dagbert Endless tried to drown him in a thick fog. He states that this does not count as a proper endowment. Alice Angel GOOD. A white witch who discovered Olivia's endowment. Related to Guhanamara. Samuel Sparks/ Mr. Boldova GOOD. He has the power to turn rocks into superheated sparks and sustain heat. His brother is Ollie Sparks once turned invisible by a blue snake. Mrs. Katya Kettle GOOD. She is a talented blacksmith descended from Feromel the Blacksmith, a powerful magician. She made an invincible sword for the Red Knight in the sixth book. Asa Pike BAD now GOOD. While Asa was bad he worked for Manfred. He can change his shape to a wolf at dusk. He is a changer, meaning that he chnged from bad to good but it is possibly to go bad again anytime. His parents are creatures known as Meromalls. His father was killed in the 6th book. Manfred Bloor BAD. Charlie's arch-enemy, and the son of the Headmaster. He was once a hypnotist; but the peak of this power had been at age nine when he hypnotized Lyell Bone and Emma Tolly. He has basically lost this power, but is currently ebcoming a pyrokinetic, like his ancestor Borlath. He previously worked with (and it has been implied that he dated) Zelda Dobinski. However, she has since graduated. Manfred was previously Head Boy, but is currently a teacher's assistant. Asa Pike previously idiolized him, but their current relationship is less than warm. He is descended from Borlath, eldest son of the Red King. Borlath was a brutal and sadistic tyrant. The Flames once turned into leopards and attacked him but his face has magically recovered, due to some orange bugs. Eustacia Yewbeam BAD. The second of Charlie's great-aunts. She is a clairvoyant. Once, she had posed as a sitter in Benjamin Brown's house while his parents were away, and allowed Asa Pike in the house to attack Runner Bean. Venetia Yewbeam (now Venetia Shellhorn) BAD. The youngest and most deadly of Charlie's great-aunts. She is a designer of magic clothes, and used to have a man stuck in the attic of her house. She was clever and witty before the arson of her home by Charlie and Paton. She currently plots nothing but vengeance against Charlie and Paton. Venetia taught Dorcas Loom to bewitch clothing. She married Arthur Shellhorn to influence his son, Eric, who is a stone animator. Venetia killed Shellhorn's first wife by giving her bewitched clothing, and then gave Shellhorn a cloak to make him fall in love with Venetia. Shellhorn and his daughter Miranda fled in fear of Venetia and Eric. Zelda Dobinski BAD. A telekinetc known to have consorted with Manfred Bloor. She has now graduated from Bloor's. Joshua Tilpin BAD. A a spy for Bloor's. His parents are Matthew Tilpin and Miss Chrystal. His endowment is magnetism, which lures people and objects towards him. He attempts to lure Tancred away from his friends, but Charlie and the others countered his power by making him so revolting that most would be repelled by him. Idith and Inez Branko BAD. They very rarely show facial expression. They are also telekinetic and are distantly related to Zelda Dobinski. They are described as looking like "china dolls," and are impossible to tell apart. Dorcas Loom BAD. An enemy of Charlie's. At the beginning of the series, her morality was uncertain, but she became quite mean. Her magical talent is the ability to bewitch clothes; her bewitched belt almost killed Miss Ingledew (Emma's aunt), and her shawl stole away Billy Raven's power. She idiolizes Venetia Yewbeam. Beth Strong BAD. A telekinetic. She comes from a line of circus performers. She leaves the Bloor's quite early and was "friends" with Zelda Dobinski. Belle BAD. Belle Donner is the child-like form of Yolanda Yewbeam. Belle (as Yolanda) was a powerful shapeshifter and hypnotist who appeared at Bloor's Academy quite suddenly, and integrated herself with the evil characters. Usher de Grey BAD. He has the power to produce force fields. Florence de Grey BAD. She can control people with bewitched oaths. These oaths are coated with a poison binding the person to the oath. If a person breaks the oath, they are killed by the oath. Miss Chrystal BAD. She is a violin teacher at Bloor's Academy. She appeared to be good, but it is revealed to be evil when she releases "the Shadow" from the Red King's portrait using the Mirror of Amoret. She was once in love with Charlie's father, Lyell Bone, but he was in love with Amy Jones (Charlie's mother). She later married Matthew Tilpin and had a son, Joshua. She is descended from the Red King's eldest daughter Lilith and her husband, the evil Count Harken Badlock (aka "the Shadow"). She is a dark witch.
Eric Shellhorn BAD. He has the power to animate stone statues. He was originally good, but the influence from Venetia Shellhorn turned him bad. Lord Grimwald BAD. Enemy of Cook. After she refused to marry him, he killed her fiance and parents. Also the father of Dagbert Endless. He has the ability to control water, and is a descendant of Petrello. Dagbert Endless MOSTLY BAD. His morality changes with the moon. He is the son of Lord Grimwald, and has the power to drown people.
Currently Deceased
Daphne Yewbeam Morality unknown (b. 1908, d. 1916). She was a clairvoyant and the daughter of Manley Yewbeam and Grace Bloor and sister of James and Henry Yewbeam. She died of diphtheria. Vera Kuragina Morality unknown (b. 1862). She was a hypnotist. Beatrice Bloor BAD. (b. 1838). She was a witch. Beatrice despised her sister Maybelle, the ancestor of Billy Raven. As such, when her father Septimus Bloor left all his belongings (the castle ruin, Bloor's Academy and much money) to Maybelle, Beatrice poisoned her and created a false will leaving their father's possessions to their brother Betrand Bloor. Betrand passed these heritages to his son Gideon Bloor, and then to his grandson Ezekiel Bloor. Maybelle Bloor GOOD. (b. 1835) Maybelle's endowment is unknown. She was left everything including Bloor’s academy and the castle ruins by her father Septimus Bloor, but her sister Beatrice poisoned her and made a false will leaving everything to Bertram. She married into the Raven family and is an ancestor of Billy Raven. Yorath Yewbeam BAD. (b. 1850)Yolanda's father and a shape-shifter. He swore vengeance on Paton Yewbeam after he killed Yorath's daughter Yolanda. He fell off a cliff during a battle with Paton Yewbeam, but his death is uncertain. Yolanda Yewbeam BAD. (b. 1900)She returned to the Yewbeams to experiment on the Blue Boa, and to deal with Charlie's investigationing skills. She was killed by Paton Yewbeam when he exploded the machine she was sewing at.
Other
Amy Bone (nee Amy Jones) GOOD. Charlie's mother. She is a kind and loving woman who works part-time at a greengrocer's to support herself and her son, as well as living off money that her in-laws provide. She was hypnotized by an enchanter, and is currently whale-watching with her husband Lyell Bone on a second honeymoon. Maisie Jones GOOD. Charlie's maternal grandmother. She was jealous of the Yewbeams for their magical heritage until she discovered that she was related to a Welsh magician Mathonwy. Unlike Grandma Bone, she is a kind grandmother. Grandma/Grizelda Bone (nee Grizelda Yewbeam) Presumed BAD. Charlie's paternal grandmother. Her siblings are Paton, Lucretia, Venetia and Eustacia. She is a horrible grandmother and frequently attempts to weasle the truth from Charlie and sneaks into his room. She seeks to emulate her three sisters and behaves subserviently toward them. Lucretia Yewbeam BAD. The eldest of Charlie's great-aunts and the younger sister of Grandma Bone. She is unendowed, but consistently nasty. When her mother died under mysterious circumstances in Yewbeam castle, Lucretia and her sisters lived with Yolanda Yewbeam. She is the matron of Bloor's Academy. Fidelio Gunn GOOD. The good friend of Charlie's and an amazing violin player, although not magically endowed. He tutors Charlie in music to help him prepare for enrollment at Bloor's. Fidelio's home, Gunn House, is generally filled with the clamor of the many musicians in his large family, and is one of the safest places for Charlie and his friends to hide and plot, as there is consistently enough noise to cover their conspiring. Benjamin Brown GOOD. Charlie's oldest and best friend. Ben doesn't go to Bloor's, but recently returned from a seven-month trip to Hong Kong. He owns a dog named Runner Bean. Doctor Harold Bloor BAD. The Headmaster of Bloor's Academy. He has no magical endowment, but his physical image is very intimidating to most people. He appears to be bad. Lyell Bone GOOD. Charlie's father, who disappeared in 1994 after "breaking the rules". Lyell was unendowed; he went to Bloor's because of his talent in piano. Gabriel says that he is not dead, but lost. In the fifth book, it is found that he was hypnotized and transformed into "Mr. Pilgrim," a very spacey, quiet teacher in Bloors. He is reunited with his family. In the sixth book, it is suggested that he has possession of a box that contains a will. Miss Julia Ingledew GOOD. She is Emma Tolly's aunt and owner of Ingledew's Bookshop. She originally gave Charlie Bone the invention (Tolly Twelve Bells) that would later unhypnotize her niece, Emma, with whom she is reunited at the end of the first book. She is in love with Charlie's great uncle Paton. Bartholomew Bloor GOOD. He is Dr. Bloor's father and Ezekiel's son. He supposedly disappeared in the Alps' during a climb. He is married to an Asian woman named Meng, and they have adopted Naren. Bartholomew was a close friend to Charlie's father. Count Harken Badlock/The Shadow BAD. He is a nine hundred year old spirit known as "the Shadow". He taught five of the Red King's children to torture and murder, and married the king's eldest daughter, Lilith. Skarpo Both GOOD and BAD. He is a wizard that Charlie first visits in the second book, and then throughout the series. He lashes out in anger when Charlie 'takes' his wand, but later becomes Charlie's friend and associate, and helps to hide the Mirror of Amoret. He is contained inside a painting. Miranda Shellhorn GOOD. She is Eric Shellhorn's sister and the unendowed step-daughter of Venetia Yewbeam. She owns a dog named Chattypatra, so-called because she barks a lot. Chattypatra is later discovered to be in love with Runner Bean, Benjiman's dog. Bloor's Academy Staff These teachers are secondary minor characters, some good, some evil and others neutral. They are:
- Dr. Saltweather (Head of Music, good, but keeps out of problems
- Mr. Carp (English, neutral?)
- Mr. Pope (History, neutral?)
- Ms. Gill
- Mr. Weedon (gardener, bad)
- Mr. Paltry (Wind instruments, neutral)
- Dr. Bloor (Headmaster, bad)
- Lucretia Yewbeam (matron, bad)
- Mr. Boldova (Previous art teacher, good)
- Ms. Dance
- Tantalus Ebony/ Yorath Yewbeam (History, Piano and Drama, bad)
- Cook (good)
- Madame Tessier (French, neutral)
- Miss Chrystal Tilpin (Violins, bad)
- Manfred Bloor (Teaching assistant, bad)
- Ezekiel Bloor (Headmaster's grandfather, school owner, bad)
- Mrs. Marlowe (Drama, possibly good)
- Miss Singerlee (Drama assistant, possibly good)
- Valerie (Kitchen assistant, possibly good)
- Mrs. Weedon (Green-cafeteria cook, bad)
- Mr. Pilgrim/Lyell Bone (Former piano teacher, good)
- Mr. Mason
- Several cooking assistants
The Red King’s Family
Historyens
- The Knight from Toledo is the ancestor of the Tollys and is the unendowed father-in-law of the Red King. His daughter is Queen Berenice.
- Queen Berenice: Daughter of the Knight from Toledo, wife of the Red King. She and her husband had ten children, and the Queen had great intuition in matters of the children. She died after giving birth to her youngest daughter, Amoret. Queen Berenice was brought back to life in an experiment conducted by Ezekiel Bloor in the fourth book. Her favorite horse's bones were merged with her heart, so now, she lives in the horse's body. She lives within the forest, close to the tree that is the Red King, and looks out for her children.
- The Red King. The Red King is known by this name because of his red cloak and the blazing sun on his shield. He was a king magician from Africa, who traveled through the world, accompanied by his three loyal leopards. He built a castle in the city, married Berenice, and had 10 children. All of his children inherited, in part, some of his power, which resulted in each of them possessing an incredible endowment. These powers were passed down through his children's descendants, and those who inherited the endowments were known as the Endowed or the Children of the Red King.
After Queen Berenice died giving birth to Amoret, the king went to grieve for her in the forest, as was the custom. He left his children in the care of nurses and guardians in the castle. As the King was coming back to his castle, he saw that the world was a wicked place and needed his help. For many years, he fought thieves, wrongdoers and assassins. When the Red King finally reached his castle, he saw that Count Harken Badlock had turned five of his children to wickedness, and they were wrecking havoc on the countryside, using their powers for murder and torture. The other five children had fled their father’s castle forever. Unable to fight his own children, the King went back to the forest. The King asked his friend Mathowny, a magician, to turn him into a tree in the forest, for he feared if he did it himself the change would not be permanent. He told his leopards and Mathowny to look after and take care of the descendants of his children, specifically the descendants of the good ones: Amadis, Guanhamara, Petrello, Tomeleo, and Amoret. He gave his leopards new coats and turned them into the three cats known as the Flames (Leo, Aries and Sagittarius). The Red King’s tree form was re-woken in the fifth book by the good endowed children at Bloor’s, as well as Naren Bloor and Una Onimous. He helped defeat the Shadow (Count Harken Badlock), and waken Charlie’s father, Lyell Bone. He has regained human form as the Red Knight, who rides the horse that is actually Queen Berenice.
- Borlath: The Red King’s eldest child, he was described as a cruel tyrant, whose favorite sport was to torture. He was the black-browed ancestor of the Bloors. His endowment was fire-bringing. He was one of the wicked children who followed Count Harken Badlock and stayed in the palace, using their endowments for evil deeds. The Bloors are descended from Borlath.
- Amadis: The Red King's second son. Amadis was blonde and kind, with the endowment was the ability to communicate with animals. He fled the Red King's castle along with his younger sister Amoret, married, and built a beautiful castle on the Blue Island (The castle was known as the Castle of Mirrors). He had three sons, one of which was an albino, Owain. Owan was the only son who inherited his father's endowment. The Crowquills and the Ravens are descended from Amadis.
- Lilith: She was the eldest daughter of the Red King. Her endowment was most likely magnetism. She was one of the wicked children who stayed behind in the Red King's castle, and she married Count Harken Badlock. Lilith is the ancestor of the Tilpins. Little else is known about her.
- Guanhamara: A gentle girl, Guanhamara was a witch and cared for all that was living. She helped the tortured Blue Boa by placing it in a jar with a dead bird, hoping that it would grow peaceful. However, it grew feathers and did not lose its ability to make others invisible. Guanhamara fled to Italy, taking the King's cloak with her, an object that was passed down through the generations of her family. Guanhamara married an Italian prince and had seven daughters, every single one of them a witch. She is the ancestor to the Silks and Vertigos.
- Petrello: The fifth child of the Red King. He was endowded in controlling the weather, including the tides, fog and storms. He is the ancestor of the Torssons and Lord Grimwald's family. Petrello is described as bright by his father. He was one of the good children, but it is unknown to where he fled - possibly the north (where Dagbert Endless, who can control tides, hails) or the Scandinavian countries (Tancred Torsson has an ancestor who was Scandinavian).
- Tolemeo: Clever. Possibly the ancestor of the Sage family. Tolemeo's endowment was unknown, but he was one of the good children, and fled the castle with his other four siblings.
- Cafall: Known as Cafall the Changer. He was originally one of the wicked children, but as he was changeable, he turned good and fled his father’s castle. He came to settle in the Meromalls’ land, where the Meromalls, nonhuman creatures, lived. He took a Meromall bride, and a son was born to them. Their son was a changer, too, but he was unlike his mother: he was a boy by day, beast by night. This started a long line of changers who were half-human, half-beast, who were changeable in humor and mind too, like Cafall. Eventually, Cafall’s descendent, Asa Pike, came back to the city to study at Bloor’s. Cafall is the ancestor of the Pikes.
- Amoret: Youngest daughter of the Red King. She is a traveler (she was able to travel to places she saw in pictures, paintings, magic items, etc.) and possibly clairvoyant, as many of her descendants posses this gift. Her father made her a beautiful mirror before her birth, which she would use to travel. Once a person looks in the mirror, they see the person or place they desired most. Amoret, as a traveler, was able to travel to the place she saw in the mirror. The Red King gave the mirror to Amadis so he could pass it on to Amoret. This mirror is known as the Mirror of Amoret.
However, Queen Berenice died after giving birth to Amoret, and the Red King left to grieve for Berenice when Amoret was only a baby. Amoret fled the castle with Amadis. Uncle Paton, however, states that she was lost; she was separated from Amadis during their flight from the castle. Amoret was said to be a girl "whom no one could protect", and the fourth book implies she was involved in the construction of the Castle of Mirrors on the Blue Island, causing the battle with Borlath. When Charlie traveled in a picture in the Castle of Mirrors, he saw Amoret, along with Amadis and his wife, singing. Amoret is the ancestor of the Yewbeams. The Red King had two other children; one was possibly telekinetic. Other Historical Personages
- Mathonwy (b. ?, d. ?) Welsh Wizard, friend of the Red King. Ancestor of the Jones Family.
- Skarpo (b. ?, d. ?) Wizard, and of the same generation as Red King. Was once Mathonwy's apprentice.
- Crowquill, grand-son of Amadis.
- Charles Penybuck, mentioned by Paton in the second book; a photo-traveler.
- Count Harken Badlock, married the King's daughter Lilith; an enchanter
- Owain, son of Amadis, father of Crowquill.
- Luigi Salutari, painter of the Red King's portrait, descendant of Guanhamara. Possibly a clothes psychic
- Feromel, a magical blacksmith.
Recent Descendants of The Red King
The First Generation consists of:
- Septimus Bloor, husband of:
- Cecilia Dewherst, wife of Septimus.
The Second Generation consists of:
- Maybelle Bloor (b. 1833), wife of:
- Lucius Raven husband of Maybelle
- Beatrice Bloor (b. 1835), a witch and sister of:
- Bertram Babington Bloor (b. 1840), a scientist-magician and husband of :
- Donatella Da Vinci (b. 1845), an assisting magician, electrocuted during an experiment.
- Yorath Yewbeam (b. 1850), a still living (until the fourth book?) shape-shifter and father of Yolanda Yewbeam, and is married to:
- Vera Kuragina (b. 1862), a hypnotist.
The Third Generation consists of:
- Gideon Bloor (b. 1875), an unendowed mathematician son of Bertram Babington and Donatella Bloor, and husband of:
- Gundrun Solensson (b. 1876), amateur singer and sister-in-law to:
- Grace Bloor (b. 1885, d. 1965), unendowed painter daughter of Bertram Babington and Donatella Bloor, and wife to:
- Manley Yewbeam (b. 1884, d. 1918), solider, son of Yorath and Vera Yewbeam and brother to:
- Yolanda Yewbeam (b. 1900, d. 2003), a shape-shifter and hypnotist (and seems to have a limited amount of magical clothes designing), daughter of Yorath and Vera Yewbeam.
- Evangeline Raven (b. 1865), son of Lucius and Maybelle and brother of:
- Roland Raven (b. 1862) husband of:
- Ann Stuart, wife of Ronald,sister in law of:
- Daniel Raven (b. 1860), brother of Roland and Evangeline husband of:
- Jane Hill, wife of Daniel.
The Forth Generation consists of:
- Ezekiel "Zeke" Bloor (b. 1902), magician, son of Gideon and Gundrun Bloor and husband of:
- Hilda Hansoff (b. 1902), botanist, poisoned by a rare plant.
- Henry Yewbeam (b. 1905), unendowed, son of Manley and Grace (nee Bloor) Yewbeam, sucked in by the Time-Twister and brother to:
- Daphne Yewbeam (b. 1908, d. 1916), clairvoyant, daughter of Manley and Grace Bloor, died of diphtheria and sister to:
- James Yewbeam (b. 1910), unendowed historian, son of Manley and Grace Bloor and husband to:
- Solange Sourzac (b. 1912, d. 1964), French actress, broke her neck when Yolanda pushed her down the stairs of her castle.
- Lydia Raven (b. 1896), Daughter of Daniel and Jane sister of:
- Hugh Raven, (b. 1897), husband of:
- Sally Milne,
- Everard Raven (1900), son of Roland and Ann, husband of:
- Harriet Hayward
The Fifth Generation consists of:
- Meng (b. 1930), second wife to:
- Bartholomew "Bart" Bloor (b. 1930), unendowed mountaineer, son of Ezekiel and Hilda Bloor, thought to be lost in the Himalayas and first husband to:
- Mary Chance (b. 1930), impoverished dancer, danced to death when Bart was thought dead.
- Maisie Jones (b. 1935), unendowed widow, descendant of Mathonwy.
- Montgomery "Monty" Bone (b. 1937, d. 1963), pilot and husband to :
- Grizelda Yewbeam (b. 1937), unendowed, daughter of James and Solange Yewbeam and sister to:
- Lucretia Yewbeam (b. 1942), unendowed matron, daughter of James and Solange Yewbeam and sister to:
- Eustacia Yewbeam (b. 1947), clairvoyant, daughter of James and Solange Yewbeam and sister to:
- Venetia Yewbeam (b. 1952), magical clothes designer, daughter of James and Solange Yewbeam and sister to:
- Paton Yewbeam (b. 1957), power-booster, son of James and Solange Yewbeam Brother-in-law to:
- Archie Shellhorn, unendowed husband of Venetia Yewbeam and Father of Miranda And Erik.
- Usher De Grey, force field generator, former adoptive father of Billy and husband to:
- Florence De Grey, a witch who can create powerful "oaths" that force people to do whatever they have sealed, unless the oath is destroyed. Former adoptive mother of Billy and wife to the former.
- Susan Raven (b. 1925) , daughter of Hugh and Sally, sister of:
- Brutus Raven (1931), husband of:
- Maud Law,
- Timothy Raven (b. 1934) son of Everard and Harriet and Brother of:
- Thomas Raven (b. 1932), Husband of:
- Leah Lee
The Sixth Generation consists of:
- Harold Bloor (b. 1955), unendowed, son of Bartholomew and Mary Bloor and husband to:
- Dorothy De Vere (b. 1957), violinist.
- Lyell Bone (b. 1962), pianist, son of Monty and Grizelda Bone, went under the guise of Mr. Pilgrim while hypnotized by Manfred. Husband of:
- Amy Jones (b. 1967), unendowed, daughter of Maisie Jones.
- Naren Bloor, shadow-sender, adopted daughter of Bartholomew and Mary Bloor.
- Orvil Onimous, unknown, co-owner of the Pet Cafe and husband to:
- Onoria Onimous, unknown, co-owner of the Pet Cafe.
- Christopher Crowquill, Billy's guardian supposedly died when he and Yorath fell off a cliff, a duck was in the water, which may have been Yorath. Ability to make magic candles.
- Treasure a.k.a. Cook, the endowment of luck and grace.
- Pearl, Cook's sister, also has the endowment of luck and grace.
- Chrystal Tilpin, thought that to be on the side of good, was revealed to be evil, a dark witch. Some people still think she is good. She was the wife to:
- Matthew Tilpin, former husband to Chrystal and father of Joshua.
- Alice Angel, a white witch who helps others find their endowment.
- Julia Ingledew, Emma Tolly's aunt. Unendowed. sister of:
- Nancy Ingledew, Emma's mother, deceased Wife of:
- Dr. Mostyn Tolly, an inventor and Emma's father. Also deceased.
- Rufus Raven (b. 1968), son of Brutus and Maud, biological father of Billy. Husband of:
- Ellen Raven (b. 1970), daughter of Timothy and Leah, biological mother of Billy and wife of Rufus.
- Jessamine Sage, can call on her spirit ancestors. Mother of Lysander and his sisters. Wife of:
- Judge Sage, unendowed father of Lysander and his sisters.
- Lord Grimwald Endless, enemy of Cook and Pearl. Killed people special to them. Also father of Dagbert Endless. Has ability to control water. Descendent of Petrello.
The Seventh Generation consists of:
- Manfred Bloor (b. 1985), was a hypnotist but changed to a fire-bringer, son of Harold Bloor and Dorothy de Vere.
- Charles "Charlie" Bone (b. 1992), picture traveler, son of Lyell Bone and Amy Jones, related to Manfred Bloor.
- Billy Raven, speaks to animals.
- Lysander Sage, can call up his spirit ancestors.
- Samuel Sparks (formerly Mr. Boldova), the ability to turn stones into super-heated sparks, and can sustain their heat. Brother of:
- Oliver "Ollie" Sparks, unendowed brother of Samuel Sparks. Has a liking to jam and tried to save Emma in book 1.Has a talent for music.
- Tancred Torsson, Weather-monger. Descendent of Petrello.
- Emma Tolly, can transform into a bird.
- Olivia Vertigo, illusionist; distantly related to Gabriel and his sisters June, Mai and April.
- Una Onimous, invisibility.
- Dorcas Loom, magical clothes designer.
- Bindi , mystery endowment
- Alfred Loom, unendowed Brother of Dorcas and of:
- Albert Loom, Unendowed brother of Dorcas and Alfred
- Asa Pike, turns into a were-beast at dusk. Saved Emma Tolly in book 5.
- Gabriel Silk, can feel emotions within clothing; distantly related to Olivia.
- Beth Strong, telekinetic.
- Zelda Dobinski, telekinetic.
- Idith Branko, telekinetic, distantly related to Zelda.
- Inez Branko, telekinetic, distantly related to Zelda.
- Joshua Tilpin, magnetism, attracts both physical objects and people.
- June Silk, unendowed sister of Gabriel and distantly related to Olivia.
- Mai Silk, unendowed sister of Gabriel and distantly related to Olivia.
- April Silk, unendowed sister of Gabriel and distantly related to Olivia.
- Hortense Sage, unendowed sister of Lysander And:
- Alexandra Sage, unendowed sister of Lysander And:
- Lauren, unendowed girlfriend of Lysander.
- Dagbert Endless, ability to harness water. Descendent of Potrello, like the weather-monger, Tancred. Son of Lord Grimwald Endless.
- Eric Shellhorn, controls stone statues and brother of:
- Miranda Shellhorn, unendowed sister of Erik and daughter of Archie Shellhorn and step-daughter of Venetia Yewbeam.
Trivia
- Leo, Aries, and Sagittarius (the Red King's leopards, aka the Flames) are named after the Fire signs of the Zodiac.
- In "The Castle of Mirrors", Alice Angel mentions a dark witch. In the next book, Miss Chrystal appears to be a dark witch. Whether she was actually evil remains to be seen.
- In the German version of the series (from Ravensburger), Yewbeam is written as Darkwood and Blessed as Benedikt.
- In the sixth book, Charlie says Cook told him about Grimwald, but in the second book, it was Henry Yewbeam she told.
- In the sixth book, Lysander's mum's Christian name is Hortense. In the third book, she was called Jessamine, and Hortense was one of Lysander's sisters.
- Charlie played 3 different instruments in the span of the first 3 books: piano (first book), recorder (first and second books), and trumpet (third book)
External links
References
