To be honest, I do not think this review will hold many, if any, spoilers of the first book Midnight for Charlie Bone – but even so I recommend reading the book and/or review before this review. Here’s a link to my review of Midnight for Charlie Bone.
It’s time for a new term at Bloor’s Academy, the private school Charlie must now attend – because he is Endowed with the ability to hear the conversations of those in photos. He doesn’t want to go, but he knows his paternal grandmother and frightening aunts won’t let home get away with not going.
Not long after arriving in school, a distant relative of Charlie’s – literally distant - named Henry Yewbeam suddenly appears.
From 1916.
The nasty trick is rooted in Ezekiel Bloor, in Charlie’s time a mean old man that has not gotten over his hatred of Henry over the years.
Realizing he must keep his ancestor Henry safe, Charlie wonders if he can figure out a way to send Henry back in time – before it’s too late.
As you might recall from my review of Midnight for Charlie Bone, I was not the biggest fan of the book. It was fine, don’t get me wrong. I think many readers will enjoy this British middle grade fantasy series.
Unfortunately it is just not working for me.
Since I already had a copy of Charlie Bone and the Time Twister, I figured I’d read it and see if it improved on my rather lackluster opinion of book one.
Sadly, it did not. In fact, it cemented my prior position.
The Children of the Red King series, at least in these first two books, seem to be starving for originality and a truly interesting plot. Nothing was suspenseful enough, funny enough, quirky enough, or plain old entertaining enough to hold my interest.
Plus, there was an upsetting scene with a dog.
Not that I will hold that against the book – I accept that occasionally there will be upsetting scenes with animals for literary, realism, and/or effective purposes. But here, it just felt pointless.
The characters don’t stick out to me well; I have a hard time keeping them straight because it just seems like a flurry of names without personality or color.
Admittedly, I started to skim Charlie Bone and the Time Twister. It just appears this series is not for me.
That does not mean it won’t do everything for you that it didn’t do for me, however!!!
Please do give the series a try and see if you find it to be more attention-grabbing than I did – I honestly hope you do!
As for me, I do not plan on continuing with the series.
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