Secret Kingdom [Paperback]

This is a rating from my 9 year old son that has completed the Harry Potter Series and the Lightening Thief Series....

He picked this one up and the library and was done in 3 days! He absolutely loved it!

"It was very adventurous and cool." Now he wants to read the other books by this author...since book #2 isn't out, he is planning on starting her other series. Great for my little reader at home!

There are few books that really enchant me, but Jenny Nimmo's CHRONICLES OF THE RED KING: THE SECRET KINGDOM is one of them. It truly felt like a throwback to an early 1900s fantasy story for children. Nimmo delivers it all: danger, excitement, adventure, and of course with her trademark style and charm.

When the Secret Kingdom is attacked by the evil Viridees, Prince Timoken and his sister Zobayda have to escape. Lord Degal of the Viridees is after Timoken's moon cloak -- a magical web that would allow Lord Degal to rule everything. Timoken and Zobayda know that they must find a place they can finally call home -- safe from the Viridees. But along the way, there is danger around every stone and tree. And Lord Degal is not the enemy Timoken needs to fear most. Someone else is after the cloak -- someone who will stop at absolutely nothing to get it.

Growing up, I read a lot of old-time fantasy novels, such as THE WIZARD OF OZ, or the RAGGEDY ANN AND ANDY stories. Those books held a certain charm that was so hard to find anywhere else. I didn't think I'd ever run across another book quite like those old stories until I came across THE SECRET KINGDOM. Nimmo has managed to infuse such magic into the story telling here. Timoken and his sister travel through adventure after adventure -- meeting strange creatures, evil monsters, and magical animals. And of course, one can hardly pass up the lovable, yet gruff, camel Gabar, who joins their adventures.

The language Nimmo uses in her writing here is downright amazing. This ends up being one of those books you want to read out loud -- just so you can hear the sentences come together. It's definitely the perfect bedtime story -- reading one part of Timoken's adventure each night.

Timoken is such an innocent character, at once brave, and yet longing to settle down in a place he can call home. His journey is wonderful to follow, and I found myself turning page after page, just wanting to see what happened next. The ending leaves you with that gentle ache for another story -- as any good fantasy book should do.

This book connects to Nimmo's CHARLIE BONE series, and the prologue does contain a few spoilers if a new reader has not read those books. The actual story about Timoken could be read by anyone, however. It's possible for readers to even skip over the prologue and start chapter one without missing a beat. For fans of Charlie Bone, THE SECRET KINGDOM fills in details of the Red King: who he is and where he really came from.

I'm glad the CHRONICLES OF THE RED KING have only just begun. After an astounding first entry, I'm excited to see where Nimmo takes us next. THE SECRET KINGDOM is great for fantasy fans and anyone who longs to re-connect with those nights reading as a young child when a book really was magic and could take you anywhere.

This is a great addition as well as extension of the Charlie Bone series of books. My grand children loved it and I hope that it doesn't stop here.

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