Charlie Bone and the Shadow of Badlock
 |
| This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (June 2008) |
| Author | Jenny Nimmo |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | Children of the Red King |
| Genre | Fantasy novel |
Publication date | September 30, 2008 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | |
| Preceded by | Charlie Bone and the Beast |
| Followed by | Charlie Bone and the Red Knight |
Charlie Bone and the Shadow of Badlock (US: Charlie Bone and the Shadow)[1] is a novel by Jenny Nimmo, the seventh in her Children of the Red King series. It was released on August 25th, 2008 in England.
Plot
When Charlie's curiosity gets the better of him, he finds out that the enchanter Count Harken is back to take a his revenge on the Red King's heirs, starting with Charlie's family! Charlie's ancestor has been kidnapped and imprisoned in the dark, forbidding land of Badlock, and it's up to Charlie to save him. Traveling through a painting to the terrifying countryside, Charlie and his best friend's dog, Runner Bean, take up the quest. But when Runner Bean gets trapped, Charlie needs the help of his friends. Can they get past an army of trolls, rescue Runner Bean and Charlie's ancestor, and get out before it's too late? Can Charlie outwit Count Harken and his sinister troops, or will the prisoners be doomed to being held captive in Badlock forever?
In Short-- Otus Yewbeam is trapped by Count harken in Badlock. Charlie visits him when he is completely, involunterily sucked into a painting of Badlock. When he manages to escape, he finds he must return due to the fact that Benjamin's Dog, Runner Bean, has become trapped in the painting. Meanwhile, Pets Cafe is closed down and a man on a motorcycle runs over Mr and Mrs Ominous. They both survive the attack, Mr Ominous has a little help from the Flames. Charlie's moth is captured by Dagbert Endless, so that he can bargain with Tancred to get his sea urchin back. The moth escapes and when Tancred goes to make the trade. When Dagbert get's his full powers back, he locks Tancred in the sculpture room, a basement room, and floods it. Emma, in the form of a small bird, flies all the way to Thunder House, where she tells Tancred's father of the incident. They both hurry to Bloor's Academy, in order to try and save Tancred. They get there too late, to find Tancred dead. Mr Torsson storms out of the academy, literally, leaving much damage.Billy returns home with Charlie, in order to try and communicate with Runner Bean, who is still in the painting. When they go to visit Mrs Kettle, they are attacked by Eric, who is controling a giant statue of Harken's military leader, Oddthumb. Late one night Billy decides to go and see the painting, where it is kept in Charlie's cellar. Runner Bean is ejected from the painting and Billy is sucked in. He meets Count Harken and his family, becoming close friends with the Count's granddaughter, Matilda. Charlie decides he must go back into the painting, where Billy is being held. When he returns to the Cellar, he finds that the painting is gone and no one seems to know where it is. Creeping around in Grandma Bone's room, Charlie finds information of a secret meeting. When he tells Mr and Mrs Brown about this, Mrs Brown goes undercover at the meeting, which turns out to be a gathering of evil magicians, headed by Titania Tilpin. The painting is there and so is the Mirror of Amoret. Mrs Brown is discovered and is chased out of the chapel where the meeting is being held. She is saved by Mrs Kettle and soon returns home safely. Upon learning that the painting is in the chapel, Charlie, with the help of Mrs Kettle, breaks into the chapel and goes into the painting, with Solomon, the blue boa for invisibility. Charlie is shocked to learn that Billy refuses to return home, because he has been put under Count Harken's spell. Forced to leave without Billy, Charlie and Otus Yewbeam attempt to travel back in time so that Otus can be with, and die with Amoret. They end up right in the middle of one of Titania Tilpin's secret meeting and they are rescued by Lysander. Uncle Paton drvies them back to Charlie's house where they are confronted by Grandma Bone, who is furious when she discovers a giant, Otus, in her house. In a moment of defiance, Paton pushes her into the cellar and blocks the door with a heavy cabinet, instructing Maisie to keep her in there until they get back. Paton, Otus and Charlie travel to the castle of mirrors, followed by the Red Knight on his white horse. Otus is returned to live out the rest of his life with his wife Amoret, using one of the memories imprinted in the castle. Paton then drives Charlie to Thunder House, where there is apparently a celebration taking place. The book ends with Charlie meeting the rest of his friends where he discovers that Tancred is not dead, in fact he is very well.
This book leaves some storylines on a cliffhanger, such as the issue of Billy in Badlock, how Tancred returned from the dead and Tilpin trying to fix the mirror. It is expected that these issues will be resolved in the next book in the series, Charlie Bone and the Red Knight.