Midnight for Charlie Bone

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Tell Me About My Father: Charlie asks this of his mother at the beginning of Midnight for Charlie Bone. Really 700 Years Old: Yolanda Yewbeam, who's over one-hundred years old by the time of her appearance in Blue Boa but looks like a little girl, and also her father Yorath. This was an excellent continuation to this series and more discoveries are starting to come out concerning Charlie Bone’s missing father,. However, to adult readers, it’s pretty obvious where he is. There is enough going on into the story that you don’t actually think a lot about his father. This is a fast-paced, fun, fantasy series which not quite as serious as The Harry Potter Series but it’s still a good place for children to start before getting into Harry Potter books that relatively heavy for them.

I wanted to like this series, and in some aspects I did. I really liked the premise and the setting. I enjoyed how it delved into the history of Red King's family and how the author was able to introduce and explain the children's powers. Happily Adopted: Billy Raven, at the end of the series. This is unfortunately subverted earlier on when his initial adopted parents turn out to be evil. What's with the "Mom's don't exist here" line? It would have fit if they made fun of Charlie for wanting his mom or something, but why the ominous and fairly idiotic statement? Body Horror: Asa when he changes from human to beast, or vice versa. Also Asa's ancestor, Cafal (called 'The Changer'). Yes, there is an 11 year old boy who has a magical “ability”. Yes, there is a special school for children with these abilities. Apart from that, the story is quite different. I had to push the Harry Potter thought out of my head and start thinking Charlie Bone, because wherever I got that idea…I was wrong…and it was wrong of me to continue reading with that thought in my head.Muggle Best Friend: Benjamin Brown, Fidelio Gunn, and Olivia Vertigo until she is revealed to be endowed as well. Hidden in Plain Sight: Charlie's father. He was imprisoned in Bloor's Academy for years, where he posed as a piano teacher. When Charlie starts attending the Academy he sees him without ever realising who he really is. After finally discovering where he's been hidden, Charlie is quite bitter about this. Hypnotize the Captive: Essentially what Harken does to Amy Bone in the fifth book, to ensure that Lyell doesn't wake up from his trance. The day has come, folks. I think I'm too old to legitimately enjoy middle grade books that aren't rereads. Police Are Useless: Justified, since there's not much the police can do about magical crimes, especially when they've got their hands full with the mundane variety already. Though one does help Charlie's mother offscreen in the last book.

Also Olga goes on this when Lilith is taken away from the Red Castle by Amadis, using her telekinetic powers to wreak havoc. Heroic Sacrifice: Zobayda, who throws herself into a river in the first book to protect Timoken and stop the viridees from obtaining the jinni's ring. Orvil Onimous is the husband of Onoria Onimous and co-owner of the Pets Cafe. Also is an expert on the Red King and his history. He and his wife help Charlie and his friends in every way they can. Orvil was also almost killed by his doorman Norton Cross while he was cycling with his wife. Shapeshifter Longevity: Shapeshifters are shown to possess incredible longevity, with Yolanda Yewbeam (who was born in 1900) still alive and very much looking her age when in her true form) by the time she is first encountered by series protagonist Charlie Bone in the early 2000s; her father Yorath (who was born in 1850) is also still alive at that point.

I Choose to Stay: Even after being lost in the ruin at the end of the first book, Charlie chooses to stay at Bloor's to help the good endowed children of the Red King fight against the bad guys. Magic Wand: Charlie inherits one from his ancestor Mathonwy, though it can only be used by one of his bloodline speaking in Welsh. Later on after Manfred tries to destroy it, it becomes a white moth. Combo Platter Powers: Guanhamara, the Red King's third daughter, has at least four endowments: psychic power, illusions, spirit-summoning, and witchcraft. Possibly justified in that she is so closely related to the Red King, but then again her siblings only seem to have one endowment a piece.

Face–Heel Turn: Norton Cross. Dorcas Loom, to an extent. Previously she was neutral, and even hinted to be a good person. It wasn't until Yolanda came around that she became bad. Olivia goes through this in Castle of Mirrors, when she goes into denial about being an endowed child of the Red King. In the end she accepts that she is endowed, though she feels more resigned to it than anything else.Alliterative Name: Several. The most prominent would be Tancred Torsson, and later Bartholomew Bloor and Titania Tilpin. Then there's Alice Angel, Christopher Crowquill, Yorath Yewbeam and his daughter Yolanda, not to mention Bertram Babbington Bloor and his sister Beatrice. Eustacia Yewbeam might qualify too, depending on how you pronounce it. It May Help You on Your Quest: In the second book, Miss Ingledew gives Charlie a Welsh word dictionary which Paton had in his possession when he was run over. It ends up being the key to using Skarpo's wand. Emma's dad, Mostyn Tolly, traded her to the Bloors for a replica of the Toledo knight when she was a baby. He eventually tries to put this right, but is murdered before he can.