Books On Board
series Reading Order

Charlie Bone Books in Order

11 Books
2 Reading orders
2002 – 2013 Published
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Reading order

The Recommended Reading Order

For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the main Children of the Red King series (commonly known as the Charlie Bone books) in publication order. This sequence allows you to discover the magical rules of Bloor's Academy alongside Charlie and unravel the central mystery of his family tree step-by-step.

  1. Midnight for Charlie Bone (2002)
  2. Charlie Bone and the Time Twister (2003)
  3. Charlie Bone and the Blue Boa / Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy (2004)
  4. Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors (2005)
  5. Charlie Bone and the Hidden King (2006)
  6. Charlie Bone and the Wilderness Wolf / Charlie Bone and the Beast (2007)
  7. Charlie Bone and the Shadow of Badlock / Charlie Bone and the Shadow (2008)
  8. Charlie Bone and the Red Knight (2009)

Prequels: Chronicles of the Red King

Once you finish Charlie's main story, you can dive into the history of his magical ancestor. The Chronicles of the Red King trilogy serves as a prequel, detailing the life and journey of Timoken (the Red King) centuries before Bloor's Academy was founded. While it is chronologically first, reading it after the main series is best for understanding the lore.

  • The Secret Kingdom (2011)
  • The Stones of Ravenglass (2012)
  • Leopards' Gold (2013)

Spin-Offs and Companion Novels

Jenny Nimmo also returned to this magical world to write standalone sequel novels focusing on specific characters from the main series. These should be read after completing the original eight books:

  • Henry and the Guardians of the Lost (2016) – Follows Henry Yewbeam after the events of the main series as he continues to adapt to living in the modern era.
  • Gabriel and the Phantom Sleepers (2018) – Focuses on Gabriel Silk and his family's magical cloak.

US vs. UK Title Variations

Depending on where you purchase or borrow your books, you may encounter different titles for the same story. Here are the key regional differences to look out for:

  • Book 3: Released as Charlie Bone and the Blue Boa in the UK, but titled Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy in the US.
  • Book 6: Released as Charlie Bone and the Wilderness Wolf in the UK, but titled Charlie Bone and the Beast in the US.
  • Book 7: Released as Charlie Bone and the Shadow of Badlock in the UK, but shortened to Charlie Bone and the Shadow in the US.

Frequently Asked

QWhere should I start reading the Charlie Bone series?

You should start with the first book in the main series, Midnight for Charlie Bone. Reading the core eight books in publication order is the best way to follow the plot and character development.

QDo I need to read the Chronicles of the Red King first?

No. Although the Chronicles of the Red King prequel trilogy is set chronologically before the main series, it is best read after completing the original eight Charlie Bone books to fully appreciate the world-building.

QAre Henry and the Guardians of the Lost and Gabriel and the Phantom Sleepers connected to Charlie Bone?

Yes, both are companion sequels that follow prominent side characters from the main series—Henry Yewbeam and Gabriel Silk—on their own standalone adventures.

QWhy do some Charlie Bone books have different titles?

This is due to regional publishing differences between the UK and US editions. For example, The Blue Boa (UK) became The Invisible Boy (US), and The Wilderness Wolf (UK) became The Beast (US).

QIs the Charlie Bone series complete?

Yes. The main arc concludes in the eighth book, Charlie Bone and the Red Knight, while the prequel trilogy and standalone sequels tie up other historical and character-specific threads.