The Indigo King (Imaginarium Geographica)

As James Owen notes in his afterword, is based on a stroll in with J. Lewis, and Hugo Dyson, discussing Christianity as mythology versus religion and the author's desire to "mess with the convention of the tales that everyone knows": Of course, there are dragons and dragonships; time-travel paradoxes. Lots of humor, especially the badgers, and nonstop action. Hi As James Owen notes in his afterword, is based on a stroll in with J.

His lovely illustrations, resembling classic 19th century wood-block drawings that one might see in a masterful Folio Society rendition of a book of fairy tales, add a special element. However, the plot skips around extensively, and I think the context of the first two books in the series are important to understand the battlelines and why the Scowlers scholars have to go back in history to restore Hugo's interference. The introduction of Chaz, as a variant of Charles, and his development, is brilliant.

Easily my favourite in the series so far. It isn't about the Caretakers traveling to the Archipelago to fight some evil - no, this book's plot is much more complicated. I loved the time-travel and its complexity. We finally got answers to some questions, but Indigo King also opened new possibilities that I can't wait to explore in the sequels. Also, what's there not to like about a sassy owl? A little convoluted, but interesting story. Sep 20, Jonathan Terrington rated it really liked it Shelves: A strong continuation of the unique fantasy series that begins with Here, There Be Dragons.

Interestingly what makes this series unique is the features which are not unique. Yes this series has pretty much a combination of all kinds of mythic, fairytale and fantasy characters from Peter Pan to Captain Nemo or even characters who are real like Jules Verne. The uniqueness of the series is however how the author blends these various ideas together to create a singular story within each book. It could be very easy for him to simply throw a variety of fantasy ideas together, attract a reader by the idea of what his book is and then conclude in a highly unsatisfactory way. Owen is able to take his unique ideas and create a convoluted story that concludes by the end of the book and proves satisfactory.

Like the previous two books The Indigo King takes time to tell a story that focuses around the Arthurian legend while also incorporating fairytale and sort of fictional characters into the plot. Because due to one character's blunder in the past the future becomes transformed and our protagonists are forced to travel back into the past themselves to both find him and fix the mess he created.

While the story is a stand alone novel there are many plot elements which tie into the previous two books so I would recommend if this novel sounds intriguing that you begin at the start. I do highly recommend this series, although I view the first and second novels as the better imaginative works. However I still found this an intriguing addition to what is a fine series and one which I recommend for all lovers of mythology, fantasy, fairytale and legend.

Dec 20, Sara rated it it was amazing. My favorite of the Dragon books so far The time travel is complex and fascinating. I love the shift from "reactionary protectors to future-minded motivated instigators" by the very end of the text. It seems to be setting up the rest of the series for an interesting and important shift in focus. The references this time were not only academic but also pop culture - and funny. The Mo My favorite of the Dragon books so far The Monty Python "flesh wound" reference made me laugh out loud. I enjoyed the first book immensely as a novelty and as a hook for a series.

Sort of like Harry Potter - simple, good turn of hand in terms of style and high entertainment value. The second demonstrated that the first was not a fluke and that there was the opportunity for depth and darkness and layers. The third book seems to serve as a protagonist for the series itself. What we see happening in Jack's personal life, in the interaction and camaraderie of the companions, in the relative peace time of the world came together to push the storyline into a more mature direction.

One that is less about about the idiosyncrasies of some famous thinkers and more about the role that men can play in the advancement of humanity. It feels like a fantasy re-telling of the chapter of American history which witnessed the greatness of Adam, Jefferson, Franklin and Washington.

I love how in this book the references to Narnia like the horn being blown in a moment of true need are not just there as candy but as important tools. It is Jack who is the most defensive about the power of the horn or his belief that it is inconsequential and therefore appropriate that once he embraces it, it leaves a lasting impression upon him that influences his own writing. Jun 09, Daanon rated it it was amazing Shelves: It's hard to compare to the previous two books in the series because it takes on completely different narrative.

Unlike the last two books in the series it does not follow the formula of the caretakers being brought to the Archipelago of Dreams to thwart an effort by a dark force to take control of the lands of myth. Unfortunately to tell you how it's different would give away too much. It's an entirely satisfying read and if you've been burning with curiosity as to identity of the Cartographer It's hard to compare to the previous two books in the series because it takes on completely different narrative.

It's an entirely satisfying read and if you've been burning with curiosity as to identity of the Cartographer of Lost Places fear not as all will be revealed. I think I need to read it again to figure out if I like book 2 or book 3 better, but I'm leaning towards book three as being the best in the series so far. Feb 09, Deborah D. Fantasy; Time Travel; legends; myth.

This series is supposed to be youth fiction Still more mind-warping interweaving of time, paradox, legends and myths with side dishes of history, personal growth, magical dimensions alongside our more mundane dimension. Familiar characters and warped familiar characters There are 2 more in this series I am eager to start the next one!

Jul 01, Rosary rated it it was amazing Shelves: Yes, it's a young adult book, but it's well written, has great characters, and is fantastically literate. The plot is also fast moving, and it's rather great fun to see how Owens takes some great literary names and plays with them.

I have to say that ultimately I think these are better books than the Potter series. Jul 13, Angelique rated it it was amazing Shelves: I loved this story!! James is such a superb storyteller. It was captivating and kept me on the hook from the beginning to the end. I love the humor that is littered through out and especially the references to the Cubs being a symbol of hope!

Everything is Signal

I can't recommend this series of books enough. Jul 07, Samantha rated it it was amazing Shelves: Owen's said he was most dreading and looking forward to writing this book, and I can tell why. Time is one of the most difficult subjects to write. He incorporates time-travel, altered timelines, and the unforeseen ripple effect continuously throughout this book that I can only imagine how long it took him to write it and how the outlining process must have gone. To be completely honest, the book gave me a headache and I'm still not entirely sure I followed everything, but I'm hoping that contin Owen's said he was most dreading and looking forward to writing this book, and I can tell why.

To be completely honest, the book gave me a headache and I'm still not entirely sure I followed everything, but I'm hoping that continuing the rest of the series will help clarify a few things. Part of why I love this series so much is that each book is so unique and a story all its own. Harry is still at Hogwarts, a location we're all too familiar with and a world of magic we understand. Dystopians are all alike, Lord of the Rings has the same characters fighting the same war over three books, etc.

That is not the case with The Imaginarium Geographica. Each book has the same characters, but we get so many new characters, and the setting is NEVER the same. Each book involves time-travel, different realms, different lands in those realms, and a different battle that I do not get bored or feel like I'm reading something similar to the previous books.

In the first book John, Jack, and Charles learn they are caretakers and are fighting the Winter King on a ship and in a couple different islands in the Archipelago of Dreams. In the second book John, Jack, and Charles fight shadows and an army of children in "Neverland". In fact, the third book gives us about 7 different worlds as the protagonists travel through various moments in time trying to learn the truth. Therefore, how can anyone ever get bored or predict what will happen next? I had it narrowed down to two people, and one of those people is the answer; however, I definitely had no idea about who that person "truly was".

You might think that Owen gave away his biggest mystery in the third book when there are four more to go, but that's not the case. There are plenty of other mysteries behind this series, the biggest one is about the future, not the past. How has the future been altered because of the past?

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That is the key to the next book. Each book ends with a new mystery that needs solving in the following book. This is a shorter review than my other two for one reason: As I publish this review, I'm already halfway done with the fourth book. I just cannot put this series down! I am still confused about one point, which is crucial, especially in this third book. Mordred, in most stories, is the bastard child of Arthur who is destined to kill Arthur in battle. Sometimes he's a druid, sometimes he's a man, sometimes he's a teenager, sometimes he's good, and sometimes he's evil All versions have Mordred as younger than Arthur, by at least a decade, usually more.

Everything made sense in the first book to learn that Arthur was the first king of the Archipelago of Dreams, and Mordred was his greatest adversary; however, I did not understand how Mordred could be an immortal unless he was taken from the druid myth. I figured it would be explained in a later book. Now we get to the third book and I am just more confused than ever, likely missing something that is right in front of my face.

Mordred is a twin, whose twin brother is the Cartographer of Lost Places--making them both immortal and the same age--ok fine. I still understand all of this until we get to the part where apparently, these twins are Odysseus's sons Odysseus and Calypso happened like years after the legends of Arthur--therefore, I'm not understanding how Mordred can be in the Arthurian legend and still not be born until centuries later I understand that all of this is likely possible due to time travel; however, I'm not following this logic--I'd love to see a chronological timeline, though I imagine that's impossible.

Part of me thinks this has to do with Calypso and her island is in the Archipelago, which moves through time differently, but I feel like either I really don't remember my Homer and Arthurian lore, or I missed something. If you've read the series, please share your thoughts. May 09, Em rated it really liked it. The Indigo King does the unthinkable: Owen takes away the best part of his previous installments Charles , amplifies the worst part the lack of diversity , and somehow manages to pull off the most enjoyable novel of the Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica series.

Lewis are considering inducting their friend Hugo Dyson as an apprentice Caretaker of The Indigo King does the unthinkable: Lewis are considering inducting their friend Hugo Dyson as an apprentice Caretaker of the Imaginarium Geographica. As in the previous books, Owen balances high stakes with humor and does so better than ever here. But The Indigo King is all about how to create a villain or two , as Owen delves into the backstory of a character that heretofore had been a shadow, both figuratively and literally.

He does, however, share at least one thing with his other self: Owen put that notion to rest with this adventure.

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With a rotating cast and a more ambiguous villain, the Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica have started to break the mold of their genre into uncharted territory. Apr 17, Nicole rated it it was amazing Shelves: Review originally posted at Erlebnisse: So, I may or may not have continued reading after my dinner break last night and ended up reading for the next couple of hours and then only had, eh, two chapters left to finish up this morning?

Friends, I remember this series being good. It was much darker than the previous two installments. Although, I will have to mention: Yet, as the story progressed, of course that had to happen and I think I love Charles all the more for it, now. Their antics, personalities, mistakes, honesty and animal logic add such a wonderful element into the story and I feel they are some of the most integral characters within the narrative.

I wish I could eat some crackers and have tea with them though definitely not after it has rained. I also loved how seeped into Arthurian lore we got into this book and the inclusion of Geoffrey of Monmouth!? Oh, my medievalist heart was all aflutter. Only two more to read until I read the last two for the very first time. If I keep accidentally reading past my dinner break, that may be much sooner than I realized… especially with all those teasers Owens leaves at the end of the book, how can you not force yourself to keep going!? Dec 10, Luciana Darce rated it it was amazing.



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Lewis, cujo nome real era Clive! No meio do caminho, contudo, havia uma porta. Obviamente, John e Jack ficam bastante surpresos em ver ma daquelas portas ali, em seu mundo. Eles desconfiam que seja uma armadilha. E, quase em seguida, Oxford, o parque e tudo o mais some em pleno ar, como se jamais tivesse existido.

Para tanto, eles precisam descobrir o verdadeiro nome de Mordred, o Rei do Inverno. Hugo Dyson enters into our troop of caretakers of the Archipelago of Dreams and the book of maps.. The tower in Archipelago, where the Cartographer is stuck Now we are finally getting to the reprecussions of the Time Warp.. Now we are finally getting to the reprecussions of the Time Warp They must find their missing friend and learn the history of the WinterKing in order to reverse the damage or rather destruction he has wrought everywhere.

But I believe a person is never really good or evil.. This book is a very good example of how choices shape the very world we live in! And it highlights my belief that man isn't inherently good or evil. I loved finding out the history of some of the characters! This was yet another fun adventure! As a faithful reader I have now witnessed many different sides to all the characters and as always I welcome the new ones as well! There is much to think about during and after reading! Oct 10, Littlebearries rated it really liked it. John, Jack and Charles, three young men from Oxford, find themselves called to duty to care for what is possibly the most well protected book ever, the Imaginarium Geographica.

He owns them, and does his best to live by a moral code he deems worthy. He is in no way unlikable, but he is no longer quite in touch with youth. Younger, brash, fighting against the powers that be, in the first novel, Jack comes close to being downright annoying. He is the second caretaker of the Imaginarium Geographica. Possibly my favorite caretaker, due to his great affinity for the animals of the Archipelago, Charles is a bit of a third wheel once you discover who the first two caretakers are.

If not him, then some alternate dimension version of him. He believes in travel through both time and space, and studies that intently. This may sound dull, or contrived, but let me assure you, Mordred becomes one complex character who I truly enjoyed reading about. Another character who pops up through the books, the story of Mordred and Merlin is captivating and takes place largely in The Indigo King , setting up quite a bit of what occurs in both previous and future books. A character pulled from The Chronicles of Narnia, Tummler is a badger who is also a printer, making a mock Imaginarium for distribution, as well as guides to the histories of the world, as well as practical things, like how to get out of a binding, in a book called The Little Whatsit.

The Grandson of Tummler, he is a constant companion from The Indigo King onwards, and becomes the first animal to become Caretaker to the Imaginarium Geographica.

The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica

In it from the beginning, he is mentor and guide to the three new caretakers, Jack, John and Charles. Daughter of Bert, future queen of the Archipelago. The books actually started out catering a bit more to children than I preferred. I had no desire to read the series after finding out who the characters were at the end of the first book. For whatever reason it just annoyed the hell out of me. The stories follow the adventures of the Caretakers as they try to keep balance between two very different worlds.

The way this series ties in to real world events makes it a believable bit of story telling. A- Stick with this series. This third volume of the "Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica" was much more complex than the prior two offerings, and the character names were much more difficult to keep straight but that may have been simply because I was listening to the audio rather than reading the page. Although very enjoyable, the rest of the series is not currently available at my library through OverDrive, so I may not get to join John, Jack, and Charles on their further adventures for a time.

For me, the book started off pretty promising. I was excited for the time travel aspect and the third book in a series is usually my favourite. However, unfortunately around pages in, I started getting really bored and I ended up speed-reading about 50 pages before DNFing the book and series. I'm really disappointed because I really enjoyed the first two books, but the third book which I thought would be the best, ended up being the most boring and eventful.

Nov 20, Eric Parker rated it really liked it. This book was wild! Journeys through time can always be confusing and this one is no exception. It was fascinating to see how this was handled. A great entry in a great series. I am certainly looking forward to the next book. I looove this series so much, I don't even know what else to say anymore. This book was the craziest time traveller story my head is still spinning haha, but it was genuinely brilliant! Jun 07, Bridget rated it really liked it. Great twist and turns. Feb 15, Kitty Graves rated it it was amazing.

The Indigo King - Tolkien Gateway

Mar 18, Gillian Brownlee rated it really liked it Shelves: I really enjoy how this author wove an entire story from a real life conversation. And the time travel was really well done! On to the next! I'm starting to get a little tired of the series at this point. In departure Chaz mistakenly destroys the Library. In the third slide, they re-unite with Hugo and witness the 'Tournament of Champions' to determine the next ruler of Meridian's Precinct Britain.

Hugo disqualifies Merlin and Mordred, and Thorn becomes Arthur; but does not command the loyalty of the people. In the fourth slide, Mordred has allied with Arthur but kills him in a dispute and breaks Caliburn. Arthur is revived by the Grail's daughter, Rose, who cuts off Mordred's hand when he attempts to kill Merlin. Arthur summons dragons to unite the subordinate kings, while Merlin becomes the Cartographer. In the fifth slide, they meet Geoffrey of Monmouth , and visit the Keep of Time, where the Cartographer gives them a key to the Keep's topmost room.

The protagonists emerge from the door they first entered and hear from Richard Burton that he sent Hugo into the past to prove Mordred a victim of fate. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page.

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