Although this is the third installment of the Chronicles of the Red King it can be read as a stand-alone book. Many years have passed since Stone of Ravenglass. Focusing on the children of Timoken, the story is a fantasy adventure filled with surprises. Each of Timoken’s children has their own powers, and they struggle with using those powers for good or evil. It’s up to Petrello and Tolomeo to save their parents, the King and Queen, who have been captured. The leopards come into their own in this story as the reader learns how the gold they can make is truly magical. Excellent fantasy series, The Red King, is a prequel to the Charlie Bone series, which is much less complicated series for elementary school children who love the concept of Harry Potter but find the series daunting. (PSC) ( )