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56th out of 136 books
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3 voters
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The Shadow Dragons (The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica #4)
World War II has been raging for three years, but a more terrible evil is just over the horizon. The last stones are falling from the Keep of Time, and the Imperial Cartological Society, led by Richard Burton, has collected doors and is building a new tower at the request of an old enemy: the Winter King's shadow. He has a terrible weapon -- the Spear of Destiny -- that ca...more
Hardcover, 417 pages
Published
October 27th 2009
by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
(first published October 5th 2009)
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The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica
by James A. Owen
Story Title: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Ending: 5/5
Synopsis:
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.
Character Likability:
John: The Principal Caretaker of the Imaginarium Geographica, John is logical, wise and patient. He’s not only l...more
This series is a joy. I had fun spending time in the company of the young Inklings again, and all of their compadres as well, including Poe, Twain, Shakespeare ("He ought to be flogged"), and those wonderful badgers. The book is full of references to other stories, such as The Wizard of Oz, The Silver Chair, The Once and Future King, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, the Hobbit, Out of the Silent Planet, Shrek, and many, many more. In the author's notes at the end, there is ...more
The characters that Owen has created in this series, or I suppose the more accuarte thing would be to say, the characters he has elaborated on, really came to life for me in this fourth book. I have grown to love the interactions between those of the Summer Country and those of the Archapeligo.
I enjoyed the past caretakers, and the lead into the more modern caretakers. I am interested to see what happens to the Archapeligo and the Summer Country in the books to come.
I...more
I enjoyed the past caretakers, and the lead into the more modern caretakers. I am interested to see what happens to the Archapeligo and the Summer Country in the books to come.
I...more
This review was originally posted on my blog, Creativity's Corner
I have been waiting for this book for a VERY long time. It's the fourth book in my absolute favorite series, The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica, and it was set to come out almost immediately after I left for England. I was very frustrated, because I wanted it NOW. Unfortunately, after reading it, I'm starting to feel my desperation was a bit unwarranted.
That's not to say it's all bad. In fact there ...more
I have been waiting for this book for a VERY long time. It's the fourth book in my absolute favorite series, The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica, and it was set to come out almost immediately after I left for England. I was very frustrated, because I wanted it NOW. Unfortunately, after reading it, I'm starting to feel my desperation was a bit unwarranted.
That's not to say it's all bad. In fact there ...more
I am reading this series aloud to my boys. We have been really enjoying them, even though the confusion factor with all the time travel/different dimension stuff can be high. Hopefully it is stretching their minds to better comprehend stories like these.
I know it's practically impossible to completely understand the circumstances around an individual's decisions for good or evil. This book does a good job showing how complicated judgment can be and how a little kindness and forg...more
I know it's practically impossible to completely understand the circumstances around an individual's decisions for good or evil. This book does a good job showing how complicated judgment can be and how a little kindness and forg...more
I would like to re-read this book at some point after re-reading the others in the series again. I loved the 1st book in this series and even gave it as a gift. However, it has been quite awhile since I've read the other books and I'd forgotten much of what occurred in them. Consequently, I was very confused for much of this book as I tried to piece together the past of these characters. This book cannot stand alone, and should only be read with the others in the series.
This series is fun, though by the time I reached this book I no longer had much of an idea of what was going on. It was a treat to see Poe show up, and all the literary references and in-jokes are fun to pick out, especially the nod to Gaiman's death of Dream. The presence of Rose Dyson is also refreshing, because overall there are not enough women in these books. We can forgive Tolkien that, perhaps, but Owen? No. Surely there are more female Caretaker possibilities than just Mary Shelley!...more
Honestly, I can't decide how much I like these books. I really like the characters, but in a lot of ways, the books cross the line between "interestingly weird" and "totally bizarre". I don't mind a bit of weirdness in my books as long as it makes sense--but this series had me hopelessly confused in places.
I was so glad this series was finally over. I really liked the first and second books, got confused in the 3rd, and really confused in this, the 4th and final book. At least, I assume it is the last. If I had known how this last book would be, I probably would not have read the first book!
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It's been ages since I read the third book in the series, and it wasn't as easy to fall back into the story as it could have been. I ended up disregarding anything that was mentioned but not strictly relevant to the story - who is this Hugo they keep talking about? - but I am sure that it depleted the experience. Rose seems to have come out of left field, and while I don't object to her as a character I object to her enormous role in the story. Well. I enjoyed the story, and it drew me in suffic...more
Tara
rated it
I liked the beginning of the series but I don't think that the subsequent novels in the series are as interesting or as engaging. I listened to this as I was travelling, so that might have some effect on my attention span, I'm not sure.
These books are getting more complicated and the time travel stuff is starting to make my head hurt!! Looking forward to seeing where he takes the Caretakers in the future / approaching our present!
I love the characters and the overall story, and I have no problem following the time travel, it's just that I don't understand any of the explaination or theory behind the time travel methods, so I feel like I'm missing out on something.
I liked it, the story was good and the characters where just as good agine another one of his good books, had a lot of good people and good ideas, can't wait to read the next one!
Terri
rated it
After a very confusing 3rd book with lots of time travel weirdness, Owen redeems himself with the 4th book which sets the series off for what will hopefully be a fantastic finish!
WOW! This is such an amazing book, it's filled with anything and everything that makes fiction so enjoyable!!
So far, the even-numbered books in this series are inferior to their odd-numbered cousins. This one is fairly jumbled, and there's a lot less focus on the three Caretakers, with more emphasis on the "Caretakers Emeritus" and the Rose/Quixote quest instead.
Keeps true to the series, keeping me completely entranced in this world that seems so real.
I like the story but some of the character from real life I would not have chosen to be in some of the spots that Jamie did but I it worked out fine and the book was interesting.
This book wraps up some loose ends and ties things that were introduced in previous volumes together nicely.
I need to try this one again, just didn't get into this time.
Amy
marked it as wishlist
The Shadow Dragons (Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica) by James A. Owen (2009)
I hate it when i feel obligated to finish a series
More confusing than the third book was...
Brooke
is currently reading it
the others are better so far....
I just can't put theses books down!!
I loved this book just as I loved the others of the series. However, it is my least favorite, only because of the focus of the story drifting away from John, Jack,and Charles and centering on Rose. But overall it was still interesting and enjoyable and I'm looking forward to book #5!
I really like this series and had trouble putting this book down. I love how the classic authors, myth, and legend are woven so creatively through the story. It is always neat to see who or what is next.
Amazing and thrilling, the perfect blend of fiction, real events, and historical fiction. James Owen make more!
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“I'm a conundrum. Or an enigma. I forget which.”
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