The Chestnut King facts for kids
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| Author | N.D. Wilson |
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| Illustrator | Jeff Nentrup |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | 100 Cupboards trilogy |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Publisher | Random House |
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Publication date
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March 1, 2010 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 483 |
| ISBN | 978-0-375-83885-9 |
| Preceded by | Dandelion Fire |
The Chestnut King is an exciting fantasy novel from 2010. It was written by N.D. Wilson. This book is the third and last story in the amazing 100 Cupboards series. It comes after 100 Cupboards and Dandelion Fire.
Contents
The Story So Far: Henry's Adventures Begin
When Henry York, who is 12 years old, visited his cousins in Henry, Kansas, he had no idea what adventures awaited him.
Finding the Cupboards
The first book, 100 Cupboards, starts Henry's journey. He discovers 99 secret cupboards hidden behind his bedroom wall. Each cupboard leads to a different, magical world! By accident, Henry frees a powerful witch-queen named Nimiane. She wants to take over all the cupboard worlds. Henry bravely fights against Nimiane.
Dangers and Discoveries
In the second book, Dandelion Fire, Henry is struck by lightning. This happens after he sees a glowing dandelion. Strange things start to happen to him, like losing his sight. Doctors help him get his vision back.
Henry finds a new portal and meets two new friends: Franklin Fat Faerie and Monmouth. After a close call where he almost falls into the ocean, Henry is held captive in a castle by faeries. Fat Frank helps Henry and Monmouth escape. But they soon run into wizards and strange creatures called fingerlings.
Family Secrets Revealed
Henry loses his grandfather's journal. He finds a house and is saved after trying to get inside. He collapses but is taken in by his mother. She tells him all about his family's history. Henry learns he has two sisters, Isa and Una.
He also discovers he is the seventh son of Mordecai. This means he is a "green child." Each green child has a special mark. Henry's mark is a dandelion, and his father's is a grape. Later, he learns that the "green man" from his letters is actually his father. Henry is christened, but the celebration is interrupted. Fat Frank tells Henry to throw a knife. When he does, his father, Mordecai, is freed from a faerie prison!
The Chestnut King: What Happens Next
In The Chestnut King, Henry's Aunt Dotty, Uncle Frank, and cousins from Kansas now live in Badon Hill. Nimiane, the witch-queen, is still after Henry. She wants his blood to become even more powerful. A scar she gave him earlier keeps growing and getting worse. Henry's father, Mordecai, fears the wound will kill Henry. They must defeat the witch-queen soon!
A Father's Mission
Soldiers from the emperor of this world arrive. They demand that Mordecai come with them across the sea. The emperor wants Mordecai to answer for helping to free Nimiane. But Mordecai cares more about destroying the witch-queen and saving his son. He says he will deal with the emperor after his mission is complete. Mordecai leaves for Endor, where Nimiane lives.
Family in Danger
Because Mordecai disobeys the emperor, the soldiers capture his family. This includes Uncle Frank, Henry's mom, and his cousins. Then, they set fire to the family's house. Henry's cousin Henrietta and his grandmother are still inside! Henry helps them escape through a cupboard portal. It takes them back to Kansas.
In Kansas, they get help from Henry's baseball friend, Zeke. Henry leaves his grandmother with Zeke's mom. Then, the three children travel through a cupboard that leads to Endor.
Facing New Threats
The kids find themselves in a crypt with Nimroth, a shape-shifting creature. Nimroth is a relative of Nimiane and created the blackstar. Nimiane has 10 henchmen called fingerlings. They have fingers on the back of their heads and Nimiane controls them with her mind. Coradin, the main fingerling, chases Henry through different worlds.
Coradin and the fingerlings pursue the children through the underground tombs of Endor. Henry helps Zeke and Henrietta return safely to the attic in Kansas. Henry then goes back to Endor. He finds his father and Uncle Caleb. Henry gathers old papers that might hold the witch-queen's secrets. He transports these important papers back to Kansas.
A King's Bargain
Back in Badon Hill, Fat Frank, a fairy who lost his powers, rescues three of Henry's family members. A group of fairies finds Frank and takes him and the children to the Chestnut King. Frank must explain his "un-fairylike" actions. Meanwhile, Uncle Frank and the other captured family members are on a rough sea journey.
Henry finds his way into the fairy world. He seeks help from the Chestnut King. The king makes a deal with Henry: He will help Henry save his family and defeat the witch-queen. But only if Henry agrees to become the next Chestnut King. Feeling trapped, Henry agrees. Henry is reunited with the family members who were with Fat Frank.
Coradin and Nimiane's henchmen capture Uncle Frank's group. This forces Henry to face Nimiane in her throne room. Henry stops the witch-queen just before she can destroy him and his loved ones. Instead of becoming king himself, Henry makes Fat Frank the new Chestnut King!
Meet the Main Characters
- Henry York - The 12-year-old main character. Henry lived with his adopted parents, Phil and Ursula, who were kidnapped. He later learns he is from a city called Hylfing, which is under attack. Henry is a "seventh son" and a "green man," like a wizard. His special plant is the dandelion. He is later christened Henry York Maccabee. His real father is Mordecai Westmore, and his mother is Hyacinth. In The Chestnut King, Henry is offered the chance to become the Chestnut King, but he gives the role to Fat Frank instead.
- Nimiane - The main bad guy. Nimiane is an ancient witch from Cupboard #8, Endor. She is described as shriveled, eyeless, and hairless. She can see through the eyes of a servant cat. In The Chestnut King, Henry defeats her by forcing his blood and some of his magic into her.
- Frank Willis - His real name is Francis. As a teenager, he traveled through a portal to Kansas. There, he married Dorothy ("Dotty") and had three daughters: Penelope, Henrietta, and Anastasia. His father is Amram Iothric, and his mother is Anastasia.
- Henrietta Willis - The middle daughter of Frank and Dorothy. Henrietta is stubborn and very curious. She has dark curly hair and green eyes. During a hostage situation, Henry has to cut her hair very short, and she complains about it throughout the book. She loves adventure.
- Penelope Willis - The oldest Willis daughter, sometimes called "Penny." She has almost black hair. She often acts like she is too grown-up for make-believe games.
- Anastasia Willis - The youngest Willis daughter. Anastasia is small and strong for a nine-year-old. She has freckles and brown hair that "looked like it wanted to be red." She can be a bit rude and likes to know everyone's business.
- Dorothy Willis - Called "Dots" by her husband and "Dotty" by others. She is the sister of Ursula, Henry's adopted mother.
- Zeke Johnson - A boy who often plays baseball with Henry. Anastasia sometimes teases Penelope for liking him. Zeke helps out at the end of 100 Cupboards by knocking out the witch Nimiane with his baseball bat.
- Coradin - The leader of the Fingerlings. Coradin has three marks on his left ear, dark skin, and oily black hair. A finger grows out of his head, and he wears a helmet that makes him and his Fingerlings invincible. He carries two swords. Henry takes one of his swords to use himself. Coradin dies just before Nimiane is defeated.
- Grandmother Anastasia - Not much is known about her parents. She married Amram Iothric and had at least seven children, including Mordecai Westmore, Caleb, and Frank. She is likely very powerful. In Henry's dreams, she removes Nimiane's blood from his jaw. Anastasia can enter others' dreams to communicate. She is blind.
Where the Story Takes Place
The story happens in two main places: on Earth and on a fictional planet.
On Earth
- Henry, Kansas - A made-up city in Kansas. This is where the Willis Family lives.
On The Fictional Planet
- Dumarre - This is the capital city of a huge empire. The emperor's title is very long! Dumarre is located in the middle of a narrow strip of land that connects the Northern and Southern Continents. The flag of Dumarre shows three snakes braided together. This symbolizes the empire's power across three continents, all connected to Dumarre.
- Hylfing - A city by the sea on the Northern Continent. Hylfing is on one side of a bay that points south toward Dumarre. There are two old stories about how the city was founded. One says it grew around two carved stone unicorns. The other says it started with an inn built by a castaway. Many people in Hylfing are farmers and fishermen. The city is led by a Lord Mayor.
- Glaston's Barrow - This is the home of the Chestnut King. It is a country or continent with a capital city of the same name. A mysterious person named Glaston founded it. It is the second fairy kingdom. The Chestnut King has a long title, showing his power over the land and fairies. The next king is usually chosen by the current king, not inherited by family.
- Endor - This is likely a continent. We don't know much about it, but it can be reached through Cupboard #8. It is south of Hylfing. The Blackstar is a special family treasure there. Unlike Glaston's Barrow, Endor's rulers are from the same family. The known rulers are Nimroth and Nimiane.
