Official Review: The Gift-Knight's Quest by Dylan Madeley

[acasto]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Gift-Knight's Quest" by Dylan Madeley.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The Gift Night’s Quest by Dylan Madeley is a fiction novel written for young adults. The book discusses themes of coming of age, vulnerability of the strong, and courage, among others. The story is split between two times, with seemingly unrelated main characters. One is a rebellious teenager seeking adventure. He leaves home to explore the ruins of a war-ravaged city, only to be found and escorted back home by paid “friends”. He struggles with his identity and what he wants in life. Though both parents try to support him in their own way, he doesn’t feel close to either.

The other story line is the history of that ruined city, and how it came by its downfall many years before. The city is ruled by a good king, whose wife wants nothing to do with him or his children. When she is murdered and the government is in shambles, he commits suicide to save his entire kingdom. His teenage daughter, who is not a child of the queen, is left with the crown. Unbeknownst to her, a secret alliance is forming between old friends and enemies, and knowledge becomes more and more dangerous. The Crown Princess must do everything she can to clear herself of suspicion, or else she may be the assassin’s next target.

This story discusses the difficulties of ruling in a monarchy and not knowing whom to trust or what to believe. The way certain characters deal with this issue is very realistically portrayed. The Queen, who doesn’t like nor trust her husband, taunts and makes fun of him and his daughter on a regular basis. The King, who is very self-conscious, meets with representatives of various kingdoms and makes secret plans to ensure cooperation and what he believes is the best for his kingdom. And the Crown Princess chooses carefully how she interacts with others, in order to give off the right impressions and protect herself. In many situations, we all do the same. When we feel uncomfortable or out of place, we don’t always act in the kindest or most honest ways.

I found this book very engaging. The story moves quickly, and much of the text is dialogue or thoughts, so explanations must be inferred, they are not given. It jumps back and forth between time periods as well, so it is difficult to keep track of all the people and places. The characters often don’t understand their own situation, so it is a game trying to put all of the clues together, and leaves you considering possibilities long after you put the book down.

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The complexity of the plot is so interesting that you don’t want to put it down, but so sophisticated that you can’t take it in all at once. The setting of an old kingdom gives place for character traits of courage and valor, as well as treachery. Though death is involved and their manners described, the emphasis is not on the gore, but on the mystery and plot around which the deaths are centered. This book is a whole new spin on medieval fiction.

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The Gift-Knight's Quest
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[dylanmad]

Thanks! Glad you liked it.