Book Review: The Orphan King

From the back cover: My greatest fear was that they would find us and make of us a sacrifice beneath a full moon. Now you, Thomas, must help us destroy the circle of evil. The last words of a dying woman would change the life of young Thomas. Raised behind monastery walls, he knows nothing of his mysterious past or imminent destiny. But now, in the heart of medieval England, a darkness threatens to strangle truth. An ancient order tightens their ghostly grip on power, creating fear and exiling those who would oppose them. Thomas is determined fulfill his calling and bring light into the mysterious world of the Druids and leaves the monastery on an important quest.
Thomas quickly finds himself in unfamiliar territory, as he must put his faith in unusual companions—a cryptic knight, a child thief, and the beautiful, silent woman whom may not be all she seems.  From the solitary life of an orphan, Thomas now finds himself tangled in the roots of both comradery and suspicion.
 Can he trust those who would join his battle…or will his fears force him to go on alone?

Ever since I was 11, if it had to do with the Middle Ages, I was all over it.  Books set in the Middle Ages were hard to find. Most people thought that if it looks anything like history, kids will run away. Maybe most kids will, but I know I loved it.
When I saw the cover of The Orphan King, I was pretty sure I wanted to review it. When I read the description, I knew I did. I ordered it and waited for it expectantly. When it came, my youngest sister (13) begged to read it. The next day she handed it back to me and said she thought it was great.
I opened the book one day, wanting something to relax with, and pretty soon I was drawn into an exciting story, full of adventure, intrigue, and non-stop action. It kept me turning the pages until I finished.
Sigmund Brouwer, in only a few pages, builds a world in vivid descriptions. Even though this is a smaller book, the characters were well developed and so were the locations. I loved the setting as well as the band of misfit characters that make up the story.
There is a hint of romance, but it is very small, and there is even a good lesson about beauty not being everything. Parents of boys especially will like the subtle message of guarding your eyes. The only thing that I really didn’t like about this book is that I have to wait until February until the next book is out.
If you are looking for an action-filled, adventurous book, this is for you.


I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.  I was under no obligation to write a positive review.  The opinions in this review are entirely my own.