Children of the Knight

The Lance Chronicles #1

by Michael J. Bowler

According to legend, King Arthur is supposed to return when Britain needs him most. So why does a man claiming to be the once and future king suddenly appear in Los Angeles?

This charismatic young Arthur creates a new Camelot within the City of Angels to lead a crusade of unwanted kids against an adult society that discards and ignores them. Under his banner of equality, every needy child is welcome, regardless of race, creed, sexual orientation, or gang affiliation.

With the help of his amazing First Knight, homeless fourteen-year-old Lance, Arthur transforms this ragtag band of rejected children and teens into a well-trained army-the Children of the Knight. Through his intervention, they win the hearts and minds of the populace at large, and gain a truer understanding of themselves and their worth to society. But seeking more rights for kids pits Arthur and the children squarely against the rich, the influential, and the self-satisfied politicians who want nothing more than to maintain the status quo.

Can right truly overcome might? Arthur's hopeful young knights are about to find out, and the City of Angels will never be the same.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, LGBT, M M Romance, Contemporary, Gay, Romance

344 pages, Paperback

First published June 19, 2013

About the author

Michael J. Bowler is an award-winning author who grew up in Northern California. He majored in English/Theatre at Santa Clara University, earned a master’s in film production from Loyola Marymount University, a teaching credential in English from LMU, and a master’s in Special Education from Cal State University Dominguez Hills. Michael taught high school in Hawthorne, California for many years, both in general education and students with disabilities. When Michael is not writing you can find him volunteering as a youth mentor with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, volunteering within the juvenile justice system in Los Angeles, or caring for his newly adopted son. He is a passionate advocate for the fair treatment of children and teens in California, and hopes his books can show young people they are not alone in their struggles.

You can find Michael at:
Website: www.michaeljbowler.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/Michael-J.-Bowler/e/B0...
Facebook: www.facebook.com/michaeljbowlerauthor
Twitter: twitter.com/BradleyWallaceM
tumblr: michaeljbowler.tumblr.com
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/michaelbowler
Instagram: www.instagram.com/stuntshark
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2NX...

Reviews

[Amina · Rating 2 out of 5]

✰ 2.25 stars ✰

“Ye shalt crush corruption, defend the helpless, foster with thy words and deeds the tenets of morality and righteousness. Thou shalt become the heroes thy society so desperately craves, so desperately needs. ”

My inability to really believe what was taking place with King Arthur of lore suddenly arriving in present-day Los Angeles to rescue the abandoned and forsaken children of the streets - without preamble or prelude - made it difficult for me to really care for what was going on. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Despite his good intentions of aiming to bring about change to L.A., and what place to start better than with children, I just could not get behind his destined purpose. He acted more like a rebel than a leader, even when he was gaining favor and adoration from the many children he amassed and assembled to form his knights of the Round Table. 🙍🏻‍♀️

“It’s the things we don’t say to each other that make the biggest difference,” Jack whispered. “The things we don’t say.”

And I do feel bad for the kids; their abandonment, their feelings of unworthiness and affection, the desire to belong, it's a relatable feeling and for those who have suffered and endured more than their rough share, it is understandable that Arthur was their knight in shining armor - a beacon in the darkness. They sought comfort and friendship and acceptance from each other, creating a united force of trust and compassion they yearned to find in their lives and hearts.

However, the writing, the action scenes, the general tone - it was not tying together. Something just felt off about it that it could not even convince me of their emotions being genuine or convincing. It was even difficult to concentrate on Arthur's dialogue, for how archaic it was - which, fine, it's to be, for sure, but, urgh. 😮‍💨

“They be lost children, Lance, like unto these others we have found. To reject them, to forbid them our love and fellowship shalt make us no better than those whom we oppose. Doth thou understand?”



I just could not like him; which if the hero that these kids are going to stand behind is someone I can't convince myself to follow - then that leaves very little hope of any else to be worthy of my interest. 🙅🏻‍♀️ The cops and cartel and council leaders, who all seemed to be at the mercy of King Arthur's noble endeavors, felt unrealistic and over-the-top villainous. It was just so hard to accept as something that could be!~

When I added it to my shelves it gave no indication that it was a part of a series, so I was surprised to discover that it actually was the start of one, considering the emotional note this one ended on. But, based on my rather dismissive and lukewarm response, as well as how the rest of the series dissolves this apparent conclusion, I'm just gonna let it remain as the stand-alone I initially thought it to be, when the unique premise drew me in, but failed to inspire little else from me. 😞

[DJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive a copy in exchange for an honest review.

In this unique take on the tale of King Arthur, we find Arthur faced with a new world Camelot where he must lead a crusade of unwanted kids. This is a heartbreaking story of a world where kids are just tossed to the side. Arthur takes it upon himself to make sure all kids regardless of their background is accepted and loved. This is not an easy book to read because each chapter introduced us to more discarded children. It was hard to cope with the idea that people could simple throw out kids. This is story is an incredible mix of fantasy and real world. The characters were in a fictional land but the issues they dealt with are very real.

[Michael Bowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review from Neil in Morgan Hill that amazed me. Don't know if he's on Goodreads, but thank you, Neil!

Wonderful "What-If" fantasy set in modern day LA focused on lost children, June 25, 2013
By Neil in Morgan Hill
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Children of the Knight (Kindle Edition)
a 5-Star rating for Children of the Knight by Michael J. Bowler. The message is timely and the challenge is real!

This modern day story combines the recreation of Camelot by a time displaced King Arthur who creates a supportive environment for lost teenagers and gang members in LA. The underling message is all children need to be loved, nurtured and given what they need to succeed.

The author has had extensive experience including a teacher, volunteer for various youth related organizations and probation departments. Michael's bio gives more extensive detail of his many achievements.

The story can be enjoyed by teenagers as it is hopeful and uplifting with a positive message. Mutual respect and acceptance of others is another central theme. On the flip side, adults are challenged and given a wake-up call that we have failed the children of our society for some time and we should be ashamed.

As a 60-year old gay man, I may not be the target audience, but as an adult and a citizen, I come away from the story having to own the guilt as I too have not stood up and demanded that the legal and education systems be revamped to serve and meet the needs of our youth.

I recommend this story to teenage and adult readers. Recognition of gay youth and respect for individual differences is a central theme. Though younger people should be aware of these social issues and values, teenagers are well aware of these issues as they are faced by their classmates, friends and possibly his/herself within their own lives. It is most difficult to read this novel and not feel the need to speak-up and take action. I know I have a heavy heart and bear the shame of being a member of society that has failed so many children.

On a personal note: As I too have been a teacher and have worked in programs to assist economically disadvantaged youth, I concur with the author's description of how youth are being abused and used due to the misguided and dysfunctional policies and procedures within the legal, educational and social service institutions. The challenge is huge and I too feel overwhelmed and powerless.

[V.A. Dold · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel has lessons and messages that we can all stand to hear. We can often forget that all children even the street children who have been forgotten are a blessing.

This is King Arthur returned to present day LA. He is rebuilding the round table and his Knights are the street children and gangbanggers. He teaches them chivalry and how to be knightly. The message is use Might for Right. When given the choice many of these children who have never been loved and accepted jump at the chance to be a part of something good.

Each individuals story will wrench your heart and have you cheering. I literally was brought to tears twice and not just a single tear but all out gushing and sniffling. The ending is heart rending and triumphant all at once. I won't tell you more than that because I would ruin the story for you.

Yes you will read about the horrors these young people experience on the streets but it is done in a non explicit way so fear not lords and ladies, you may pick up this book and expect an epic adventure of unexpected heroes and you will enjoy yourself as you dig deeply into your own thoughts and reactions.

[Blaze · Rating 5 out of 5]

What some children go through no one should have to. It was interesting to see the fantasy mixed up with the real. I liked that the legend was used as a positive. I felt great sadness as I read. I did cry but I liked the hope that was given and I felt attached to all of the characters. I want to read more now. I hope the writer does write some more.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recently entered and was a gold winner in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our young readers thought:

FEEDBACK

Author: Michael J Bowler
Title: Children of the Knight

COVER: 10/10
The readers loved the cover. They thought the image of the girl holding the sword was apt for the story and genre and the lettering easy to read. They also enjoyed the blurb, pulling them into the book.

CONTENT 10/10
Our teenage readers very much enjoyed this story. They loved the central premise of King Arthur returning to present day L.A. and attempting to help forgotten children. The readers liked the fact that the story was a mix of fantasy and adventure but also had a strong moral undertone: that everybody is deserving of a second chance and everybody, even the smallest child, should be seen. One reader (girl, 15) put in her feedback, ‘This was a fantastic story. I liked Lance very much. I thought he was different to the normal hero in a book. I really enjoyed following him on his adventure and his friendship with Mark and Jack.’

EDITING 9/10
The readers thought the book was well edited and discovered no glaring problems with grammar, punctuation or spelling. They did feel the odd paragraph a little difficult to follow but, apart from that. One reader (boy, aged 14) put in his feedback, ‘This story has very good pacing but I still got to know the characters.’

STYLE 10/10
The readers liked the style of writing. They liked the complex plot the author created and the way he developed the characters in the story. They also liked the balance of adventure and character/setting description. They also felt the author worked well with dialogue although a few of the readers thought it was difficult to always follow what the king was saying in old English. One reader (boy, aged fifteen) put in his feedback, ‘This story was really great. I loved how Arthur saved Lance at the beginning from the three yobs, particularly when he cut Dwayne’s trousers and they fell to the floor. The author got the speech right too. So many writers seem to be frightened of writing rude words in a book for teenagers which is odd as we say them all the time.’

TO SUM UP 39/40

STATS
Of the 28 readers:
28 loved the cover.
28 would like to read a sequel.
14 felt the best part of the book was the clever plot.
5 felt the best part of the book was the central premise: King Arthur in L.A.
8 thought the pacing was the best part of the book.
1 thought Lance was the best part of the book.
2 thought the way the king spoke was a little difficult to follow.

‘A wonderfully written, exciting story with a powerful moral message. Highly recommended and a GOLD MEDAL WINNER’ The Wishing Shelf Awards

[Shambhawi P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has taken me a while to get my thoughts in this book sorted out to write a proper review. Bowler has penned a powerful fantasy with so many sides to it and I must admit the book has left a lasting impact on me. This book is different from all of the young adult fantasy crawling in the bookstores these days and for someone like me who is tired of the same washed up story being told again and again - different is definitely good.

I have always enjoyed reading Arthurian Legends. You can blame that on watching the Disney movie 'The Sword in the Stone' one too many times when I was a kid. So an Arthurian story based on Los Angeles in midst of violent gang environment? I was intrigued. And not let down.

The book deals with many serious issues. It deals with child abuse mostly, also with prostitution, gang violence and society's aversion to non-conformity. There is a somber edge to the narration along with a hopeful one. The major theme of the story seems to be acceptance and mutual respect and Bowler has handled that wonderfully. Arthur's efforts to create a utopia for children to be themselves and away from harm is commendable and the way Bowler has presented it is smooth as well as believable.

This book raises two very important questions. Who is to blame for the various problems that children face - at home, at school or in the society at large? And in the real world where there is no King Arthur to swoop in with his round table of knights who is to help them?

Usually, some books try to touch a lot of issues concerning the society and fail to address them all. This book does not. It is a beautiful, thoughtful story written wonderfully that anyone can read, enjoy and ponder upon.

4 Stars

This ebook was provided to me by the author in exchange of an honest review.

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Learn to be brave by saying what's in your heart. You may not have the chance to say it before its too late. I think there is every human emotion packed into this story. This is the first in a series and it is amazingly powerful. As a resident in LA during Mayor Villarygosa's term in office it was a unique fantasy. The fantasy set up of the novel is extraordinary and the delivery is triumphant. I cannot wait to read the continuation!

[Moony (Captain Mischief) MeowPoff · Rating 2 out of 5]

High expetations that fell very quickly. This story just wasn`t for me.

[Sammy Goode · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 stars

Powerful. This novel, Children of the Knight by Michael J. Bowler is powerful. Steeped in legend, King Arthur returns to discover a nation that has abandoned its own future. Reaching into the desperate streets of modern day Los Angeles, King Arthur sets out to save any child who will hear his call. It sounds fantastical--contrived and yet....this was one of the most impacting novels that I have ever read that focuses on the plight of the youth of today.

Page after page we meet one child after another who have been discarded to roam the streets. We are introduced to gang members who have been incarcerated from the age of 14. We meet young gay teens who have been kicked out of their homes by intolerant parents only to land on the streets where they sell themselves in order to survive. We learn of upper middle class children who have turned to destructive behaviors such as selling drugs in order to finally capture the attention of their disengaged parents. One by one these young men and women discover the power of love delivered from the once and future King, Arthur.

How Arthur came to be in the city is a mystery even to himself. One day, he simply was, complete with clothing for his knights, weapons, gold and a horse. When he discovers young Lance running from two bullies who have been sent by the drug lord known as Mr. R, Arthur knows he has met his true First Knight. The two of them set about finding others to take in and care for, to train in the way of the knight from sword play to bow and arrow, and, of course, the code of chivalry. Their numbers swell daily as more and more street kids find their way to the underground lair.

However, all good knights must have a quest and before long, Arthur reveals to his ragtag group that theirs will be to take back the city and reclaim their rights, one peaceful step at a time.

This novel was stunning. As each chapter unfolded, I found myself able to accept the idea that children would be so starved for adult influence--for love and care, and to feel worthy enough to be loved that they would follow this charismatic stranger just about anywhere. Arthur's sincerity and passion to restore these kids to their rightful place poured out from every page. Yes, this was definitely fantasy, but the underlying message was so very real. As a nation, we are making our children disposable, writing them off as nothing worth saving and treating them like adults in a judicial system riddled with corruption and, worse, a simple lack of caring.

At its heart, Children of the Knight was a social commentary wrapped in a fictional fantasy. At its core, this novel was also a warning. A clear message that we cannot continue to write off the poor and disenfranchised, the street gangs, the youth who prostitute themselves, for they are the future of this world. There were times when this novel simply broke my heart. When the teacher, Jenny, realized that she no longer liked the very students she taught, and it was revealed that our schools are failing to educate those whose days are spent on the streets merely trying to survive, I felt real shame. You see, as a teacher in Washington D.C., I know this to be true...sadly, so very true.

And so, page after page, Michael J.Bowler weaves a fantastical story that keeps you engaged and riveted, while time after time challenging you to think of what is truly right outside your very door, homeless children who are desperate for love and stability. This novel is gritty and casts an unblinking eye on the social ruin that lives in our midst--a ruin we have created.

Children of the Knight is an incredible story. So why not five stars? Well, there was, for me, the matter of King Arthur's speech, replete with doth's and thee's and thou's. I accepted that he spoke in the language of the historical period in which he was born but on more than one occasion he lost that affect. Had there been a reference to his speech patterns changing--growing more modern, I could have overlooked this problem. However, in absence of any explanation, the resulting seesaw effect of his slipping from more modern speech patterns and then back into historical began to wrench me from the story line and became bothersome on more than one occasion.

Children of the Knight is a novel that challenges us all to look beyond ourselves and see those who are truly becoming the lost generation before it is too late. It is a marvelous story and one worth your attention.

[Sammy Goode · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 stars

Powerful. This novel, Children of the Knight by Michael J. Bowler is powerful. Steeped in legend, King Arthur returns to discover a nation that has abandoned its own future. Reaching into the desperate streets of modern day Los Angeles, King Arthur sets out to save any child who will hear his call. It sounds fantastical--contrived and yet....this was one of the most impacting novels that I have ever read that focuses on the plight of the youth of today.

Page after page we meet one child after another who have been discarded to roam the streets. We are introduced to gang members who have been incarcerated from the age of 14. We meet young gay teens who have been kicked out of their homes by intolerant parents only to land on the streets where they sell themselves in order to survive. We learn of upper middle class children who have turned to destructive behaviors such as selling drugs in order to finally capture the attention of their disengaged parents. One by one these young men and women discover the power of love delivered from the once and future King, Arthur.

How Arthur came to be in the city is a mystery even to himself. One day, he simply was, complete with clothing for his knights, weapons, gold and a horse. When he discovers young Lance running from two bullies who have been sent by the drug lord known as Mr. R, Arthur knows he has met his true First Knight. The two of them set about finding others to take in and care for, to train in the way of the knight from sword play to bow and arrow, and, of course, the code of chivalry. Their numbers swell daily as more and more street kids find their way to the underground lair.

However, all good knights must have a quest and before long, Arthur reveals to his ragtag group that theirs will be to take back the city and reclaim their rights, one peaceful step at a time.

This novel was stunning. As each chapter unfolded, I found myself able to accept the idea that children would be so starved for adult influence--for love and care, and to feel worthy enough to be loved that they would follow this charismatic stranger just about anywhere. Arthur's sincerity and passion to restore these kids to their rightful place poured out from every page. Yes, this was definitely fantasy, but the underlying message was so very real. As a nation, we are making our children disposable, writing them off as nothing worth saving and treating them like adults in a judicial system riddled with corruption and, worse, a simple lack of caring.

At its heart, Children of the Knight was a social commentary wrapped in a fictional fantasy. At its core, this novel was also a warning. A clear message that we cannot continue to write off the poor and disenfranchised, the street gangs, the youth who prostitute themselves, for they are the future of this world. There were times when this novel simply broke my heart. When the teacher, Jenny, realized that she no longer liked the very students she taught, and it was revealed that our schools are failing to educate those whose days are spent on the streets merely trying to survive, I felt real shame. You see, as a teacher in Washington D.C., I know this to be true...sadly, so very true.

And so, page after page, Michael J.Bowler weaves a fantastical story that keeps you engaged and riveted, while time after time challenging you to think of what is truly right outside your very door, homeless children who are desperate for love and stability. This novel is gritty and casts an unblinking eye on the social ruin that lives in our midst--a ruin we have created.

Children of the Knight is an incredible story. So why not five stars? Well, there was, for me, the matter of King Arthur's speech, replete with doth's and thee's and thou's. I accepted that he spoke in the language of the historical period in which he was born but on more than one occasion he lost that affect. Had there been a reference to his speech patterns changing--growing more modern, I could have overlooked this problem. However, in absence of any explanation, the resulting seesaw effect of his slipping from more modern speech patterns and then back into historical began to wrench me from the story line and became bothersome on more than one occasion.

Children of the Knight is a novel that challenges us all to look beyond ourselves and see those who are truly becoming the lost generation before it is too late. It is a marvelous story and one worth your attention.

[E. Summers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children of the Knight is one of those rare books that has something for everyone. For teens, there is friendship, adventure, a quest, heroes, and a message of unity and tolerance and real valor and strength coming from doing what’s right instead of blindly following someone else’s example for no good reason. For adults, there are messages as well, and a call for a critical evaluation of a system that does little to set kids on the right path but is all too willing to treat them as adults if they stray off the path and commit crimes glorified not just by their immediate environment, but also by the entertainment that is pumped out to them by media conglomerates. It’s actually nothing short of extraordinary that the author has managed to intertwine these messages in such a way that one does not detract from the other.

Children of the Knight at times made me run a whole gamut of emotions. There were moments of true triumph and happiness, but also moments of profound sadness. I loved the way characters were brought to life and allowed to experience all emotions, including uncertainty, jealousy, shame, anger, happiness, and love. This urban fantasy is filled with memorable characters, starting, of course, with King Arthur and his first knight, Lance, but then continuing with Chris, Esteban, Jack, Mark, Reyna and others. All of them, and especially Lance, made an impression on me and I’m not likely to forget them anytime soon. The world portrayed in this book is no utopia, but it is a fabulous glimpse into what our world might look like if we all appreciated the kind of thorough diversity that the author portrays in his book.

The thing I loved best about the book is that it really made me think. It stayed with me long after I finished reading it, and prompted me to analyze and re-analyze my feelings about the authors’ message. In the end, while I don’t necessarily agree with all of the author’s premises, I absolutely respect the position and I appreciate the introspection it prompted.

I give the book five stars and my enthusiastic recommendation because for me it was truly unique. I actually think this book should be mandatory reading for adults, especially adults in affluent neighborhoods, because it’s far too easy for some of us to think of urban problems as something that only impacts other people, whom we don’t and wouldn’t want to know. The truth is that urban problems are all of our problem, and allocating resources to help the younger generations break the cycle of poverty and crime that is present much too often in urban neighborhoods will end up impacting us all positively.

It’s only fair to mention that the book is not perfect. The author’s writing style is complex, and it may be a little too difficult for younger kids to follow. There are also many subplots and characters to keep track of, and a lot of details are included that could probably have been edited out to create a more tightly focused story. I would have appreciated more of an explanation for why Arthur was there and how he got there, and I would have also appreciated less of the old English spoken by the king. I also thought that sometimes attitude that the adults in the story had towards the kids were disturbingly cavalier. Now, it’s true that some of this can be explained by Arthur simply not being aware of all the dangers that can befall a young, depressed teenager out on the streets, but it seemed to me that even by the end of the book he still had not learned all that he might have. And last but not least - the ending. All I can say without spoiling the book is that I wish it had been written differently, although I appreciate and respect the author’s vision for these characters. These faults, however, are very minor and subjective to me, and did not take away from the powerful impact of the book on me as a reader.

Children of the Knight was provided to me by the author free of charge in exchange for an honest review, which I provided above. I will definitely purchase the next book in the series when it is released and would highly recommend this book to all readers.

[Huston Piner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will make this short and straightforward. Children of the Knight is one of the most spell-binding, heart-stopping, inspiring books I have ever had the great pleasure to read. From beginning to end, the plot is complex, the characters three dimensional, the writing powerful and elegant. Indeed, Michael J Bowler is a powerful writer with a gift unparalleled. I can't praise it enough.
.....
September 2018
I first encountered the series in 2015 and was amazed at Bowler’s mastery of the writing craft. Every one of his characters is fleshed out, distinct, and believable. His ability to frame a scene, describe the setting, and draw the reader in unrivaled. I cannot recommend this book more highly. Recently revised, the series is worth every second the reader spends with it.

Children of the Knight, the first of a five volume series, is at first blush a curious book. Should it be considered a modern fantasy? Is it a teen coming of age story? Is it a young adult adventure with prominent gay characters? It is, at once, all of these and more. In this book, and the series, Michael J Bowler has crafted a spellbinding, passionate, masterfully told saga that is both heartwarming and heartrending in its execution. The main character is a homeless Latino teen named Lance Sepulveda. We learn that Lance was abandoned by his mother as a young child and has been living in the street ever since he was nine years old. He still attends school – occasionally, is very intelligent, a fervent skateboarder, and a loaner.

One evening, Lance is saved from the clutches of two bullying older teens by a medieval knight who declares himself to be King Arthur. Naturally cautious, and suspicious of the knight’s motives, Lance agrees to go with Arthur and is surprised to find that Arthur has a whole medieval complex, including armor, weapons, and clothing, in a hub of the Los Angeles flood tunnels. Arthur reveals that he has awoken to find himself in southern California with all the items needed to form a new Round Table with Lance as his First Knight. Arthur plans to start a crusade to salvage the abandoned children, enlist kids from gang membership, and through his teachings of chivalry guide them to transform the city. The recruitment of his young Round Table knights in the unfolding struggle against the resistance of the city’s police, politicians, and the opposition of the drug dealers and gangsters. That is the essence of the story, but the execution of it is a breathtaking emotional adventure, with a wide cast of diverse characters, that touches on child abandonment, gang violence, puberty and sexual orientation, the rights of minors, civic corruption, drugs, friendship and loyalty.

The story is told in the third person omniscient voice, which is very hard to do without leaving the reader confused about who’s thinking what. Bowler’s narrative is clear, powerful, and immersive. His descriptive ability is superb and his ability to reveal the inner emotion of his characters is unsurpassed. There are numerous scenes that will grip the reader and perhaps lead to tears (they did me).

Make no mistake, Children of the Knight is a moving, edge of your seat adventure that defies what must strike some as ridiculous (King Arthur in Los Angeles?) but will reward every reader who dares to open its pages. I first encountered the series in 2015 and was amazed at Bowler’s mastery of the writing craft. Every one of his characters is fleshed out, distinct, and believable. His ability to frame a scene, describe the setting, and draw the reader in unrivaled. I cannot recommend this book more highly. Recently revised, the series is worth every second the reader spends with it.

[Mia Kerick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t have much time to read for pleasure anymore. I’m usually either writing or editing or promoting my books. When I do decide to read, and subsequently review, a novel, it is usually for a specific purpose; in this case I sought out Children of the Knight because I had “met” the book’s author, Michael Bowler, on Facebook and I had quickly become impressed by his compassion for children and his overall positive view of life. I wanted to know how he would express himself as an author. And so here I will endeavor to review his novel that profoundly changed me.

Children of the Knight is an epic novel. Yeah… it is truly larger than life.
While reading:
I fell in love with characters—many times over.
I had no use for several other characters…only to shrug and change my mind about them further into the novel.
I got angry, as in, all fired up—enough to make me perspire—if you must know.
I questioned myself in a “what would I have done?” manner…and I’m still doing this.
I thought deeply about the characters, and their lots in life—about life’s fairness and unfairness. About parenting, in general…about my parenting, in specific.
I pondered my own behavior as a world citizen.
And I’m just gonna say it straight out—I cried a lot.

My reaction to Children of the Knight was powerful, confounding even.
And none of what I experienced as I devoured Michael Bowler’s young adult work, Children of the Knight, I suspect, will be departing from my heart or mind any time soon. Which I know is a positive thing.

In any case, after I finished reading, I needed to do some additional thinking about this complex novel before I could discuss it publicly in a review. And since I do my best thinking in the shower, well, I headed upstairs. You see, Bowler’s novel contains an abundance of important themes; I couldn’t possibly mention them all. And, yes, while shampooing, the themes that affected me most somehow became clear:
*Give a child a purpose and you give him a pathway to his future.
*Place your focus on how we (human beings) are alike, rather than on the ways in which we are different, and we will come together as one.
*The greater good is not always more important than an individual’s need for love and attention.
*Don’t allow important convictions go unspoken.
*A family need not be formed by blood; family members can be chosen.

The above are the themes that spoke loudest and clearest—with the most vibrancy—to me. I can almost guarantee that these will not be the themes to which you fall asleep, their echoes ringing in your ears, as the novel’s themes are many and varied.

Do you want to have this significant experience with a book? For the record, I do not believe it is an experience you can or should expect to have with every book, or with most books, even. In fact, it is one of my goals as an author to provide my readers with this experience once, possibly or twice, in my writing career, while subsequently entertaining them, and keeping them breathlessly turning the pages.

In Children of the Knight, Michael Bowler has created a work that is neither light-hearted nor consistently easy to read. But it is important and interesting, and maybe even mandatory. It is also very human and real, while still being somehow fanciful—and engaging to all ages. Highly recommended.

[Giovanni · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Children of the Knight” is an amazing book. Both during and after reading this great book you will be filled with mixed emotions. There were times where I felt anger, happiness, excitement, and sadness because I remembered things that happened to me as a child and I even felt like crying.
Once you get started in the book it will be hard to put it down. You will always crave more. I got in trouble at work because I went overtime on my break or lunch because I would say to my self “just one more page” (after 4 to 5 pages). LOL. By the way, did I mention that I got lost on the bus on several occasions while reading this book?
The life style of a gang member as well as that of a homeless child is nailed right on the dot. This book couldn’t say it any better about how our “justice” system works and how the Department of Children and Family Services operates. The stories of some characters even triggered flashbacks to my own horrible childhood in both of those abusive systems.
As a former gang member and D.C.F.S. “owned” child, this book made me feel less alone to know that I was not and am not the only one who suffered such abuse physically, mentally, and sexually within that system. There are also some characters that explain why kids join gangs in the first place, and I could very much relate to that part, too. Growing up, I knew far too many kids just like the ones in this book. I was one of them. These characters are real and heart-rending.
If you would like to see, feel, and live the life of abandoned, neglected, and rejected kids/teenagers this is the book for you. It will leave you with tears down your face just as it did me. It will inspire you to take action against the way this country fails to protect our future – the children. Take the time to read this book, meditate on its message, and look around and you'll see that there are far too many lost children in need of rescue from this corrupted and hypocritical society. Adults talk the talk about protecting and nurturing kids and then throw them away like yesterday's trash. Shameful!
This is a must read for everyone who cares about kids and wants to get to know some amazing characters. Check out this book – you won’t be disappointed.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children of the Knight, by Michael J Bowler, has an excellent plotline and a powerful feel for the needs and hurts of inner city children. King Arthur returns, as legend predicted, but to Los Angeles, USA, instead of England, to aid the multicultural youth of a youthful nation rapidly losing its way. The lessons are wise, with an honest no-holds-barred approach to young people and the wounds—physical, sexual, and mental—that drive them to gangs and homelessness, or simply rebellion. The LA teen voices seem achingly authentic, at least to my English ears. And the mission of Arthur, to restore meaning to life, to offer praise and reward hard work, and to give each child significance, has a powerful message to a culture that punishes as adults those it simultaneously sidelines as children.

King Arthur’s attempts to understand our modern world are nicely drawn, and his opposition to swearing, disrespect (in all its many forms), and careless hurt is nicely convincing. Less so are his accent and dialect, which read awkwardly to my English ears, but probably mirror the confusion of American city kids trying to read Shakespeare. “Gaels didst hate the Galls who didst hate the Normans...” had me wondering whether to check ancient grammar or history first. But “I doth be fine” declares Arthur at another point, and “When canst any of thee recall...” as he proclaims an upwelling call for change to assembled listeners.

The story’s greatest strength is in its depiction of exploited youth, brave children finding their place in a system that’s rejected them, seeking their sexual identities in a world that too freely abuses and condemns, needing approval, and learning to stand up for what they finally believe in. The novel is fun and exciting, well-plotted, and pleasingly fanciful, with a blend of gritty realism and idealistic resolution that should appeal to younger teens. Bearing in mind the story’s shadier themes though, this book might work best for those who’ve already seen or learned of the darker side of life.

Disclosure: I received a free ecopy during the author’s blog tour, with a request for an honest review.

[Kazza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children of the Knight has been read and reviewed by a new guest blogger this week. Thank you to Josh :) Review can be found at http://greedybugbookreviews.com/child...
Interview with the author - http://greedybugbookreviews.com/inter...
Now I want to read it.

And...now I have read it.

This book is different. It take the Arthurian theme and places it in modern-day LA. It looks at disenfranchised, abused youth, including teens trying to come to grips with, and learning to like, who they are. Arthur brings hope and the importance of living by a code. Lance becomes someone who has excellent leadership qualities, someone who helps solidify a group, and Jack is a good soul who teaches Lance a thing or two about what it is to truly care about someone. That it is okay. These children also learn what it is like to have others you can rely upon, not people who are out for themselves, or wanting to hurt you.

The first in a series, Children of the Knight is well worth a read for those who want something a bit different. A touch of the mystical in contemporary times with some harsh realities, and certainly a book that questioning or open teenage males, in particular, could identify with.

[Jo Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not usually write reviews, I generally find something I like in every book I read. Every once in a while though something comes along that just grabs you, holds you, and will not let you go. This is one of them for me. The premise of this novel; King Arthur, the Children and what Mr Bowler does with the story-line is just, to me, amazing. It is SO needed in today's society! Who, but the children, fight FOR the children! If I could make this required reading in all schools, colleges, book clubs, etc.. I would in a heartbeat. My 15 year old son is reading this now and it had raised so many questions from him, questions I am so happy he has asked. He has been sheltered by his 5 older siblings but has always been open to the gay community via friends and family members, but the combining of this with the drug, homeless, abuse, general apathy of adults in positions that COULD help but do not situations, has really opened his eyes and his heart to what really is out there. Any book that can do this for a teen.....well, Thank You Mr Bowler!!!!

[Betsy Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is a fantasy where King Arthur comes to modern day Los Angeles, gathers a band of homeless children and former gang members and trains them as knights. They all work together to change their lives and their neighborhoods. The novel deals with many issues that plague modern society... poverty, homelessness, children's rights, corrupt politicians, meth labs, single parent homes, child abuse and LGBT relationships. The characters are real and believable, the story is action-packed and full of surprises. It is a great read! I can't wait for the sequel!

[Heather Way · Rating 5 out of 5]

**** This was sent to me for a honest review**

Wow this book had an amazing story at one point I was crying to the point That I felt the words expressed through the the way Michael had wrote them.. It was amazing to picture every scene in my head and even the very sad parts.. King Arthur stories have been my favorite most of my life so reading this twist on his story was very exciting !!

[Dallas Vinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a truly great book and addition to the Arthurian lore. such a bittersweet ending though.
Would love to see the crusade expand to other major cities.

[Angela (Books of a Shy Girl) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Children of the Knight by Michael J. Bowler is a Young Adult contemporary fantasy book. One day, tags start to appear in the various neighborhood of Los Angeles, creating fights among gangs. A man, who consider himself Arthur of Camelot starts his own crusade and his warriors are children.

The Los Angeles portrayed by the author is a city where there are very few angels. Adults have stopped caring about their younglings, letting them free to do as they want, roaming in the dark streets, selling their bodies for little food, selling drugs for money. The key word for these children is Survival.

How, he wondered, could humanity have come so far in its inventiveness, and yet, place so little value on the human soul, on the human being in general?

“Things” seemed in this world to be of much greater value than people.
Arthur Pendragon has decided to help them free their city and homes from those who are destroying their life. With his first knight Lance, a fourteen-year-old boy, they start seeking warriors for their battle.

I really liked the concept behind the book: children who are considered adults when they put them in jail, but too young to vote for their own good. However, I think some topics weren’t handled very well. Lance’s past, like the past of many other gang members, is full of pain.

The fact that adults seems to us often incoherent, selfish and mean. Many of the kids in the book are outcasts, abandoned by those who should protect and cherish them.

Freedom had no time limit. They simply were, together, just being. And that was enough.

Fighting for freedom, for a future without drugs and battles among gangs, for a better life. Many of us swallow all our dreams and thoughts to never voice them, but Arthur has given them hope.

As I said, I enjoyed the book, but I had some problems with some topics the book dealt with. Raping a child is an awful thing to do and I found hard understanding why one of them was so ashamed of himself. He survived, he should be proud.

Plus there were so many underage prostitutes and no one who tried to stop it?

Most, he knew, had been at war their entire lives, so death was, sadly, nothing new to them.

Another thing that sometimes confused me was the language. I know that many of them didn’t go to school or dropped out, but it was hard understanding what they were trying to say.

However, I liked the great variety of people in the story. African, Mexican, Chinese and a lot more; there’s no gender or race difference among Arthur’s warriors. They’re brought together by their beliefs and I really liked it.

The writing style is fine and if you feel like you might like the book, then you should read it.

[Adrienne -kocham czytać- · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author: Michael J. Bowler
Book: Children of the Knight
Giveaway: 2014 Blog Tour

*I was given a free copy for an honest review*

This is a really tough review to write (and I think the longest one I've ever written too) because my opinions changed a good deal over the course of the book, but my first impressions and attitude toward this book wouldn't leave me either. I have been going back and forth over points, thinking about this story constantly, and I ended up feeling that it deserves a 3.5 rating, rounded down because there was more I didn't like than that which I did. I did love what Michael J. Bowler tried to do with this story. I studied and loved Morte Darthur in high school, so when I found this book on GR, I was excited to see if Bowler could put King Arthur in modern LA 'hoods, and have the story work. My overall feeling from this book is that it is flawed, but it has its shining points as well that I really enjoyed.

(Review split into things I didn't like, then further down, things I did like.)

The parts I didn't like:

The biggest hook into a story for me is the emotional connection I forge with the characters, but because of the use of third person omniscient point-of-view and the changeability of the characters in this book, from right off the bat, I couldn't fully connect with them. I have read absolutely gutting books that deal with the same subjects--rape, abandonment, homelessness, prostitution, gang life, abuse, questioning sexuality, oppression--and have seen it so well done, that here, where we were told all these things were horrible, I already knew intrinsically that all these things are horrible, but we weren't shown the horrors and their previous lives beyond a few quick glimpses, I didn't empathize as much as I could have until much, much later on (a couple hundred pages in).

Although I know that this was based off of a legend, so magic and a sense of destiny are natural parts of it, I felt as though it should have been more rooted in realism because the kids were gang bangers, leading a life of hard-won survival, kept alive by distrust and skill. But everything changed first thing once they met Arthur. In reality, kids like these become so trained over the years to act and react a certain way to the unknown, that they would not be able to shed those feelings of suspicion, fear, hatred, challenge, etc. so easily unless they were influence purely by magic--which it actually seemed like, rather than changing their beliefs through experiences--and that made the characters too changeable for my taste. Then the issues that were not solved at once were just prolonged by the same circumstances throughout. Later on, as Arthur was taught of the realities of modern life, this changed somewhat, with bad things happening and affecting me more deeply--by that point I actually knew the characters and began to feel--but there was so many opportunities for more.

And I do get that most of the characters are just boys, therefore changeable and impressionable by nature, but I thought that it could have been handled differently so that they could offer more. Things like the fact that they changed quite significantly physically in their fighting abilities and musculature over the course of a few weeks training, whereas in real life, these changes and abilities were trained into children from very early youth, and took years to master. Of course, these kids had to be able to fight to further the plot, but it was another thing that made me shake my head at the book. At least in the legends there were roots in reality, with the characters trained and developed from youth to adulthood.

It felt to me that Bowler tried to do too much, giving us every person's point-of-view for a few lines, so that I couldn't immerse myself fully into one or a couple characters' lives until much further in the book, making it more impersonal; running through many of the problems with a fairy-tale feel to it, making much of it too easy, rather than gritty real life--which these homeless, abused children are the standard for; and giving us a beautiful (yes, it was overall, beautiful) view into what could be done if people shed corruption and worked together, but the attempt didn't feel fully capitalized on.

Another thing that added up to be a bother were the grammatical inconsistencies. This book needs a little editing, which always catches my notice and distracts me. Along those lines, the use of some archaic language felt off to me because 1. it was not used quite consistently or fully throughout, and 2. the children would not have understood all of what Arthur was saying (Middle English is almost another language unless you're used to it, and that's just reading it...hearing it, people, especially street kids, would not understand).

The parts I did like:

The story, the messages, the attempt to take these monumental issues and hearken back to older values and chivalric heroism to solve them. The idealism of a benevolent and good-hearted king who would sacrifice all for the benefit of the people. And although I criticized it before because it hindered me from making connections to the characters, I know that adding in a variety of peoples' viewpoints helped the story because we got a sense of what was happing in the "adult camp" (opposing Arthur), not just the kid's side, which rounded out the story.

I also did grow to like the characters over time as I learned more of their current struggles and had more time with the individuals. I believed in what they stood for and cheered them on in their struggles, individually and as a whole, and watched happily as they grew. I liked Arthur especially; he had the same basis and intent as in Morte Darthur: the chivalry, the heroism, the upright morals, the honor. I like the way he raised and led the kids to better themselves, but also how he questioned himself and his abilities when tragedy struck. In those instances, he was not just a king, but a fallible human being, who made mistakes or didn't notice important things. But he was still a rock for his people. He truly did seem to be a regal king, despite living in underground tunnels and the preconceived notions people might hold about the people that were his Knights. Lastly, he showed accurately that being a king is complicated, hard work. Arthur was one of my favorite things from this book.

Some of the language used was gorgeous, describing scenes...

"...their faces slashed by the flashing red lights..."

"Kicking off with his legs, he soon had the swing soaring like a bird, almost at a ninety-degree angle to the ground, his long hair flying back like a cape. The chains creaked and groaned ever more loudly with pain the higher Lance flew."

"...wide brown eyes orphaned of hope..."

...and there were truths written in...

"...freedom has no time limit..."

So although I grew to like the story more the further I read, the initial impressions stayed with me too, making this read one I only liked (three stars). However, I am going to take another look at Morte Darthur, and then come back to this book with fresh eyes and see if getting into Thomas Mallory's world will change my impressions towards Bowler's. I'll update this review when I do.

[Elnora Romness]

An English professor that I once had stated that what makes good fiction is "the unexpected". Kids in unexpected circumstances. Unexpected weather. Historical figures doing unexpected things, etc. We've all likely heard of King Arthur. But what about when he unexpectedly shows up in present-day downtown L.A.?

LONG STORY SHORT
I laughed. I cried. I felt. Simply put, this is easily one of the best books I've read in the past five years. King Arthur surprises everyone by showing up in downtown L.A. riding a horse. His quest? Fulfill a mission to save the optional children of L.A. and rebuild a kind of modern Camelot. Oh yeah, and figure out modern technology (maybe). While the premise may seem hard to accomplish well, Bowler makes writing a quality book with a complicated plot in an accessible way look easy. While reading, I often melted into this book and had to shake my head to reorient myself to the living room, reminding myself that I was not in the caves with King Arthur and the children. Bowler's writing invites readers to truly hear water dripping and shots going off, truly feel sneers and snarky comments from peers, truly witness and experience injustice in its most disturbing form - one involving children. This book will call you to action on behalf of our society's "optional children." If you read anything this year, read this book.

OVERALL, I RATE THIS A 5 OUT OF 5

LONG STORY
The Good
I cried. Twice. Books don't generally move me enough to make me cry. This one did.

Methinks there doth not be enough good praise for this book. It is extremely well written (for one thing, I only found one type in the entire thing....one! Those of you who read my blog regularly know this is a feat in itself because I hunt for typos). When I read a scene, I was in the scene. There were several times that I had to look around just to remind myself that I was indeed sitting in my living room, not right there with Esteban doing something dumb, or Reyna being aloof, or Lance wrestling with emotional demons. Bowler's matter-of-fact, straight forward writing style absolutely pulled me in and plunked me next to the narrator. What a ride!

King Arthur shows up in modern-day L.A. with some provisions, Excalibur, Llamrei (a horse), clothing, and a determination to fulfill the vision that awoke him from a long slumber. Youth restored, King Arthur sets out to figure out what the vision meant when he meets Lance. Oh dear Lance. A boy with a chip on his shoulder the size of my beloved home state of Alaska. A boy whom society has given up on. An "optional" child who hides behind his bangs and skates with dreams of winning gold during BMX competitions. A boy who would become King Arthur's First Knight and help unite many of the rest of L.A.'s "optional" children in a quest to better their city in a way that the adults who have consistently failed them wish they could accomplish.

The premise may sound a bit goofy - King Arthur in modern L.A.? - but trust me: Bowler pulls it off incredibly well. King Arthur struggles with exactly the things I'd expect a man from his time to struggle with: technology, the new landscape (keeping in mind that L.A. isn't his home Britain), realizing how very little those in power seem to change over time, and an advanced society's shocking ability to abuse and ostracize its most precious and innocent members - the children.

In this work I think I saw a glimpse of Bowler's heart. I say this because when I finished reading, one of my thoughts was "this author cares deeply about justice for children". As someone who is an advocate as well, I could see tells of someone who has worked directly with the "difficult children" that society likes to pretend don't exist. Characters leap off these pages and refuse to be shut up - their voices will be heard. The plight of millions of children around our nation will be heard. Things the kids say in this work are things that I've only heard "difficult" children say in my work with them. We like to think that we are so advanced as a culture and society....in my humble opinion any society that treats children like disposable commodities has failed.

Anyways, the more King Arthur learns about the current state of affairs, the more he sees just how miserably adults have failed the children. He loves them, gives them a chance, and is so charismatic that people cannot help but join his cause...it is just so just! (Maybe Merlin helped him be more charismatic.) He also shows them how they can channel their energies for good. We like to think that people cannot be contributing members of society until they are in their 20s at the earliest. Thank you, Bowler, for playing a part in showing people that kids are capable of moving mountains as well.

Thank you, also, for playing a part in showing people that children need to be allowed to be children. This is a lesson that even King Arthur had to learn....but if I'm not careful I'm going to ruin the plot! I don't want to do that - you need to read this book!

Seriously!! I don't often pay full-price for a book unless it is for a class, and I'd pay full price for this work. In fact, I just may for the sequel.

Speaking of sequel - this is the first book in a trilogy. Now, some first books that I've read are obviously leading into something. You know the kind, the stores that don't quite wrap up because they want to drag their readers into continuing to read the next book. This book does no such thing. No, Sire. Instead, Bowler wrote it in such an artful, compelling, and engaging manner that I want to read the next book simply because I enjoyed the first so much. Children of the Knight can stand alone - its story wraps up nice and neat, there are no dangling loose ends, etc. At the same time, there are plenty of places it could go. I can't wait to read the next book!

Another part of the reason I want to read the next book? I know these characters. Bowler took the time to explain back stories for people, making them seem more real. These are kids that I've met in North East Minneapolis. These are kids I know. These are kids who truly come alive on the pages. Their voices are unique. They have distinct personalities. They have grown up too fast.

In short - I love the writing, I love the story, I love the characters, I love this book. :)

Never underestimate the power of giving kids a chance.

The Bugly (bad/ugly)
Honestly, I had to struggle to come up with anything that resembled a bugly. Sure, there are some super-natural things that happen (hello - what is the King Arthur doing in L.A.?), but they are not just left to dangle, they're explained well. I think the only real bugly I have to complain about is that King Arthur speaks in a way that is Old English and a smidge hard to understand in places (kind of like reading Shakespeare).

FOR MORE STUFF FROM ME - ONLYGODWRITESTREES.BLOGSPOT.COM

[Emerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children of the Knight is a by author Michael J. Bowler. Lance is a fourteen-year-old orphan living on the street of LA. After a near death experience, Lance’s life changes forever. Lance’s savior claims to be the one and only King Arthur. The armored, sword fighting, horse riding knight is trying to collect cast-off children like Lance to start a revolution and a new Camelot.
I was super excited to read this book because I love King Arthur stories. The book is fun, exciting, and a great adventure story. I thought that Bowler did a great job of creating a super unique king Arthur story. The modern setting but ancient Arthur was a cool concept, and he pulled it off in a really interesting way. Reading a bit more about Bowler was also great, like reading the dedication about how the book is for all the kids he has mentored. Bowler’s experience in working with as a teacher and mentor to struggling children and teens really shows in the way he is able to give life to the story and to his characters. He has found a great balance between creating a magical story and writing a story that tackles real-world problems.
I really liked the way the book is written in a storybook-like manner despite the modern telling. The young adult book is full of exciting adventure, danger, magic, and more. Everything you want in a fantasy story. I found Lance to be a very engaging main character and thought he had good growth during the story. His relationship with Arthur was also sweet. All of the children’s stories of hardship are heart-wrenching but important. Bowler has created a wonderful outlet to share real-world struggles, and it makes for an incredibly compelling read. I would highly recommend this book!

[Nathan Sims · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m a selfish S.O.B. No, it’s true. I am.

I know this because of the barometer by which I gauge myself: my partner.

Like countless others we have those conversations about what we would do if we won the lottery. Tom wants to open a privately-funded homeless shelter that doesn’t get mired in all the bureaucratic red tape. Or maybe it’s a senior citizen home? See, I’m too selfish to remember.

Me? I want to quit my job and focus entirely on writing. Priorities: gotta have 'em.

I’m not proud of this fact. Nor have I resigned myself to my nature either. Often times, I’ll volunteer to help out with projects at church or I'll hear of initiatives taken up by my employer or close friends that inspire me to be involved. The thing is, once the time rolls around to step up and count myself in, I find a million and one excuses to not participate. See what I mean? S.E.L.F.I.S.H. S.O.B.

So when I come across someone like Michael J. Bowler, I realize just how out of my depth I am. This guy deserves to be canonized. Seriously, look him up; you’ll see what I mean. His passion for runaways and homeless kids and the juveniles already trapped in a legal system that dooms them to failure from the get-go is awe inspiring. Reading Children of the Knight was like being head-jacked directly to Bowler and his 30-years of life experience with countless young people who our system has marginalized and failed to protect.

Into the midst of their despair and struggle, Bowler drops King Arthur, who has returned just as the prophecy foretold he would when his country needed him most. Apparently, since the United States began as a British Colony, it counts as his country as well.

Arthur sees the struggle of the abandoned, abused, and homeless children of Los Angeles and begins a new Crusade – a Children’s Crusade meant to better their lives and, by proxy, the deteriorating neighborhoods they call home. He begins a new Round Table made up of runaways, juvenile delinquents, members from dueling gangs, and teen prostitutes. It’s a daunting and impressive dream, but Arthur repeatedly proves he’s up to the task.

And therein lies my problem.

I felt as if Bowler loved these children and his vision for their utopia so much that they were unstoppable. No task seemed too great, no adversity too difficult for them to overcome. They all seemed to have hearts of gold and virtuous cores, no matter how difficult or challenging their upbringing. Gangbangers, prostitutes, drug addicts, the children of privilege, everyone's heart of stone seemed to melt almost immediately under Arthur's love and guidance.

Similarly, most of the adults in positions of power (government heads, drug dealers, etc.) seemed to be nothing more than maniacal villains out to thwart Arthur and his young knights at every turn. While I'm not suggesting that a drug dealer would necessarily have a heart of gold, some nuance to their characters would have rounded them out and allowed them to be more interesting people. Instead, most of the characters felt more like types to me rather than living, breathing human beings, and the book read more as an agitprop piece instead of a novel.

I've read numerous reviews of this book in which the reviewer comments on how moved they were by the current plight of homeless children in our society, thanks to Bowler's book. Unfortunately, for me, though the lives of these characters might turn dire, even deadly at times, I didn't feel the connection with them to make me care (selfish S.O.B., remember?). Instead, the book came across as heavy-handed. There were so many speeches concerning the current state of affairs and the steps that should be taken to rectify them that, to be honest, had I not received a free copy of the book for review, I wouldn't have finished it.

Until we came to the climax, that is.

At the end of the book I felt Bowler found his stride and brought everything to an intense close. For the first time, I wanted to know what would happen next and found myself caring about these characters. In fact, rather than ride my bike to work, I took the metro just so I could keep reading and find out what happened. And I'll admit that this old selfish S.O.B.'s eyes did start to burn and get a bit teary a couple of times near the end.

Bowler also managed to keep a lot of balls in the air throughout the novel. He did an admirable job of keeping numerous storylines going without letting them fall to the wayside.

This left me believing that Bowler does have some stories to tell that I would like to read. In this case, however, I felt as if he was so close to his subject matter that he couldn't get the kind of perspective needed to flesh out his characters and make them relatable and, in turn, make me care.

[Beáta · Rating 5 out of 5]

CN for: Child neglect, Drug abuse, Sexual abuse, Prostitution, Violence, Character death, Police violence, Racism, Homophobia. All of which happen to children.

King Arthur returns, but not to Britain, but to Los Angeles. He only knows that he is there to help the many children society doesn't care about. In order to do that, he starts to assemble a group of teenagers from the streets and train them as knights.

This book is very good, but also very heavy, as it deals with many Real Life problems of child abuse and neglect in Los Angeles. From what I understand from the author's bio, he himself has experience working with children from that background, which explains why the book feels so much like a very personal cry for help. It was very interesting that the way he chose to do it was by invoking a larger-than-life figure from mythology, because yes, it does feel as if the problem was too big for any normal humans to solve. Despite being this figure, Arthur still feels very human, with some very human flaws, and so do the children. They all have their problems and their trauma, and very beautiful, complicated relationships between each other.

At places, the story might feel a little unrealistic, not because of the King Arthur thing, but because he actually manages to get most things done without too much opposition. On the other hand, I do understand that this is supposed to be a bit of a fairy tale, and having the main character immediately arrested wouldn't have been a good story. I also very much appreciated that the side of Arthur as a leader and peacemaker gets to be in the fore field. So many stories about him seem to only focus on the warrior part of his character.

As to queer representation, there are two gay characters, and the protagonist is questioning. It does address some of the problems queer homeless youth face, so you might want to be careful if you have triggers.

Which is generally true for the entire book: As I said, the story addresses some rather heavy elements, so mind your triggers. I'm not 100% sure that I caught all of them, check other sources if you need to be sure. For the rest, wonderful book, and I would definitely recommend it.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

"W-O-W!" That is the only acceptable form to start off this review. I was not expecting what planned out in this book and I loved every second of it! Micheal has proved to me that he has what it takes and I cannot wait for the second installment to this series!

As the first book in a new series, time is taken at the beginning to develop the character and build the world. I personally appreciate this, as it is impossible to appreciate character development without a strong feeling of where they began.

The story flows like a great rollercoaster, building slowly and steadily at the beginning, next up with a few dips and a little curve, then the bottom drops out, you're thrown for a loop, and come to a screeching halt wanting to go on again. I do like the writing style and the author makes you feel the pain of that poor and disenfranchised. King Arthur what an amazing women to help children like this.

This book left the right amount of the known and the unknown which was perfect to keep me invested. I recommend this book 100% and again I cannot wait for part II.

[M.M. Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first heard about this book I thought it had to be absolutely cool because it was about King Arthur coming back to modern times and having his knights of the round table.


In actuality, I was right and oh so wrong! The book is about King Arthur coming back to modern times but that is pretty much where it begins and ends. Having the round table as we know it from history is nothing like I had ever read.

--------------------------------------

The story opens with a gang war about to happen in one of the barrios of Los Angeles due to a large A with a cross in the middle that has been posted over the top of other gang tagging. Each gang thinking the other had done it.


The story moves along to find King Arthur fully awake in this new place with a mission he must do. He is seen coming to the rescue of a 14 year old street kid named, Lance, who will eventually become his First Knight and significant throughout the entire book.


With Lance's help and guidance through this strange new era, King Arthur recruits other children of the streets from the drug dealers, to the homosexuals, to the abused and neglected. All come to stay with Arthur and Lance and are trained to be honorable and forthright. All are accepted for who they are, girls and boys alike, one thousand strong, will all come to be known as King Arthur's Knights.


Led by the King they will begin to clean up the areas and streets they once formerly ran. The children will fight for the right to be heard as children. For their right to be protected by the very adults who should have protected them. They will learn to live and respect each other as 'brothers' and 'sisters' not as enemies who have claimed an area of the city. The children will set an example for other adults but will also struggle with the demons that have lived with for so long.


King Arthur stands up for these disenfranchised children but will also learn from mistakes of his past and his present. Oh yes, there is the story of love and love lost in here too. There is the story of hurt, betrayal and denial all wrapped in these pages. There is also loss so deep that the reader wants to cry along with the characters.


To find out what happens to Sir Lance, King Arthur and the other Knights of the Round Table, you must read this book. It is worth it!

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Author Michael Bowler did an excellent job of twisting a real historical character in to a modern day twist. He brought to light an age old problem of child neglect in many forms and also the way we humans treat each other.


It would serve us well, to read this book not once but maybe even several times until we learn that our future counts on us and that we need to stand up for them and treat them with the respect they deserve. We need to be the King Arthurs for our children because the cause is not finished. It has only begun.


This book deserves the 5 stars and then some.

~Naila Moon


Disclosure: I was given a free Kindle version of this book for my open and honest opinion. The views expressed here are 100% my own.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There can be no clearer revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children" Nelson Mandela

What can you say about the soul of a society in which children are prisoned as adults with little to no resources for rehabilitation or alternative? Should anyone be surprised that these children, if and when put back into society, often return to prison?

What can you say about the soul of a society in which curriculum standards become more important than actually educating children?

What can you say about the soul of a society in which children are neglected and abused by adults who are entrusted to care for them?

What can you say about the soul of a society in which parents care more about how useful a child is for them and their image?

In Children Of The Knight, we are thrown into a fantasy world in which King Arthur returns to present day L.A. to launch a crusade to save the forgotten children. The children we meet in the story are broken, but beautiful inside. They are not only the typical "at-risk" children we think of - poor, homeless, abused, thrown away. They are also middle-class children, and children of the rich. They are your children and mine. What they all have in common is this: they are forgotten. I fell in love with these children: Lance, Mark, Jack, Chris and so many more.

We witness what these children can do when a glimmer of hope is shown, when genuine love is given, when they feel their worth. There are comical scenes in which Arthur learns the way of the modern world, there are touching moments and yes, some painful moments as they discover individuals do matter in the quest for greater good.

Reading this book was an emotional journey for me as a parent and a former high school teacher. One of the themes of this book is having second chances. These children are given second chances, the two main cops, Jenny, the teacher, and even Arthur gets a second chance. I even get a second chance, to examine my roll as a parent, as an educator, and as a member of our society. What can I do to make sure the children are not forgotten.

My favorite quote (though context is not obvious and may not make sense to you)..
"Arthur's true gift, it seemed, wasn't the title of First Knight, or even the feeling of value he tried so hard to give the boy. No, it was much more. It was the revelation of Lance's own humanity."

There are so many facets to this book, and I am incapable of succinctly describing all of them. Children Of The Knight is thought-provoking, gut wrenching, hopeful, and a fantastic story. It will stay with you even after The End. It is highly recommended and I am anxious to read the rest of the trilogy. Well done, Michael, and thank you!