The Book Knights

by J.G. McKenney

When her parents are condemned to death by Morgan Fay for the crime of reading, Arti Penderhagen becomes a fugitive. Hunted by Mordred, the sadistic police captain who recites poetry to enhance his physical strength, Arti escapes to the Isle of Avalon, a sanctuary for outlaws. There she meets an old librarian named Merl who tells her about the Grail Tome, an ancient book in Morgan Fay's possession that can alter the course of history. Can Arti steal the book in time to save her family?

THE BOOK KNIGHTS is an Arthurian YA fantasy adventure in which knights wield words as weapons, librarians are wizards, and books can change the future.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Retellings, Fiction, Arthurian

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 5, 2017

About the author

THE BLADEMASTER'S CALL is only 99 cents, for a limited time! Get it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS87XZ21
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Good luck! Visit my website for information on me and my books: https://www.jgmckenney.com/

Reviews

[Kaya Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review copy provided by the publishers via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. I thank them greatly!

"To Gwen, books were doorways into worlds of wonder, every work possessing its own magic, it's own reason to risk everything to visit its pages..."

Stars, I love that quote. I mean, let's be honest, if I had to choose between certain life and reading I think we all know which one comes first!

The Book Knights is an Arthurian tale, complete with all the characters you know and love. Reading is banned in this world
*cue gasps of outright horror
However Arti's parents have a secret library. When they are captured by the Incendi, Morgan Fay's fiery lackeys, she seeks a way to bring them back while also discovering her own destiny.

Some absolutely fantastic aspects I loved:
~ The diversity! Gal was described as having dark skin, and there were people of different economic classes involved.
~ Female friendships! This is such an underrated thing in YA which is ridiculous but I'm happy to report there was none of that nonsense here. Gwen and Arti are at first wary of each other but they become fast friends and bond quickly.
~ Mashup of magic and technology
I very much enjoyed the almost science fiction aspect as there are vid links and cars but also magic is prevalent in the story, and they work flawlessly together.
~ The focus on words
Poems and verses are the "magic" in this story which I love. Reading is something that's lost in this world, and the author heavily implies just how much the written word truly means to us.

I do have some complaints, however. I felt a LOT of the writing was mediocre, and a bit cliche. I also felt the relationships were a bit rushed, as well as the characters. Also the plot. Basically, the entire book was rushed leaving me with a shallow feeling at the end. The world building wasn't great, it wasn't developed but somehow kinda info dumpy?

Despite these problems, it was a creative concept and I think this author shows promise. The story just needs more meat, and the writing some more editing, and this will go places!

If you like any kind of Arthur tale, maybe give this one a go?
Also, The Lunar Chronicles, while obviously being very different, also has a similar feel to it. Technology, an evil "queen", and so forth.

Hope y'all enjoyed the review!

[Meegy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book to death. I don't know if this is a standalone or if it is a series. But I want to read more of Arti, Gal, Gwen, Lance and Merl.
The ending of the book left me intrigued, so I am really hoping there is more to this.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is my shield. The pen is my sword. The ink is my blood.

WOW! What a great read! And immensely captivating, to say the least!

In a world where reading is forbidden, Arti and the new friends she gathers through fate and Merl's help, will try their hardest to bring back books, and save Arti's parents. Their foes? Morgan Fay, who, via a magic book, controls history - and her main lackey, Mordred, a cruel man bent on making his mistress's will done at any cost.

Honestly, I expected some kind of epicness, what with this being another story focused on some kid who's like the great King Arthur and the kid's friends acting as the Round Table knights and all that, but I got so much more than that! This story was fascinating from the first line right up to the last one, and the characters really draw you in with their antics and their brilliant souls!

My personal favorite was Gal. She was adorable and so brave and selfless and loyal. The usual urchin that turns into a wonderful person once the right companion is found. And I screamed when I saw which knight she represented - Galahad is my favorite of the knights, after all. Gwen was sweet, too, of course, and so ready to sacrifice herself for the cause, and Arti was pretty nice as a leader - and let's not forget the dreamy Lance - but Gal really spoke to me as a character. Especially when Arti was teaching her how to read - her reactions to everything she read were just too much!

Also, I loved how easily one can hate the villains of this story. Sure, I've seen more dangerous and vicious bad guys in books - and let's be honest, I've read adult fantasy, Morgan was nothing like other baddies I've read so far - but there was one particular detail that could make any true reader hate her with a burning passion: the woman burned books and banned reading. And that's the ultimate crime in the eyes of a reader, trust me....

As for the ending... Good God, what was that?! I got literal shivers! Freaked out of my mind and still loved the damn thing! Should I hope for another installment in this story and take this ending as yes? Because I would love to see some more knights added to Arti's table!

***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***

Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com/

[Nildene]

DNF at 31%

•

I tried to enjoy this book, but as I continued to read, I was unimpressed with the lack of intrigue the whole book had. I love the idea of retellings, but an Arthurian retelling with a dystopian twist just came across poorly. Nothing really fit, and I just couldn't continue without interest in it.

Unfortunately, because of my uninterest in the story as a whole, I couldn't push myself to a halfway point.

I guess the characters were okay – I didn't finish this book but the writing was good. I think it was the idea and plotline behind it that didn't interest me.

It's unfortunate but maybe one day I will give it another shot.

•

2/5

•

This was provided free from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Hélène Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

(I thank Netgalley and NetGalley Co-Op for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review)

I didn't like much this book, but can't advise anyone against reading it, as it's clearly a case of "it's not you it's me".
The general idea is very good and should have been entertaining, but alas I was bored, finding difficult to read on, and stopped at 30% (as a rule I always try to push till the third of a book before deciding to give it up).
The characters are nice, but very classic, quite generic. I couldn't find them endearing at all. Reading on, I found many flaws in the story, convenient coincidences, characters' psychologies lacking depth, too much not very interesting information...
But still, the writing is good and enthusiastic, the story is thoroughly thought and told, and I'm sure that many readers will love this story. A shame I wasn't one of them!

[Rachelle (ReaderRachelle) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

I received this book for free from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The second I saw gender-bent King Arthur retelling revolving around books, I knew I wanted to read that story.

I found the magic system and the added element the written words power to be intriguing however I thought other aspects could use a little more polishing.

If you have any familiarity with the King Arthur legend you can see the direction certain relationships will take or how the endgame will play out based on everyone's roles in the original story; which I think is my biggest criticism of the work, the author didn't really take the story and make it her own.

There was a section in the middle of the novel where a controversial relationship begins to take shape that I just wanted to skip over, the instalove in that situation was just a bit cheesy and nauseating.

There were some threads I wish had been tied up that no explanation was given for and there were definitely areas of the lore or world-building which I wish had been elaborated on or explored further.

While the basic bones of this story has real potential, the execution left something to be desired.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I always have to appreciate bookish stories. If you're interested in Arthurian legends and enjoyed the movie The Kid Who Would Be King, I have a feeling you'll enjoy McKenney's take on the classic legends.

[Shelby M. (Read and Find Out) · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Video Review

[Natalie H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recieved from Netgalley. I like the simplicity of the cover artwork and how authentic it would feel. I was already in love with this book from reading the blurb. It’s a tough challenge to take on something that already exists and make it your own, but this was done perfectly.

The flow of the story was effortless, old legends rebuilt in a new and intriguing world. Number one place I wouldn’t want to go. No reading or writing? Burning books? Such a cruel world. It’s a story of adventure, magic and friendship, with new characters from old legends, genderbent, reinvented and kick ass.

Favourite character in this one, I would have to say Mordred. Out of all the characters he stands out the most, being the most experienced and bad ass relentless on his mission.

I like how the magic is woven in this one, new and exciting yet at the same time subtle. I thought the story was wrapped up perfectly and then there was that epilogue. More to come? I hope so. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

[Veselina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks for this book given by Netgalley and the publishers for a read just to give my honest opinion.
It is one hell of a book.
The beginning of it is heart breaking for every book dragon like be/I can't call myself bookworm/. I won't reveal what it is exactly. You have to find for yourself.
The main idea of the book is soooo true. Words can change this world and there is people that want you to be ignorant and not to be a but read. You can say so much more just with words that by images.
So I don't really want to reveal too much for the book. You deserve to be surprised and read it by yourself.
Enjoy and be prepared for the next one. I can't wait for it.

[Kate (BloggingwithDragons) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Actual Rating: 2.5 stars

I really liked the premise of the The Book Knights—Fahrenheit 451 meets Arthurian legend.  As a massive book nerd, The Book Knights was a dream to read, it offers a secret order of librarians, Grail Tomes, word fighting, and magical pens that rewrite the future. But while I really enjoyed the premise of the novel, I felt the execution was lacking. I found the portrayal of characters and the world building confusing. This book also felt more geared towards younger audiences than towards young adult readers.




I loved the portrayal of Arthurian characters in a modern world, which is definitely the biggest strength and appeal of the novel. The bond between main character Arti Penderhagen and her friend Gal (modern day Arthur and Galahad), was really special and something I enjoyed immensely. Arti promised to teach Gal how to read, something strictly forbidden in Morgan Fay’s dystopian world, if Gal taught her how to survive on the streets, where Arti found herself after the imprisonment of her reading parents. I really adored how each character came to love books in their own unique journey—something that every reader experiences, but was more intensely felt in this dystopian universe, where books were outlawed and burned and its readers persecuted.



I especially loved the characterization of the villains of the novel. Morgan Fay sought to rid the world of the power of words, burning all books she could find in order to reach the final page of her Grail Tome. Once on the final page, Morgan could write the future to her own liking, which would be very, very bad for lovers of the written word and the rest of the general populace who would be forced to worship her. Mordred in this book, Morgan’s captain of the Incendi police, was a very compelling villain. Mordred wielded words, known as the Verses, as deadly weapons and hunted for the Challenger—the one who could stop Morgan—Arti.



Arti and her (Book) Knights of the Round Table were all female except Lance, based on Lancelot. I felt it odd that that he was the only male Knight and thought he stuck out like a sore thumb. I am guessing the author made him male instead of female simply so he could have an eye roll inducing instalove with Gwen. I would have much preferred that the author kept with his motif of female knights and then just included a lesbian romance. Instead, this hetero romance felt like a cop-out. On the other hand, I was also expecting a love triangle as per the classic Arthur-Gwenevere-Lancelot tradition, but there was none, which also felt like a letdown. However, the fact that the Knight’s Round Table was in a motorhome was so freaking clever and characteristic of the enjoyable quirkiness of the novel.



The decisions about the characters were not the only thing that confused me, I was also perplexed by the world-building in the novel. I was puzzled by the description of the areas in the novel. Even after finishing the book, I am uncertain whether the entire world took place in the Isle of Avalon, which may or may not have been just a city? Though the author states that Merl, the Merlin of this tale, travels far and wide to procure books, the details of which were not explained.



I did feel that the writing style of this novel was not as detailed or complex, and was in fact, a little cheesy and focused on telling, rather than showing. For instance, when Arti and Gwen finally start bonding, it is described as, “From that moment on, despite the four years that separated them in age, Arti and Gwen were like friends at a sleepover, whispering stories well into the night.” I find this type of “telling” unnecessary, but it is something that younger readers may not mind. For older readers, it may be a turnoff.  And though the book attempts to give each character a deep background with complex motivations, it feels superficial and like it only scratches the surface. This is something else that would not be as big of a problem for younger readers.



Similarly, I did not care for what I felt was an overly perfect ending, with Arti being almost magically reunited with her formerly imprisoned parents and the immediate adoption of Gal as her sister, but honestly, the epilogue sounded amazing! I would read the next book in this series, but know to expect a light, fun read that would be more suitably geared towards younger audiences.


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[Reading Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a world where reading and writing are crimes and books are contraband, Arti, the 15 year old main character of this quest must save the world. Seems like a lot to put on the shoulders of a teenage girl but why not?

I don’t want to give too many spoilers but I enjoyed this story! I loved the character development and how true to herself Arti and her best friend Gal seemed. The old Librarian Merl was a relief once his true purpose was shown. Another thing I liked about this book is the setting. I’m unsure if it was a futuristic world or just a past world that discovered technology before our time. So it truly took this story to a separate place. The ending had me on the edge of my couch and I neglected homework to finish.

Morgan Fay and her son, the Incendi captain could have used a bit more fleshing out. I was not impressed by the son at all, I cannot even remember his name.

Overall I loved it. This was my first ARC from netgalley and I’m so glad I got to read this book. #TheBookKnights

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where to begin with this review? I won't deny that I had high expectations for The Book Knights. The fact that this story promised to merge together a dystopian world where readers are banned, and Arthurian legend, had me really excited. Can I please profess that I secretly loved every second a new character was introduced in this story? Their names were perfection and, set against the backdrop that McKenney created for them, they had me in their thrall. I was ready for an adventure, and I definitely had one.

Let me go ahead and start with the characters, since I've already touched on that. As I mentioned, each character has a name that ties them into the Arthurian legend that this book lovingly pulls from. Arti Penderhagen, our protagonist, is a reader who is forced to flee her family home during a book raid. She instantly peaked my interest. Here was a young girl, taught to read from childhood, out in the world on her own. I was fascinated as I watched her navigate this new world, where being a reader is a death sentence. I think Arti was the easiest to connect with, because we were kindred spirits. Readers forever. It helped that she got the most face time here, since I really got to know who she was. While I loved all the other characters as well, I never got to know them as well as Arti. There wasn't time. I would have loved some background into their personalities, and gotten to know more about their views on the world they live in.

As it stands, this is a very quick moving book. Characters are introduced in a way that feels natural, which was nice, but the plot moves along so speedily that I never quite felt like I had my footing in Arti's world. I had so many questions about Morgan Fay's motives. I wanted to know more about the general public, and what their opinions were on the world at hand. I also desperately wanted to know more about the Book Knights as whole, since the book had to give a whirlwind explanation in order to move back into the action. While I enjoyed this whole plot, I just honestly wished that the story was longer so that there was more time to get into the the thick of things. I like closure, and I crave world building. The Book Knights was a little shaky on both counts.

I suppose it all comes down to the fact that I just wanted more from this book than I received. The writing was great, the characters were well rendered even if they didn't have as much depth as I wanted, but I missed out on the sturdy world building that I'm so used to in Fantasy books. Arti's world was one that fascinated me, mainly because of how close we might actually be to living in it. I would have loved to see more background established. I wanted more details to help me understand why Arti's destiny was so important, and really color in the full picture.

As it stands, I'm happy to give this book a solid three stars. I enjoyed my time reading it immensely. I accidentally left this book when I went home to visit, and was absolutely devastated until I got it back and was able to finish it. That, my friends, is the mark of a good story. I eagerly await more.

[D. B. Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fahrenheit 451 AU of the King Arthur story.

The cover art for this is fabulous. The book itself is very... odd. The setting, this type of modern-but-not-modern Fahrenheit 451 dystopia, is very strange, and I never fully understood the world. They talk about different countries and other places, but both Morgan Fay's realm and "the Isle" seem about the size of Manhattan. Yet, somehow the fate of the world hangs in the balance? Why does the Grail Tome care if Morgan Fay is burning all the books in her little city? Aren't there millions of other books in the world, whose existence should hold off the coming of the apocalyptic "last page"? There clearly are plenty of books just across the river on the Isle.

The writing seemed clunky, and most of the characters I felt like I hardly knew by the end. Arti and Gal had the only relationship with any weight. They were good, but everything else felt a little off. Even most of the Arthurian riffs ("whoso pulleth these words from this tome") seemed mostly awkward. The most intriguing part was the epilogue, but I think I would probably pass on a sequel.

[Lauren Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The introduction to this books world broke me and I do not ever wish to ever travel to this world at that time. The beautifully descriptive writing makes this world an easy to imagine and makes the opening that much harder hitting (no spoilers!). But reading is a crime in this world! (not a spoiler)

The Book Knights is an Arthurian tale with all the characters you know and love with wonderfully inventive name play (the myths and legends geek in me laughed and loved them). The story was effortless to read, the old myths and legends that I enjoy being rebuilt in a captivating new dystopian world with new characters and old characters being reinvented was so exciting for me.

shout out to the the author J.G. McKenney for managing to get all the facts and small details together perfectly in this story, for me anyway. This book is everything I could ever hope for in a good story, it made me laugh, cry, and cheer. I honestly cannot say enough good things about this story and if you love fantastical tales or fantasy read this book.

[Arthurianmaiden · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Book Knights is a surprisingly good and cute (and small) book. I say surprisingly mostly because I haven't read good new arthurian books in ages, so that's on me, not on the novel.

The Book Knights is a dystopia (it gave me shadowrun vibes) where Morgan le Fay rules (through her Corporation) over the world, banishing writing and reading, destroying books through fire. Arti (the clear king Arthur character) is a young girl who has to run away from her home when her parents are jailed for possessing books.

The story is a mix of fantasy (the words on the books do have real magical power), nice arthurian winks and an original world. It was an incredibly enjoyable read (and other arthurian character in the novel are Mordred, Guinevere, Vivian, Merlin, Lancelot and my favourite, the young girl called Gal who is clearly Galahad and was the most complete character of the story, in my opinion).

My only negative comment is that I would have loved to know more about the world and each newly introduced character and the story seemed a bit rushed, but I am only nitpicking.

[Sophia Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in a fictional world, this book has an extraordinary journey to offer to it's readers. The is like a spell that keeps you bound to it. The marvelous and fictional world created by the writer is definitely a treat for the readers. The book is well written- describing even the tiniest of the tiniest details. Character building, which is one of the strong and important points about the book, has been up to the mark. I strongly recommend this book to all the readers who want some fantasy, some YA, and a nice piece of literature.

[Jan farnworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always been drawn to stories where being a reader, owning books, or being smarter then you should be are things that are banned or illegal in the land where the stories take place. I also loved the story of Merlin it a rich classic fantasy story. When i saw the chance to review a story that had both elements forbidden books and knights of the round table i quickly signed up. I was not disappointed in the least from the first page to the last i was drawn into this interesting dynamic of a world where knowing your ABC’s is something that can get you killed. If you love stories of knights, bravery and a mix of magic tossed in this story is for you, you won’t be disappointed.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

#NetGalley #TheBookKnights #MustReadYA/Tween
The Book Knights is a fantastic novel for anyone. If you love the magic of reading and how books made you feel as a kid then this book is for you! Arti, the main character, is well written and a great hero of the story. I feel the appeal of wizards, knights, and friends can be ageless. Plus, I just looked at the price and its well worth it for your kindle! It's a steal!

[R.K. Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

JG McKenney has written an imaginative and descriptive novel that does a great job of pulling the reader into the world he has created.

The flow of the novel was well executed and everything as far as pacing went felt smooth.

I enjoyed getting to know the characters both primary and secondary. They all felt like they had their own purpose and had depth that made me care about them.

A wonderful Young Adult Fantasy novel!

[Francesca · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review*

This book is a retelling of the Arthurian legends with a spin, and the spin is books and the written word.
I feel this novel is too short. I'd like to explain more: the plot and the characters are compelling and I like how the Arthurian legend is retold and shaped to fit the story more, but they should be more developed and fledged. Also, the worldbuilding is practically non-existing.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story of adventure with magic, friendship and great characters. I love how the author reinvented old legends, which made for a very interesting and enjoyable read. The writing was great and the characters were generally all good with my favourite character being Mordred.
Overall I highly recommend this book and although it was wrapped up well I still wish for another.

[NarniaGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received through GoodReads First Reads for reviewing - thank you.

Really enjoyed this. A different take on the Arthurian Tales in the modern world but with corresponding characters.

[Erik Sapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Arthurian

I am picky on which legends of King Arthur I like. Too many authors take the names and throw them at whatever story they want to tell. This is not one of them

The story is well-crafted and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was all I could do not to flip ahead to the end, but I didn’t want to ruin the buildup. The characters fit their namesakes from legend. The amazing twist just before the end was incredible; I thought I knew what would happen, and I was close. But I was wrong enough to make the twist a surprise. And then the very end...

[Belinda (Belle) Witzenhausen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary ARC copy of The Book Knights by J.G. McKenney from NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op.

…a wonderfully unique plotline, compelling characters and an interesting and terrifying (reading and books are outlawed *shudders*) world! …

I absolutely loved this book! The author has created a brilliant and unique take on Arthurian legend. Filled with a wonderfully unique plotline, compelling characters and an interesting and terrifying world (where reading & books are outlawed *shudders*😲)!

The story begins with Arti, our protagonist, on the run after her parents are arrested for being readers and having a hidden library brimming with books in their home. A neighbour has reported them and their home is raided. Hiding behind a shelf Arti barely escapes the destruction of her home and is on the run for her freedom. Morgan Fay, the head of “The Corporation” is an acting government of sorts and has banned reading and books throughout the land. Arti is being hunted by The Flames (Fay’s enforcement officers) who will stop at nothing until they bring readers to justice. Scared, lost and on the run Arti meets a young street smart girl named Gal who helps her navigate her new life on the run. Gal unable to read is moved and they bond when Arti introduces her to the beauty of reading.

With her world in danger and at risk of having any readers annihilated, Arti teams up with some interesting characters along the way. She meets Merl at an abandoned Garage called “Camel-Lot” when they stumble upon his motor home hidden in one of the Bays. Peeking in the window they notice him reading an ancient looking tome. Arti knowing he is one of “them” decides to talk to him and their lives change forever. Merl who has been looking for the “chosen one” who can read the hidden text in the tome and is elated when he realizes there is hope for the world. One by one her knights are drawn to her. Along with Merl, Gal and Arti, Lance and Gwen join them on a crusade to restore reading to their world.

A fun fast-paced and interesting take on a classic story that I would highly recommend for young and old alike.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first stumbled across this story as part of Kindle Scout. I was VERY disappointed when it wasn't chosen to be published because the premise of the story was massively intriguing. Thankfully, the author made it available on Kindle for free as a way of thanking those who nominated it.

I am in LOVE with this story. Sometimes an author has a really great concept but the writing doesn't live up to what the story should be. That is NOT the case with The Book Knights. I want the right people to get their hands on this and make it into a movie. This holds the beauty and wonder of some of my favorite classics, such as "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe", and "The Lord of the Rings." It is so difficult to create a universe that is both wondrous and believable. To have all of the facts and intricacies tied up so perfectly, it's rare. But J.G. McKenney has done just that. This book had everything you could ever hope for in a good story, and it made me laugh, cry, and cheer. I honestly cannot say enough good things about this story and if you love fantastical tales, you MUST read this.

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Book Knights by J.G. McKenney is a reimagining of the classic Arthurian tale. Readers meet familiar and beloved characters in a world where reading is banned. Join Arti Penderhagen as she ventures off into a world of danger and magic in order to try and save her family.

Bad or good, I will always read anything that has to do with the legend of King Arthur. After seeing the description of the novel I was intrigued and far from disappointed after I finished reading it. The only issue I really found was the pacing. This is a novel based around adventure, but the momentum felt too fast, there was no real build up. Of course, that is my personal opinion, I don’t think the pacing really takes away from the depth of what McKenney is trying to say. Words are powerful. They can be used for bad or good just like any weapon.

The Book Knight ends with an epilogue which ends in a bit of a cliffhanger and honestly, I hope there is a second installment. Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I was immersed and reminded why I grew up to love reading.

[KatsCauldron R · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book Knights
An Arthurian Fantasy
by J.G. McKenney
Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op
Sci Fi & Fantasy , Teens & YA

This was a delightful modern young adult take on an old tale rewritten by Malory in 1485 with the most patriarchal slant imaginable. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend to anyone fr an enjoyable evening or so with a story. At the same time, there is an underlying theme that strikes close to the current situation we are facing in society that is a new form of dark ages Instead of people thinking for themselves they are suppose to go borg and rely on the herd mentality and propaganda of their group that they spew mindlessly,not a good thing. I have always been a voracious reader and feel it is necessary to help create a better person to read, assimilate and think about and then impart to others

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this book to read and review.

The Book Nights is a loose retelling of King Arthur's search for the grail in a dystopian future similar to Fahrenheit 451. As soon as I saw this book I knew I had to read it.

Arti is a fourteen year old girl (female protagonist, yay!) who is also a criminal. She's a reader, and a child of readers. When the Incendis come for her parents and their library, Arti escapes. Her family is dragged away; her home burned to the ground. She's on her own. Briefly. She soon meets others (Gal, Merl, Gwen, and Lance), and learns she might be more than she seems.

I am not the target audience for this book. It's a middle grade fiction, and I'm getting up there in age. I still found it very charming, and if I were 10 years old again, this would likely be one of my favorite books. It is a book for book lovers.

[Felicia Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a lot of remakes of classic novels lately. I love this one! It has King Arthur's characters only with a twist. As Morgan Fey burns books, the magic tombs filled with the history. Once there is one page left, a scribe can write the future. Morgan has an evil plan for the future. Can Artie, Lance, Gwen, Gal, and Merle beat her to it?

I love the futuristic elements as well as the classic elements. Camelot is a used car lot called Camel Lot, Avalon is a river that runs through the town, Lance drives a white charger, Merl has an RV that has a roundtable, Excalibur is the magic pen that will allow Arti to write a better future if she can get to the tomb before Morgan. I love the depth of details in the setting, plot, and characters.

I really hope that the author either applies this unique POV to other classics or continues with these characters