What worked:
From the synopsis, readers know Ettan, Drogue, and Kemo will
work to stop an insurrection, but it’s not a smooth or peaceful process. The
boys are training to become knights, but only a few candidates will be
selected. Drogue is an entitled bully, and the other boys fear him but don’t
respect him. Drogue’s father has told him to use any tactics necessary to be
chosen, and the others know he repeatedly cheats to win his sparring matches.
Worse than that, Drogue is instructed to make sure that Kemo and especially
Ettan are dismissed from knighthood training. Drogue is the boy who first
learns of his father’s plans for insurrection, and it leads to some hard,
heartfelt decisions.
The plot switches between the three boys, but it mostly
follows Ettan’s plight. His younger brother Gerit is a treat because of his
entrepreneurial plans and matter-of-fact way of speaking. The boys are in
charge of the king’s chickens, and they make daily egg deliveries to merchants
in the market. Gerit donates bread to the hungry that he secretly liberates
from a baker, and he has a sensible explanation for why it’s not stealing. He
also has plans to start their own chicken business after Ettan is sacked from
training. Drogue insults Ettan’s family honor even though Ettan doesn’t
remember details about his parents. His mother died when he was young, and his
father was often away on missions for the king. The plot slowly reveals the
truth about his family and why Drogue’s father is afraid of Ettan.
An underlying tension between cultures permeates the
knighthood training and the kingdom. Some people, including Drogue’s father,
want the kingdom to stop diluting the power and prestige of royal blood and
restore the purity of the citizens. Peasants and foreigners may be allowed to
stay as long as they don’t have any opportunities to advance in society. Ettan
will receive land if he’s promoted to knighthood, and he experiences unfairness
daily during his training. However, readers won’t realize what’s really going
on until Drogue makes a shocking discovery. Lies have been spread, and citizens
don’t understand the real threat to the kingdom.
What didn’t work as well:
It feels like Kemo should be a bigger part of the story. His
fighting abilities are superior, and his skin color makes him a clear target for
prejudice. However, he has a smaller part in fighting the insurrection, and it
feels like he should be doing more. He goes on a personal mission, but it won’t
have an impact on the rising conflict like the efforts of Ettan and Drogue.
The final verdict:
Ettan’s pursuit of knighthood takes a left turn and creates a
captivating adventure. The story seems to be about prejudice and unfair
treatment, but the covert conflict isn’t revealed until later. The end of the
book may evoke memories of The Ranger’s Apprentice series when Ettan is
given a secret mission. The last page will leave readers hanging, and I recommend
you give this book a shot.
Mark, I tried to leave this comment on Goodreads but I got an error. Thank you very much for your review, I really appreciate the time you took to thoughtfully analyze the material. And you are absolutely correct in that the synopsis does not faithfully follow the order of events and suggests a deeper level of friendship than what happens in the book. I didn't quite realize it until you pointed it out. Thank you! Based on your feedback, I will work to revise the synopsis and have the cover designer change the text on the back. While you've done more than a writer could ask for in terms of your review, I'd love to get your feedback on the revision, and even any suggestions, if you care to. I can be reached on my personal website. But thank you for all this. Reader feedback is so critical and in this case, invaluable! Best, Ari
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