Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart- Book Review

I was thrilled to be a part of a very special Father's Day Blog Tour featuring three titles that I know dads will love! I posted two reviews at the beginning of the week and now I would like to introduce you to author Chuck Black of Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart!

Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart (The Knights of Arrethtrae)


Who doesn't enjoy a great adventure story with struggles of good and evil?! The question that always runs through my mind is the hope that yes, once again good will triumph over evil! The story begins with Sir Dalton, a knight of the Prince. The Knights of the Prince fight in honor of the King and his son the Prince. Lord Drox is a fallen knight, who now fights against the Knights of the Prince and tries to gain allegiance from Knights of the Prince who falter in their loyalty.
Lord Drox preys on the fears of fellow soldiers and takes Dalton to his cavernous prison. Here, Dalton finds other Knights of the Prince who have given up their zeal and hope of escape.
Following his daring escape, Dalton is mortally wounded by Lord Drox but survives due to the rescue of a mysterious man who claims to collect things and make them like new.
Once healed, Dalton decides to return to the prison and rescue his fellow Knights.
This allegory of good vs. evil is a strong tale that young adult readers and all ages will appreciate and understand the symbolic religious significance.

This exciting book was my very first introduction to a whole series created by Chuck Black. I plan to read more! 5+ stars!

Summary:

Sir Dalton, a knight in training, seems to have everything going for him. Young, well-liked, and a natural leader, he has earned the respect and admiration of his fellow knights, and especially the beautiful Lady Brynn. But something is amiss at the training camp. Their new trainer is popular but lacks the passion for inspiring them to be the true service of the King. (and the Prince.) Besides this, the knights are too busy enjoying a season of good times to be concerned with a disturbing report that many of their fellow Knights have mysteriously vanished.

When Sir Dalton is sent on a mission, he encounters strange attacks, especially when he is alone. As his commitment wanes, the attacks grow in intensity until he is captured by Lord Drox, a massive Shadow Warrior. Bruised and beaten, Dalton refuses to submit to evil and initiates a daring escape with only one of two outcomes–life or death. But what will become of the hundreds of knights he’ll leave behind? In a kingdom of peril, Dalton thinks he is on his own, but two faithful friends have not abandoned him, and neither has a strange old hermit who seems to know much about the Prince. But can Dalton face the evil Shadow Warrior again and survive?

Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/

Other books in the series:

Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court (The Knights of Arrethtrae)
Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione (The Knights of Arrethtrae)
Kingdom's Call (Kingdom, Book 4)
Kingdom's Quest (Kingdom, Book 5)
Kingdom's Reign (Kingdom, Book 6)

-- LadyD