Book Review: Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court

Hola, people! Let me begin this book review by saying that I simply love this book that I am going to talk about! I am continuing the reviews that Serena and I are doing on the series The Knights of Arrethtrae by Chuck Black, and if you like this review, go check out our others.

Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court is a story of humility, sacrifice, courage, and love. When I first read this book, I thought that the main character Sir Bentley was the type of guy that I would marry someday. He is a great down-to-earth kind of person, full of integrity. The story is unpredictable and will leave the reader thinking, “wait, what just happened!”

Sir Bentley is a young man, in the order of the Noble Knights, who is serving the King after Lucius, the Dark Knight, had deceived the first rulers of Arrethtrae. However, the Noble Knights have slowly been corrupted. Bentley is a dedicated knight, but he longs for something more. He has to make the choice between following what his friends and family want and what he believes to be right. He learns the truth about the Prince and his choice to follow him moves him to be a poor man like the Prince. He lays aside his accolades as a Noble Knight and decides to serve others in a city called Holbrook. However, it is a difficult journey fraught with danger and the aches of poverty. Bentley finds his courage and strength tested as he fights to follow his Prince wherever He leads.

This book really made me think about the love that I should have for Jesus and the purpose I should be striving for. When I think of this book, I think of the adoration Bentley has for the message and hope of the Prince. He shares this story to others with passion and kindness. In my opinion, the best part of this book is the love that Bentley has for others. His self-sacrifice and humility are beautiful especially because he is not looking for praise. His actions make me want to be that kind of person who is dedicated to my Savior’s cause, no matter how hard or unpopular it is.

There were many things that I loved about this story as I read it. The truths that the characters believe in are not just stated but displayed as they make choices. There is action, romance, friendship, and simplicity throughout this book. There is nothing improper about the romance and there is no obscene language. The main characters don’t act perfectly, but these actions show their humanity. The main characters are well developed, and there are pieces of humor thrown in. I also loved how good Bentley is with a sword!

There were only a few negatives about this book. Like other Knights of Arrethtrae books, sword fighting and other forms of violence are in this book. In my opinion, it was less intense than Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione. It is not extreme for a YA fiction book, but for the younger audience, parents should use some discretion. Another thing that I didn’t like was the romance between someone who is a knight of the Prince and someone who is not. Although the author works it out in the end, there are dangers in indulging in feelings for someone who does not share the same beliefs. Also, the book is a bit rushed in the beginning, without a fleshed-out setting and characters before the action begins.

In conclusion, I would recommend this story to teenagers, boys or girls, who love knights and love the truth of our Prince. Even if you don’t like knights and don’t know about Jesus, I would urge you to pick it up anyway. The rich character development, the deep truths, plot full of twists and turns and the adventure of the story will likely keep you turning the page .

~Evelyn Knight

Biographical info:

Author: Chuck Black

Publisher/date: Multnomah Books, 2009