Book Review: Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione

Hello, readers! Serena and I were talking and we decided to do a series of reviews on the fantasy series, The Knights of Arrethtrae. The first book in the series, and the one I will be covering, is called Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione.

When I first read this story, I was drawn in by the action and heart of the book. It is a classic “knight in shining armor” kind of story, with Christian truths and relatable characters. Themes of brotherly love, forgiveness, humility, and more are embedded in this book.

The action opens with Sir Kendrick, an experienced and skillful knight of the Prince who is given a young knight named Duncan to accompany him. Kendrick’s steady, quiet dedication to the King and the Prince is contrasted with his protege’s eagerness and impatience. The two men are given the task to uncover information about a dark new order of knights. As they learn more about this order, it leads them to the town and castle of Bel Lione, where they meet a danger that is cloaked in the guise of laughter and indulgence. Fighting this darkness is not easy and quickly appears to be impossible. Kendrick must take terrible risks to do what he believes is right, for lives are at stake.

This book gave me my first taste of the world of Arrethtrae, and I was drawn into the plot. I loved how Sir Kendrick knows that the power of the Prince is greater than any evil, no matter how menacing. It doesn’t mean the task is without pain. On the contrary, doing what is right may cost him his life. Even so, he trusts in the power of the King and does not cower in fear. This idea that the power of the Prince lives in each of the knights inspired me. It helped me see how I am weak myself, but through the power of the Holy Spirit living inside me, I am strong. Even the darkness will flee, not because I am strong, but because He is. It also helped me see that even though I am sinful, the transforming Spirit of Christ inside me makes me new. Like Kendrick says, “I am neither pure nor good...What you see in me is the work of the Prince, for only He is pure and good” (Black 121).

This book was a gripping and compelling story. There are interesting twists that the story brings, there is some romance, there is a redemption story and more. The action keeps you on the edge of your seat, and the descriptions help the book come alive. The characters are varied with different worldviews and the conversations are often full of deep truths. This story reminded me of the power of God and how we carry “treasure in earthen vessels" (II Corinthians 4:7). It is an impactful book for teenagers who want a book to equip and encourage them. I appreciated that this book didn’t have language, unlike some other books I have read. And by the way, there’s also music in the back of each Knights of Arrethtrae book. If you’re a musician like me, having music for a book is very exciting. If you are not a musician, ask a musical friend to play it for you. The song is beautiful!

However, there are a few things that I did not like about this book. The intensity and violence would not be appropriate for younger children, for there are some detailed moments that can make the reader wince in pain with the characters. Even as an older teenage girl, I personally felt that the torment that one character goes through is very intense. I know that people have different levels of what they think is acceptable, and I understand why the author wrote it the way he did. Also, when I first read it, some of the plot seemed similar to other kinds of stories I had read, which made it a bit predictable. Also, while the story of redemption is strong and powerful, there is a time that seems rushed in one character’s decision. Again, I understand why the author wrote it the way he did, but I would have liked a more in-depth explanation of this character’s decision and his thought process behind it.

In the end, I would highly recommend this book, if one is in the right age group. It inspires me to think of myself as a knight with a mission to save souls, rather than simply a girl living her everyday life. Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione will always have a special place in my heart as the first book I read, and a book of everlasting truth with lovable characters. You never know. The Knights of Arrethtrae may become a new favorite series for you.

~Evelyn Knight

Biographical info:

Black, Chuck. Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione. Multnomah Books, 2008.

Genre: Allegorical fiction, adventure