Review: Clement: Boy Knight of Normandy by Craig R. Hipkins

Clement: Boy Knight of Normandy 

by Craig R. Hipkins 

Clement is no ordinary thirteen year old boy. He lives in a castle in 12th century Normandy. After helping Adalbert on his quest to find a long lost treasure, Clement and his friend Dagena return for another adventure. This time, Clement must overcome the evil ambitions of his wicked uncle, Sven the Terrible! Prepare yourself for some medieval action and excitement that you will not soon forget. 

My Take:

Clement de la Haye is a recently orphaned in Normandy. The death of his father has made him the new Count de la Haye, and set in motion several plans to wrest his power, his castle, and his holdings from him. Visitors to the castle inform him that he is going to be forced by the king to wed a suitable wife of high station, within the year, though he is not yet thirteen. But his heart is set on his childhood companion Dagena, the daughter of a scullery maid. They ride out on an adventure to explore a local cave with his best friend Olaf, unknowingly escaping a deadly trap by his villainous uncle Sven the Terrible. With only their wits and a couple daggers, they must rally an army to rescue their castle under siege and rout the evil invader and his army of mercenaries and highwaymen.

 Content:

Drug Content:
G – none
 
Violence:
PG – There are a couple scenes with cadavers. There is a glossed-over chapter concerning a battle between armies. There is a discussion of killing prisoners. 
 
Language:
G – Squeaky clean
 
Adult Content:
G – There is a bit of preteen angst, but no kissing.
 
Christian content:
Clement is a Christian, and says as much multiple times, taking the high road frequently due to his faith. There is a discussion of salvation by faith, and some content appropriate for a visit to an abbey. Prayer is not a stranger to this work, and faith in Providence carries them through several tight squeezes. Class distinction is a powerful destructive theme here, and Clement's stalwart refusal to succumb to that mindset makes him endearing and sets him far above others. Self-sacrifice plays a pivotal role, and care for the poor, identification with the downtrodden, and rescue of the innocent are strong themes in this work. 

 
Final Analysis:
Clement: Boy Knight of Normandy by Craig R. Hipkins is an outstanding, fast-paced historical coming-of-age adventure. Significant research went into making the period clothing, buildings, daily life, and speech of the times accurate. The characters were believable and had their own transformations along the way. I especially liked the camaraderie between Clement and Dagena. The worldbuilding was immersive, and the white-knuckle action had me on the edge of my seat as Clement and his friends moved from one scrape to another in a constant barrage. This page-turner is perfect for fans of coming-of-age adventures in historical times. Five Stars!

About the Author:

Craig R. Hipkins was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. He currently lives in North Carolina.
Craig published his first book, “Fireballs: A History of Meteors and other Atmospheric Phenomena” in 2009. Adalbert is his first novel. It is the sequel to the novel Astrolabe written by his late twin brother Jay S. Hipkins (1968-2018)
He is an avid long distance runner. He also enjoys astronomy and reading history in his spare time. His website is https://hipkinstwins.com/

Review: Scribes' Descent by Dylan West

People worship technology on Planet Daishon.

With inventions that prolong life and eradicate disease, it's little wonder. Death seems obsolete until an earthquake kills thousands, including Mallory's parents. They should have lived for a thousand years, not just fifty. Mallory scrambles for answers. Such a disaster shouldn't be possible.

Quakes have never happened on this world before.

Suspecting the top research center had triggered it, her best friend's father investigates. When he turns up missing, Mallory goes on site after him as a geology intern. She can't bear to lose anyone else.

An old mine sits at the epicenter of the recent quake, and an unbreakable alien barrier seals it off. But a door hidden in its surface opens for Mallory when she translates its engravings. Once inside, she evades underground predators while cut off from the tech that's always protected her.

Some graves run much deeper than six feet, and this place could be one of them.

Within this self-contained world lie the remnants of a universal war, revealing that Daishoni folklore is more than superstition. To survive, Mallory must trust in something more than science and logic. She must follow the voice of one she can't see down to the very bottom. Something deadlier than a quake is trapped there, and it is trying to escape.

 My Take:

Mallory Leighyan's family emigrated to Planet Daishon to escape the devastating quakes on their homeworld, earthquakes destroying the old planet's crust due to the terrible mistakes of their technologically advanced civilization. Planet Daishon was perfect for them, after all, because it was deemed impossible for this new planet to have quakes at all. Until it did. A devastating quake kills both Mallory's parents and propels her into a world-changing quest to seek answers. And this will take more than her brilliant intellect - it will require trusting a Voice of one she cannot see, in a descent deep into the crust of Daishon, where something far deadlier than a quake is waiting for release.

 

Content:

Drug Content:

G - squeaky clean

Violence:

PG - There are a few scenes where horrific carnage occurs, but they are rather glossed over. A monster destroys a team of commandos. Most violence is committed by monsters or against them. There is a scene where a girl is kidnapped in order to be eaten, and she barely escapes. 

Language:

G - squeaky clean. 

Adult Content:

PG - There is a bit of late teen angst, but nothing physical. The only kiss I recall was on the hand.

Christian content:

Scribes' Descent has many oblique references to faith in multiple different deities, as the religions of the different worlds collide. The Protectors follow a mono-theistic religion which does a reasonable job of paralleling the God of the Bible. The Voice in one place askes the Scribes to 'Follow Me'. There is a species of light-emitting creatures that seem quite similar in some respects to the Seraphim. Faith and praying are commonplace, especially for those living deep underground. Forgiveness and mercy play pivotal roles in this adventure. Mallory must come to grips with death, with divine purpose, and the existence of something greater than intellect and more eternal than a 1000-year lifespan. 

Final analysis:

There is something refreshing in reading an adventure story of this magnitude, with an overarching plot that requires the faith of just taking the next step. The worldbuilding in this series is extraordinary, and the characters fully developed. Supporting characters have transformational arcs of their own, and it makes for a much more enjoyable journey. I especially appreciated the way the elements of faith were intertwined throughout the story, without distracting at all from the storyline. The action is intense in places, and the stakes could not be higher. The plot was riveting, and I found it impossible to put down. I'm looking forward to finding out what's at the bottom, and how it will affect the fate of worlds in book two. Five Stars!

 About the Author:

Dylan West is a Jesus lover, web programmer, video game developer, Navy veteran, foreign language nut, and a nut in general. While other people are busy thinking normal thoughts, he's crafting corny jokes. His novels are young adult, science fiction, and faith-based. Dylan lives in Chesapeake, VA, with his wife and daughter and two demanding tabby cats. Sign up for his newsletter here to receive updates and a behind-the-scenes look at the science research behind his stories: https://dylanwestauthor.com