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/