Book Review

The Awakening of the Mageknight (Light & Dark, Book 1)

By Daniel M. Fife

Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars

Light & Dark: The Awakening of the Mageknight is American author Daniel M. Fife’s first novel. Danny, a 13 year-old boy, and his fairly large group of friends enjoy a trading card game called Knights. The card game features Dragons, Knights and various equipment. The players much choose a faction to play, the light, the gray or the dark. When a new girl in school shares their appreciation for the game, they all soon learn that it is much more than a game and that the factions are for real. They are recruited to attend a special school where they will train to become Knights of the Light. Thus starts an adventure that will change their lives forever.

When I first read the synopsis of the book, I was intrigued. My son and I are both fans of trading card games, such as Magic the Gathering. The story seemed original and had potential. The book did not disappoint and surpassed my expectations. The initial instalment of the Light & Dark series can be compared to Harry Potter, Percy Jackson or even the Hobbit. It is very easy to draw a likeness to these series when reading the story. Having said that, the plot, settings and characters are all unique, original and magical. The writing is smooth and flows easily. Both the real world and fantasy world were so well described that detailed images appeared without any effort. The action sequences were written with skilful precision.

I was so impressed with the Awakening of the Mageknight, that after purchasing and reading the ebook, I decided to order the paperback. The story contains knights, elves, dwarves, swordfights, magic and dragons. The target audience would be middle grade or young adult, however, this book can be enjoyed by fans of fantasy of any age. For anyone that has enjoyed trading card games, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson or the Hobbit, this book is a must read. I will anxiously be awaiting a sequel. The first book of the series was epic!