Knight's Dawn

Red Pavillions #1

by Kim Hunter

A wounded soldier comes to consciousness on a hillside above a forest. His helmet and sword are gone, but he still wears the bloodstained remnants of his armour. The soldier looks about in astonishment - he has no idea how he got there or who he is. He believes he has been in an almighty battle, but as to the cause or the outcome he has no idea. Only later does he learn that the last battle in that kingdom was over a century ago ...

And so begins KNIGHT'S DAWN, the first part in a major new fantasy trilogy from an exciting new voice in fantasy fiction ..

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2013

Reviews

[Ed McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some books that ought to be read and applauded for their creativity, their sense of style and their originality. It's some years since I read this book (15 or more??) but Hunter's series is one that ought to have been picked up and loved by the fantasy community far more than the small number of reviews would suggest.

This book revels in its light-heartedness, but also its heart. It's funny throughout, their almost an Alice in Wonderland feel at times, but the writing is consistently clever. The tone and style are nothing like that I opted for with Blackwing, but on reflection today, I can see how some of the characters and turns in the book may have influenced my development as I writer.

Knight's Dawn is a fun, easy read that will leave you rooting for the heroes. This book deserves a much wider readership than its Goodreads ratings suggest.

[Deep Dark · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me this book was hard to get through all the way except the last few pages. If it were because of a reading-slump or because of the book, I can’t say, so take my review with a grain of salt. I understand why people may like the book and while the plot is good, the supernatural creature done well, I found it lacking somehow. This is just my opinion.
I do however love that Soldier smiled at the sight of the dragon calling for him as his mother at the end.

[Danny Norris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A read this book around 2004, was the first fiction book I hired from a library and couldn’t put it down. I was 14 at the time and finished it in a couple of weeks.
Been trying to remember what it was called in the recent years and so glad I’ve eventually found it again!

Good read, would recommend!

[Magdalena · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dear old book friend fondly remembers and I read it for more than 15 years ago.

[Hassen Desai · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book has interesting concept of a person with no memory of themselves arriving in a strange world, trying to find out who they are and why they possess the skills and feelings they have.

The otherworldly scenes and description of some events in the book felt as if I were reading the hallucegenic experiences of a drug addled mind.

Certain sections felt disjointed whilst others had my interest.

[Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A knight wakes up in territory unknown, memory gone, with signs of having been involved in a mighty battle except that there hadn't been a battle in that area for a hundred years.

So begins knoght's adventures involving wizards, betrayal, battle, love and friendship.

I enjoyed it. You probably will too.

[Andrew Herbert · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished this book, so I suppose it has to rate more than one star...
It's not very good. Oddly compelling at times, but if you want to read the story of an amnesic soldier, Gene Wolfe's "Soldier of the Mist" is infinitely better.

Knight's Dawn jumps between fantasy, romance novel, and action. None are done very well. There's no character development. Don't waste your time like I did!

[shells · Rating 5 out of 5]

couldn't put this down! not my usual style ; i usually go for historical romance!!! some romance- but the story & character are so intriguing from the get go- highly addictive book!! magical mystery book! definitely recommend!!

[Fiona Baldwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sucked into this book from the first few pages, I needed to find out what Soldier was all about and where he had come from.
I have enjoyed the different situations that Soldier has had to overcome and the characters that he has met along the way.

[Philip Cheeseman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Promising start descended into banaal string of magical events. Won't bother with other volumes as I'm afraid they'll just be repetition

[Quintin Sylvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

was amazing i couldnt put it down