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The Bronze Knight #4
The Forever Knight
Lukien is the Bronze Knight, beloved by his kingdom and renowned in battle throughout his world. After betraying his king and losing his beloved, he wishes only for death, but rather than die, Lukien is given a chance for redemption: to be the protector of the Inhumans—those fragile mortals who live deep in the desert, far from the prying eyes of their world. These remarkable individuals have been granted magical powers in exchange for the hardships and handicaps life has handed them. And Lukien, now immortal himself, must be their champion. But how can one man, even an immortal warrior, protect hundreds from a world of potential enemies?
282 pages, Hardcover
First published November 6, 2012
9 people are currently reading
1391 people want to read
About the author
John Marco
36 books418 followersHello. Thanks for visiting my author page here on Goodreads. In case you don't know me, I'm John Marco and I'm a fantasy writer. My work includes the Tyrants and Kings trilogy and the books of the Bronze Knight Lukien.
My latest book, THE BLOODY CHORUS is now available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRTHJ768
My latest book, THE BLOODY CHORUS is now available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRTHJ768
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
November 9, 2013
The Forever Knight is John Marco's return to fantasy writing after a number of years break. A couple of those years were not self-imposed, which makes the release of this book that much more rewarding.
This book is a follow-up novel to the epic trilogy of The Bronze Knight or The Inhumans or Lukien Trilogy.** The Forever Knight continues the journey of our hero, Lukien, but in first person this time as opposed to third person used in the trilogy.
While I don't think there was a point of view in the trilogy that I didn't enjoy, I even commented that in the second book, The Devil's Armor, I didn't even miss Lukien's limited page count point of view all that much because I was so fascinated by the other characters. Having said that, it was really a pleasure to read one pov that is the main character. You know the plot will move along and there will be plenty of action, which you won't be disappointed with.
I struggled for a rating with this book because while I highly enjoyed it, it's just about impossible to overcome how much I enjoyed the Lukien trilogy. And that makes sense because we're talking 300 pages versus about 2400. However, I am looking forward to where Marco will take Lukien next in Walker Between Worlds and may have to reassess my rating once this new series of books is through.
John Marco is back to form, writing intelligent and thought-provoking fantasy that I can't get enough of. Also, note that The Forever Knight can be read without reading the trilogy as it's a self-contained story, but I highly recommend the Lukien/Bronze Knight/Inhumans trilogy because it's full of awesome.
4 out of 5 Stars (highly recommended)
Lukien Trilogy
1) The Eyes of God (review)
2) The Devil's Armor (review)
3) The Sword of Angels (review)
Stand-alone:
The Forever Knight
Walker Between Worlds (Forthcoming)
This book is a follow-up novel to the epic trilogy of The Bronze Knight or The Inhumans or Lukien Trilogy.** The Forever Knight continues the journey of our hero, Lukien, but in first person this time as opposed to third person used in the trilogy.
**I have to mention that I love that the trilogy goes by so many different names. I think The Inhumans is the intended one, but it's such a cool mystic about the series that it can go by any of them.It's interesting that the author chose to use first person in this new series and I think overall it was a good decision. First person is much more intimate and lets you get to know the character that much better. In this one, Lukien is a bit more crude and hard-headed and we didn't get this part of him in the main trilogy because we weren't in his head. Now that's not to say that this is a different Lukien, one not true to form in the trilogy, it's a very realistic portrayal of a character we knew, but didn't know this well.
While I don't think there was a point of view in the trilogy that I didn't enjoy, I even commented that in the second book, The Devil's Armor, I didn't even miss Lukien's limited page count point of view all that much because I was so fascinated by the other characters. Having said that, it was really a pleasure to read one pov that is the main character. You know the plot will move along and there will be plenty of action, which you won't be disappointed with.
I struggled for a rating with this book because while I highly enjoyed it, it's just about impossible to overcome how much I enjoyed the Lukien trilogy. And that makes sense because we're talking 300 pages versus about 2400. However, I am looking forward to where Marco will take Lukien next in Walker Between Worlds and may have to reassess my rating once this new series of books is through.
John Marco is back to form, writing intelligent and thought-provoking fantasy that I can't get enough of. Also, note that The Forever Knight can be read without reading the trilogy as it's a self-contained story, but I highly recommend the Lukien/Bronze Knight/Inhumans trilogy because it's full of awesome.
4 out of 5 Stars (highly recommended)
Lukien Trilogy
1) The Eyes of God (review)
2) The Devil's Armor (review)
3) The Sword of Angels (review)
Stand-alone:
The Forever Knight
Walker Between Worlds (Forthcoming)
May 27, 2013
I gave up reading the first book in the Bronze Knight Trilogy.
Author John Marco has been so kind to send me a signed review copy because he wanted to know if I would like it more than the trilogy.
What shall I say? The Forever Knight surprised me totally. I'm impressed by what John Marco within the 282 pages.
It is a dark and grim fantasy novel with a lot of depths and a great depiction of the main character.
I read it during my holiday and now I work on a full review.
Author John Marco has been so kind to send me a signed review copy because he wanted to know if I would like it more than the trilogy.
What shall I say? The Forever Knight surprised me totally. I'm impressed by what John Marco within the 282 pages.
It is a dark and grim fantasy novel with a lot of depths and a great depiction of the main character.
I read it during my holiday and now I work on a full review.
April 3, 2013
At the outset, it's worth pointing out that it is fairly difficult to review a captivating book when many of the most intriguing and enjoyable elements are integral to the plot. That is certainly the case with John Marco's latest book, which is both thoroughly enjoyable in its own right and a fascinating new adventure that follows the earlier trilogy that began with The Eyes of God. I have had the opportunity to read the book twice thus far, and found it every bit as enjoyable and smoothly written the second time around.
The Forever Knight is noticably different in style from the earlier books in several ways, beginning with the first-person narration. It was very easy to place onself firmly in Lukien's head, and the world around him is definitely darker - tinged with bleakness and what occasionally feels like frustrated anger born of depression. The dialogue is rougher, because this is no longer the story that weaves together idealistic characters like Gilwyn Toms or White Eye as were the earlier novels. This is emphatically Lukien's story, and his worldview is decidedly bleak despite his the presence of his young companion and squire Cricket, among others whom he meets along his journey.
Of course Lukien is never alone, including within his own head. Since Lukein bonded with the Sword of Angels in the book of the same title, the Akari spirit of Malator has emerged as a character in his own right, with a complex agenda, occasionally amusing [though not to Lukien] conversations, and even a sinister aura at times. As their relationship is explored throughout the novel, Malator becomes increasingly intriguing, even as he serves as a fundamentally different type of foil for Lukien than Cricket's youthful world outlook.
Again, the book is the latest look into a complex and expanding world that John Marco keeps unveiling masterfully in varied ways. The Bitter Kingdoms aren't merely an extension of earlier war-torn Norvor, but provide a poignant contrast to show Lukien's development as a warrior and as a human being even as the Bitter Kingdoms are shown to have dangers the likes of which Norvor never imagined.
There are any number of what may be called classic fantasy themes that can be glimpsed at various points, yet the reader is never detoured into comparing this to other works. There are shades of Elric and Conan, to name a few that can be picked out, but there is never any doubt that Lukien's character is intrinsically his own. And though a fan of both classic fantasy figures, I feel obliged to point out that Lukien is decidedly more likable than the melancholy Melnibonean, and consideably more thoughtful than the essentially barbarian Cimmerian. As well, Lukien's melancholy views on his life and immortality make him very much unlike the tormented vampires of many popular books, even as he is similarly unlike Roger Zelazny's immortal characters, who develop themselves and their abilities through lifetimes.
I strongly recommend this book, with the slight caveat that one read the earlier trilogy first. Only after reading the earlier books can the depth and breadth of Lukien's expanding world and developing character be fully appreciated, and that extra dimension is particularly enjoyable. And without giving anything away, the conclusion points to further amazing adventures ahead. I did not want this book to end, but when it did, I immediately started looking forward to the next one. It's great to see Lukien again and visit the fascinating world in which he lives, and even better to see the Bronze Knight and his world deepen and grow.
The Forever Knight is noticably different in style from the earlier books in several ways, beginning with the first-person narration. It was very easy to place onself firmly in Lukien's head, and the world around him is definitely darker - tinged with bleakness and what occasionally feels like frustrated anger born of depression. The dialogue is rougher, because this is no longer the story that weaves together idealistic characters like Gilwyn Toms or White Eye as were the earlier novels. This is emphatically Lukien's story, and his worldview is decidedly bleak despite his the presence of his young companion and squire Cricket, among others whom he meets along his journey.
Of course Lukien is never alone, including within his own head. Since Lukein bonded with the Sword of Angels in the book of the same title, the Akari spirit of Malator has emerged as a character in his own right, with a complex agenda, occasionally amusing [though not to Lukien] conversations, and even a sinister aura at times. As their relationship is explored throughout the novel, Malator becomes increasingly intriguing, even as he serves as a fundamentally different type of foil for Lukien than Cricket's youthful world outlook.
Again, the book is the latest look into a complex and expanding world that John Marco keeps unveiling masterfully in varied ways. The Bitter Kingdoms aren't merely an extension of earlier war-torn Norvor, but provide a poignant contrast to show Lukien's development as a warrior and as a human being even as the Bitter Kingdoms are shown to have dangers the likes of which Norvor never imagined.
There are any number of what may be called classic fantasy themes that can be glimpsed at various points, yet the reader is never detoured into comparing this to other works. There are shades of Elric and Conan, to name a few that can be picked out, but there is never any doubt that Lukien's character is intrinsically his own. And though a fan of both classic fantasy figures, I feel obliged to point out that Lukien is decidedly more likable than the melancholy Melnibonean, and consideably more thoughtful than the essentially barbarian Cimmerian. As well, Lukien's melancholy views on his life and immortality make him very much unlike the tormented vampires of many popular books, even as he is similarly unlike Roger Zelazny's immortal characters, who develop themselves and their abilities through lifetimes.
I strongly recommend this book, with the slight caveat that one read the earlier trilogy first. Only after reading the earlier books can the depth and breadth of Lukien's expanding world and developing character be fully appreciated, and that extra dimension is particularly enjoyable. And without giving anything away, the conclusion points to further amazing adventures ahead. I did not want this book to end, but when it did, I immediately started looking forward to the next one. It's great to see Lukien again and visit the fascinating world in which he lives, and even better to see the Bronze Knight and his world deepen and grow.
April 3, 2013
Review originally posted on Bibliophilia, Please.
You may want to step over there while I gush about this book, but don't run away. I know what you may be thinking - it's the fourth book in a series. I haven't read the others either, but the instances where that was a minute issue were very rare. The Forever Knight did fine being read alone because Lukien, the main character, is having a new adventure that has almost nothing to do with the previous books in the series. Also, who doesn't love a good epic quest?
Let me tell you a little bit of something about Lukien. He is the classic hero that could be pulled out of any myth, story, or legend. He is practically immortal, damn near invincible, and up to his ears in good ol' hubris. Most of the time, I know these guys have it coming and just wait for it to happen. However, Lukien is something special. I have not become attached to such a hard character in fantasy since Roland Deschain. (Okay, he's not as hard as Roland.) What made him special is that he did not try to push everyone away. Even at the beginning of the novel, John Marco made it abundantly clear that Lukien was a man who was still very capable of love. I saw early on how much various other characters meant to him: Gilwyn, White Eye, and especially Cricket. His relationship with his Akari, Malator, was a little more complicated, but it usually showed Lukien in a positive light.
This book crawled into my head and under my skin because of the fantastic quest that Lukien undertakes in order to help Cricket go to Akyre - one of the Bitter Kingdoms that is in the middle of war - to find her lost memories. Malator warns him against doing this, but Lukien wants to both help Cricket and get out of Jabor to fight some battles and do some good. While on this journey, they find themselves caught up in the middle of an insane king who wants to be emperor, his Legion of the Lost, a damned wealthy spice merchant, and a monster who may or may not be tied up in all of it. I could not put the book down until I was able to see how it all played out. It was a little sad at times, but as an experienced epic fantasy reader, it wasn't anything that I didn't see coming.
The Forever Knight was a wonderful fantasy novel that I thoroughly enjoyed being sucked into. Lukien and his quest was a great adventure to read, and I will definitely be going back to read the first books in the series. I think anyone who enjoys fantasy, mythology, or just a good story will like The Forever Knight , too.
- 4.5 Stars -
To satisfy FTC guidelines, I am disclosing that I received a copy of the book from the author via TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. It has in no way affected the outcome. All opinions expressed are rambling, honest, and completely my own.
You may want to step over there while I gush about this book, but don't run away. I know what you may be thinking - it's the fourth book in a series. I haven't read the others either, but the instances where that was a minute issue were very rare. The Forever Knight did fine being read alone because Lukien, the main character, is having a new adventure that has almost nothing to do with the previous books in the series. Also, who doesn't love a good epic quest?
Let me tell you a little bit of something about Lukien. He is the classic hero that could be pulled out of any myth, story, or legend. He is practically immortal, damn near invincible, and up to his ears in good ol' hubris. Most of the time, I know these guys have it coming and just wait for it to happen. However, Lukien is something special. I have not become attached to such a hard character in fantasy since Roland Deschain. (Okay, he's not as hard as Roland.) What made him special is that he did not try to push everyone away. Even at the beginning of the novel, John Marco made it abundantly clear that Lukien was a man who was still very capable of love. I saw early on how much various other characters meant to him: Gilwyn, White Eye, and especially Cricket. His relationship with his Akari, Malator, was a little more complicated, but it usually showed Lukien in a positive light.
This book crawled into my head and under my skin because of the fantastic quest that Lukien undertakes in order to help Cricket go to Akyre - one of the Bitter Kingdoms that is in the middle of war - to find her lost memories. Malator warns him against doing this, but Lukien wants to both help Cricket and get out of Jabor to fight some battles and do some good. While on this journey, they find themselves caught up in the middle of an insane king who wants to be emperor, his Legion of the Lost, a damned wealthy spice merchant, and a monster who may or may not be tied up in all of it. I could not put the book down until I was able to see how it all played out. It was a little sad at times, but as an experienced epic fantasy reader, it wasn't anything that I didn't see coming.
The Forever Knight was a wonderful fantasy novel that I thoroughly enjoyed being sucked into. Lukien and his quest was a great adventure to read, and I will definitely be going back to read the first books in the series. I think anyone who enjoys fantasy, mythology, or just a good story will like The Forever Knight , too.
- 4.5 Stars -
To satisfy FTC guidelines, I am disclosing that I received a copy of the book from the author via TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. It has in no way affected the outcome. All opinions expressed are rambling, honest, and completely my own.
June 4, 2023
This novella was writing 7 years after conclusion after the previous trilogy and was a planned bridge for a new trilogy. Unfortunately Marco is longer affiliated with DAW so is legally incapable of writing more. :/
The story follows Lukien, who’s POV in the last two books were quite lacking. The story is told in first person which is a pretty fun change of pace. You get a lot more information about him that you didn’t realize that you needed to know. He comes in contact with a girl named Cricket who doesn’t remember anything about herself so they both go on a journey to find out and comes to love her as a daughter. I was really interested to find out who she is but once you find out it’s like, “that’s it?” Good for me the story has branched off and the major part of the story was a fight between two nations. One guy is using an undead monster, which was very imaginative in description, as a cheat code in killing his enemy. Lukien must then send the monster back to hell and also kill a few bad guys in the process.
The story at first lacked depth for me but then progressively got better and I’m glad he wrote it. I’m a big fan of Marco now and will be devouring his work asap.
The story follows Lukien, who’s POV in the last two books were quite lacking. The story is told in first person which is a pretty fun change of pace. You get a lot more information about him that you didn’t realize that you needed to know. He comes in contact with a girl named Cricket who doesn’t remember anything about herself so they both go on a journey to find out and comes to love her as a daughter. I was really interested to find out who she is but once you find out it’s like, “that’s it?” Good for me the story has branched off and the major part of the story was a fight between two nations. One guy is using an undead monster, which was very imaginative in description, as a cheat code in killing his enemy. Lukien must then send the monster back to hell and also kill a few bad guys in the process.
The story at first lacked depth for me but then progressively got better and I’m glad he wrote it. I’m a big fan of Marco now and will be devouring his work asap.
May 5, 2013
Originally published at Reading Reality
Reboot and redemption, keywords for The Forever Knight.
Don’t let the fact that this is book 4 in the Bronze Knight series deter you from reading this book! Lukien, the Bronze Knight of the series, drops just enough hints about the past that he’s trying leave behind that unfamiliar readers seldom feel lost in the sands of time.
Not that what Lukien does reveal about his past doesn’t sound plenty interesting, because it does. I’d like to go back sometime and learn more. But he does tell readers enough so that I felt teased but not befuddled.
Most excellent.
Lukien has fought someone or something (or lots of both) for all of his life. He brought peace to the kingdom of Jador, but at a high price. Cassandra, the love of his life, died along the way. He hopes that someday, he’ll join her in the land of the dead. But not for a long, long time. Lukien is virtually immortal, his life sustained by the spirit in his sword, the Sword of Angels.
Jador is at peace, but it is an immutable law that warriors with nothing to fight tend to get restless. So the ruler of Jador sends Lukien out as a knight-errant. And Lukien, stubbornly refusing to listen to reason, takes the young girl Cricket as his squire on a dangerous journey to a place known as the Bitter Kingdoms.
Malator, the spirit of Lukien’s sword, knows that Lukien’s mission is a test. The mission is one that will teach Lukien about the being that he has become, but it leads through death. Kingdoms of death, monsters of death and battles with death and that lead to even more death.
Places generally are not given names like "Bitter Kingdoms" without reason.
Lukien is not ready to face who he has become. He is a leader who will change the face of the world. No one, and nothing can be allowed to stand in his way.
But he is also doomed to walk alone. A lesson he will have to learn over and over again.
Escape Rating A-: The Forever Knight is Lukien’s journey. We see all the action from inside Lukien’s head, and it’s a pretty bleak place to be. Lukien is not, as the phrase goes, a “happy camper”. I don’t think that state of being exists in his world view.
Lukien is a man looking for a mission. He’s immortal and he needs something to fill his time. Lots of time. The spirit of the sword, Malator, has a mission for him, but Malator seems to be the king of “I’ve got the secrets”. Malator only speaks in riddles. Lukien wants everything clearly laid out. They argue. A lot.
The person who gets caught in the middle is Cricket. She’s restless in Jador because she can’t remember her life before she became a refugee. She’s attached herself to Lukien and doesn’t relate well to others. They are both outsiders. He brings her along on his knight-errantry as an act of kindness, but also so he won’t be lonely on the trip. She’s his light in the darkness. Of course, that light gets snuffed out.
This is a transformation story. Lukien has to change to be ready for the next phase of his journey. Poor Cricket is part of the price of that change. Damn it.
Reboot and redemption, keywords for The Forever Knight.
Don’t let the fact that this is book 4 in the Bronze Knight series deter you from reading this book! Lukien, the Bronze Knight of the series, drops just enough hints about the past that he’s trying leave behind that unfamiliar readers seldom feel lost in the sands of time.
Not that what Lukien does reveal about his past doesn’t sound plenty interesting, because it does. I’d like to go back sometime and learn more. But he does tell readers enough so that I felt teased but not befuddled.
Most excellent.
Lukien has fought someone or something (or lots of both) for all of his life. He brought peace to the kingdom of Jador, but at a high price. Cassandra, the love of his life, died along the way. He hopes that someday, he’ll join her in the land of the dead. But not for a long, long time. Lukien is virtually immortal, his life sustained by the spirit in his sword, the Sword of Angels.
Jador is at peace, but it is an immutable law that warriors with nothing to fight tend to get restless. So the ruler of Jador sends Lukien out as a knight-errant. And Lukien, stubbornly refusing to listen to reason, takes the young girl Cricket as his squire on a dangerous journey to a place known as the Bitter Kingdoms.
Malator, the spirit of Lukien’s sword, knows that Lukien’s mission is a test. The mission is one that will teach Lukien about the being that he has become, but it leads through death. Kingdoms of death, monsters of death and battles with death and that lead to even more death.
Places generally are not given names like "Bitter Kingdoms" without reason.
Lukien is not ready to face who he has become. He is a leader who will change the face of the world. No one, and nothing can be allowed to stand in his way.
But he is also doomed to walk alone. A lesson he will have to learn over and over again.
Escape Rating A-: The Forever Knight is Lukien’s journey. We see all the action from inside Lukien’s head, and it’s a pretty bleak place to be. Lukien is not, as the phrase goes, a “happy camper”. I don’t think that state of being exists in his world view.
Lukien is a man looking for a mission. He’s immortal and he needs something to fill his time. Lots of time. The spirit of the sword, Malator, has a mission for him, but Malator seems to be the king of “I’ve got the secrets”. Malator only speaks in riddles. Lukien wants everything clearly laid out. They argue. A lot.
The person who gets caught in the middle is Cricket. She’s restless in Jador because she can’t remember her life before she became a refugee. She’s attached herself to Lukien and doesn’t relate well to others. They are both outsiders. He brings her along on his knight-errantry as an act of kindness, but also so he won’t be lonely on the trip. She’s his light in the darkness. Of course, that light gets snuffed out.
This is a transformation story. Lukien has to change to be ready for the next phase of his journey. Poor Cricket is part of the price of that change. Damn it.
April 16, 2013
I won this book courtesy of goodreads first reads giveaways and I'm so glad I did!
This is the first novel I've read from John Marco and overall, it's a very well written fantasy novel that keeps you hooked right from the beginning! It's full of suspense and action with a few surprises and some sad moments.
The story is told in the first-person narrative - Lukien's point of view. Having never read any of the previous books, I had a good sense of Lukien's back story.
Marco does a great job adding depth and dimensions to his characters. I found Lukien to be a great character and couldn't help feeling sorry for him. His lost his love, friends and wants death instead of immortality. Malator, Lukien's spirit protector, adds a magical element to the story and Cricket, a young girl in search of her lost memories, adds balance. It was interesting to see the interaction between these three characters.
I really enjoyed reading The Forever Knight and will be reading the first three installments.
This is the first novel I've read from John Marco and overall, it's a very well written fantasy novel that keeps you hooked right from the beginning! It's full of suspense and action with a few surprises and some sad moments.
The story is told in the first-person narrative - Lukien's point of view. Having never read any of the previous books, I had a good sense of Lukien's back story.
Marco does a great job adding depth and dimensions to his characters. I found Lukien to be a great character and couldn't help feeling sorry for him. His lost his love, friends and wants death instead of immortality. Malator, Lukien's spirit protector, adds a magical element to the story and Cricket, a young girl in search of her lost memories, adds balance. It was interesting to see the interaction between these three characters.
I really enjoyed reading The Forever Knight and will be reading the first three installments.
April 14, 2013
John Marco's books have always been the kind that I have troubles putting down, and 'The Forever Knight' was no exception.
From the very beginning, the reader is pulled right back into Lukien's world, so much that I felt like I was a part of it. The 1st Person Narrative was an interesting change, and I think it worked extremely well with this book and with Lukien. The characters that John created are wonderful. For being a shorter book, it's easy to feel at least somewhat attached to the new guys.
'The Forever Knight' is an amazing book! You'd be missing out if you skip this one.
From the very beginning, the reader is pulled right back into Lukien's world, so much that I felt like I was a part of it. The 1st Person Narrative was an interesting change, and I think it worked extremely well with this book and with Lukien. The characters that John created are wonderful. For being a shorter book, it's easy to feel at least somewhat attached to the new guys.
'The Forever Knight' is an amazing book! You'd be missing out if you skip this one.
April 17, 2013
Lukien was once reknowned as the Bronze Knight. Armed with his own Akari, he's become all but immortal. But with war behind him and no king to protect, Lukien is in need of a mission. It's suggested that he take on the mantle of knight-errant. He reluctantly agrees to do so and decides his first task will be to help his young friend Cricket recover her memories. Their journey will be a dangerous one and even Lukien's Akari (the spirit that protects him) believes it's a bad idea, but the Bronze Knight is determined to succeed and protect Cricket along the way.
THE FOREVER KNIGHT is technically the fourth title featuring Lukien of The Bronze Knight series, but it is also the start of a new series featuring the character. So while FOREVER exists within an established world, it serves as a great jumping off point for new readers and one that longtime fans and newbies can enjoy equally. Per Marco's website:
"While the book is ostensibly a continuation of the first trilogy, it also takes Lukien in a fresh direction, removing him from the familiar setting of the original books. The story introduces many new characters and bloody adventures, sending Lukien off on a violent, magic-laced mission of vengeance."
Now while there was little confusion on my part in beginning with The Forever Knight, I realized that the review copy strangely comes with much more backstory in the way of the synopsis, details that don't seem to appear in the official cover copy. There's some backstory provided in the book as well, but the nutshell (bear in mind I've not read the first three books as of yet) is that Lukien was raised alongside King Akeela and later became commander of Akeela's Royal Chargers. Lukien also fell in love with the king's wife, Cassandra, who is dead when THE FOREVER KNIGHT begins. Lukien has what's called an Akari, a spirit named Malator who protects him and heals him and seems to dwell in his sword. Malator teases Lukien along the way with ominously evasive information causing Lukien to question just about everything he does. Though Malator has some good reason for doing so as Lukein seems to rarely listen to him and frequently places himself in mortal danger. The knight longs to return to his lost love but she's insisted he must find his own destiny, which is why Lukien now resides in Jador.
Then there's Cricket. Cricket came to Jador with no memory of her past. No one knows why she can't remember but she knows enough to tell them that she came from a kingdom called Akyre and that her name is Cricket.
Which brings us to THE FOREVER KNIGHT. Akyre is ruled by a menacing king who seems hell-bent on conquering all of the Bitter Kingdoms. Lukien and Cricket hear rumors of an army of dead men that surrounds Akyre and soon come to realize that the mission is going to be much more dangerous than they'd originally believed.
There are monsters and madmen, lots of gruesome deaths, and tons of danger along the way. Cricket is a curious character and the story of her past is intriguing in and of itself, but Lukien clearly has a long way to go in terms of becoming who he is meant to be. Malator's comments thus add another interesting element to that part of the story as well.
My only issue with THE FOREVER KNIGHT is that it seemed rather short. I like a good meaty fantasy and would have loved for this one to be at least twice as long as it was. Not a bad thing in my opinion and obviously there are three previous titles to pad out my TBR and satisfy this craving!
The previous Lukien novels are:
THE EYES OF GOD
THE DEVIL'S ARMOR
THE SWORD OF ANGELS
And according to John Marco's website there are more Lukien stories in the works,
THE FOREVER KNIGHT is technically the fourth title featuring Lukien of The Bronze Knight series, but it is also the start of a new series featuring the character. So while FOREVER exists within an established world, it serves as a great jumping off point for new readers and one that longtime fans and newbies can enjoy equally. Per Marco's website:
"While the book is ostensibly a continuation of the first trilogy, it also takes Lukien in a fresh direction, removing him from the familiar setting of the original books. The story introduces many new characters and bloody adventures, sending Lukien off on a violent, magic-laced mission of vengeance."
Now while there was little confusion on my part in beginning with The Forever Knight, I realized that the review copy strangely comes with much more backstory in the way of the synopsis, details that don't seem to appear in the official cover copy. There's some backstory provided in the book as well, but the nutshell (bear in mind I've not read the first three books as of yet) is that Lukien was raised alongside King Akeela and later became commander of Akeela's Royal Chargers. Lukien also fell in love with the king's wife, Cassandra, who is dead when THE FOREVER KNIGHT begins. Lukien has what's called an Akari, a spirit named Malator who protects him and heals him and seems to dwell in his sword. Malator teases Lukien along the way with ominously evasive information causing Lukien to question just about everything he does. Though Malator has some good reason for doing so as Lukein seems to rarely listen to him and frequently places himself in mortal danger. The knight longs to return to his lost love but she's insisted he must find his own destiny, which is why Lukien now resides in Jador.
Then there's Cricket. Cricket came to Jador with no memory of her past. No one knows why she can't remember but she knows enough to tell them that she came from a kingdom called Akyre and that her name is Cricket.
Which brings us to THE FOREVER KNIGHT. Akyre is ruled by a menacing king who seems hell-bent on conquering all of the Bitter Kingdoms. Lukien and Cricket hear rumors of an army of dead men that surrounds Akyre and soon come to realize that the mission is going to be much more dangerous than they'd originally believed.
There are monsters and madmen, lots of gruesome deaths, and tons of danger along the way. Cricket is a curious character and the story of her past is intriguing in and of itself, but Lukien clearly has a long way to go in terms of becoming who he is meant to be. Malator's comments thus add another interesting element to that part of the story as well.
My only issue with THE FOREVER KNIGHT is that it seemed rather short. I like a good meaty fantasy and would have loved for this one to be at least twice as long as it was. Not a bad thing in my opinion and obviously there are three previous titles to pad out my TBR and satisfy this craving!
The previous Lukien novels are:
THE EYES OF GOD
THE DEVIL'S ARMOR
THE SWORD OF ANGELS
And according to John Marco's website there are more Lukien stories in the works,
April 17, 2013
The Forever Knight by John Marco is an entertaining read, filled with believable characters, triumph and tragedy.
Following Lukien and Cricket, his novel is the 4th installment in The Bronze Knight series, however it serves as a "reboot" to the series and sits as a standalone. Readers don't need to have read the first three to be able to pick up this one and enjoy it. (I'm able to say this as I have yet to read them, but did find this to be quite easy to get into). I have avoided mentioning specifics and plot details, just to avoid the possibility of spoilers from earlier books as much as possible.
Marco has created a vast and interesting world. His concept of the afterlife was an intriguing one, which I'm looking forward to seeing explored in future novels. Although, at times his magic system (the near-immortality granted to Lukien) felt a bit too convenient, and added an element of predictability to the story, giving the sense that he was never really in any danger. Despite this, the story was still overly enjoyable.
Exploring elements of sacrifice, rebirth, and magic, Marco does a good job with showing the character growth and the dynamics of relationships between characters, as well as exploring their interactions in relatable circumstances, bringing them to life.
Marco has written a story which will pull readers in and have them enthralled until the last page; hoping for the survival of characters that they will come to love, even when it seems impossible.
I will be going back and picking up the first three novels in The Bronze Knight, as well as any future installments.
Originally posted on The ArchedDoorway, along with an interview with John Marco.
Following Lukien and Cricket, his novel is the 4th installment in The Bronze Knight series, however it serves as a "reboot" to the series and sits as a standalone. Readers don't need to have read the first three to be able to pick up this one and enjoy it. (I'm able to say this as I have yet to read them, but did find this to be quite easy to get into). I have avoided mentioning specifics and plot details, just to avoid the possibility of spoilers from earlier books as much as possible.
Marco has created a vast and interesting world. His concept of the afterlife was an intriguing one, which I'm looking forward to seeing explored in future novels. Although, at times his magic system (the near-immortality granted to Lukien) felt a bit too convenient, and added an element of predictability to the story, giving the sense that he was never really in any danger. Despite this, the story was still overly enjoyable.
Exploring elements of sacrifice, rebirth, and magic, Marco does a good job with showing the character growth and the dynamics of relationships between characters, as well as exploring their interactions in relatable circumstances, bringing them to life.
Marco has written a story which will pull readers in and have them enthralled until the last page; hoping for the survival of characters that they will come to love, even when it seems impossible.
I will be going back and picking up the first three novels in The Bronze Knight, as well as any future installments.
Originally posted on The ArchedDoorway, along with an interview with John Marco.
June 14, 2013
The Forever Knight is a follow-up novel that takes place after John Marco’s BOOKS OF THE BRONZE KNIGHT, but Marco does such a good job of filling in the gaps for new readers that it’s meant to be able to be read separately. If you’re interested in a kind of brutal, really tragic fantasy, then this is worth a read.
Lukien is the Forever Knight. He has betrayed his best friend and the love of his life is dead, but he can’t follow them into death because of Malator, a symbiotic spirit who has imbued him with powers, including virtual immortality. For most people eternal life would be an amazing gift, but for someone who has lost everything he held precious, it’s a curse.
Lukien is living a sort of half-life while seeking combat against dangerous monsters that infest the local environs of the city he has claimed as home. Among the people who Lukien calls friend is an ... Read More:
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
Lukien is the Forever Knight. He has betrayed his best friend and the love of his life is dead, but he can’t follow them into death because of Malator, a symbiotic spirit who has imbued him with powers, including virtual immortality. For most people eternal life would be an amazing gift, but for someone who has lost everything he held precious, it’s a curse.
Lukien is living a sort of half-life while seeking combat against dangerous monsters that infest the local environs of the city he has claimed as home. Among the people who Lukien calls friend is an ... Read More:
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
May 1, 2013
I must first say that I am a huge fan of John Marco and have read all of his previous books and would rate them all at 5 stars. With The Forever Knight, I thouroughly enjoyed about 75 percent of the book. I can only give it 4 stars for a few reasons. First, perhaps writing from the point of view of Lukien was not the best. His character seemed so one dimensional and lacked the depth I was looking for. Also, this book seemed to be more of a set up for future books with Lukien based on what happens to him by the end of the book. This book was much less complex then The Eyes of God and Devils Armor and not as interesting. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend but did feel that it did not live up the previuos novels.
May 16, 2013
The Eyes of God, The Devil's Armor, and The Sword of Angels, collectively known as the Lukien novels, follow the tale of a well esteemed knight and confidant to the young king. His betrayal to Akeela is legendary, as is the lengths he goes to try and save his beloved Cassandra. His loss and despair are horrific. His chance to redefine who he is epic. So when word came out that there would be a new book following Lukien's plight, John Marco fans took note.
Then the news broke: The Forever Knight would be in first person. The shift in perspective for this new cluster of Bronze Knight novels has its pros and cons. The reader's are given a stronger connection with Lukien, and through proxy, Malator. What's lost is the artistry that is folded in to the story via other characters' entrances and exits, a key signature of Marco's. While Diriel's narrative of his kingdom's decent into cannibalism is a great example of the character's story telling abilities, it lacks the author's ability to conjure up emotional and riveting details. Though I'm not a personal fan of any sort of first person narrative, I do feel that Marco shows a lot of promise. I'm just a bit nostalgic for in depth descriptions of previous novels that made me feel as if I was truly there.
That being said, the lack of scenic descriptions and individual character backstory is made up for with Crezil. Being the first “monster” that has actually graced any of this writing, Crezil helps to prove that horror might someday have Marco's name on it. The drawing of this guardian of another realm might be created by words alone, but it's a design that I would never want to see put to any other form of media, as even the alphabetic version is pretty gruesome. The direct connection with Diriel and the corrupt warlord's ancestors makes one wonder what creatures their own ancestors are connected to – and what might be lurking in the past waiting for them.
The only complaints that I have with this novel are wrapped around the Akari and Malator. First off, the idea that Malator can appear to others as he wants seems like a bit of a cop-out to me. Now, understand I have no idea where Marco plans to take this, so there might be a reason for it. But it comes across as a vain attempt to have Cricket understand and trust Lukien in regards to what his Akari is and isn't telling him. The move takes a lot of the needed growth of dealing with other people from Lukien and uses Malator as a scapegoat in doing so. More importantly, I'm left wondering if the Akari are so lonely in their death places – as the reader is led to believe in the previous works involving the Inhumans – than why don't they all essentially abandon their death places and waltz around with their Inhumans and such? Or is this limited only to powerful Akari such as Malator?
My second beef with Malator has to do with his admission to Lukien that the soulless can transcend between realms, and because of this, that Lukien can indeed be with Cassandra. Part of me was irate with Malator for keeping that from Lukien, but then I was instantly more irate with the idea of the lead character losing his only reason for continuing on as a knight, errant or otherwise. Cassandra has been his only driving force, whether it's to find a way to no longer be Grimhold's protector and die peacefully or a way to kill himself in a messy battle. While he currently is not at Grimhold, there's is no guarantee that there will never be a reason for him to return. Why Malator would bother enticing him with this is beyond the scope of this reader.
Overall, The Forever Knight is an enjoyable, quick read. It's not nearly as smooth as other writings from Marco, but it stands on its own very well. What it lacks in full bodied descriptions and character story lines is made up for in the smatterings of horror that thread through the book. (Put Crezil, Diriel, Wrestler, and the rape scene all in a book of their own and it would rival some of the works from Stephen King.) With the very open ending of the book, it will be interesting to see where Lukien ends up in the next one.
Then the news broke: The Forever Knight would be in first person. The shift in perspective for this new cluster of Bronze Knight novels has its pros and cons. The reader's are given a stronger connection with Lukien, and through proxy, Malator. What's lost is the artistry that is folded in to the story via other characters' entrances and exits, a key signature of Marco's. While Diriel's narrative of his kingdom's decent into cannibalism is a great example of the character's story telling abilities, it lacks the author's ability to conjure up emotional and riveting details. Though I'm not a personal fan of any sort of first person narrative, I do feel that Marco shows a lot of promise. I'm just a bit nostalgic for in depth descriptions of previous novels that made me feel as if I was truly there.
That being said, the lack of scenic descriptions and individual character backstory is made up for with Crezil. Being the first “monster” that has actually graced any of this writing, Crezil helps to prove that horror might someday have Marco's name on it. The drawing of this guardian of another realm might be created by words alone, but it's a design that I would never want to see put to any other form of media, as even the alphabetic version is pretty gruesome. The direct connection with Diriel and the corrupt warlord's ancestors makes one wonder what creatures their own ancestors are connected to – and what might be lurking in the past waiting for them.
The only complaints that I have with this novel are wrapped around the Akari and Malator. First off, the idea that Malator can appear to others as he wants seems like a bit of a cop-out to me. Now, understand I have no idea where Marco plans to take this, so there might be a reason for it. But it comes across as a vain attempt to have Cricket understand and trust Lukien in regards to what his Akari is and isn't telling him. The move takes a lot of the needed growth of dealing with other people from Lukien and uses Malator as a scapegoat in doing so. More importantly, I'm left wondering if the Akari are so lonely in their death places – as the reader is led to believe in the previous works involving the Inhumans – than why don't they all essentially abandon their death places and waltz around with their Inhumans and such? Or is this limited only to powerful Akari such as Malator?
My second beef with Malator has to do with his admission to Lukien that the soulless can transcend between realms, and because of this, that Lukien can indeed be with Cassandra. Part of me was irate with Malator for keeping that from Lukien, but then I was instantly more irate with the idea of the lead character losing his only reason for continuing on as a knight, errant or otherwise. Cassandra has been his only driving force, whether it's to find a way to no longer be Grimhold's protector and die peacefully or a way to kill himself in a messy battle. While he currently is not at Grimhold, there's is no guarantee that there will never be a reason for him to return. Why Malator would bother enticing him with this is beyond the scope of this reader.
Overall, The Forever Knight is an enjoyable, quick read. It's not nearly as smooth as other writings from Marco, but it stands on its own very well. What it lacks in full bodied descriptions and character story lines is made up for in the smatterings of horror that thread through the book. (Put Crezil, Diriel, Wrestler, and the rape scene all in a book of their own and it would rival some of the works from Stephen King.) With the very open ending of the book, it will be interesting to see where Lukien ends up in the next one.
May 21, 2013
Cross-posted from:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.wordpr...
I received a copy of John Marco’s “The Forever Knight” from TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
When “The Forever Knight” begins, the revered knight Lukien is an old man. He’s got his share of battle scars, and only has one eye. However, he’s kept alive by a spirit that dwells within his magical sword. Lukien has lost the love of his life, and he’s bored with his immortality. He feels as if his life no longer has a purpose. In an attempt to find new meaning, Lukien sets out with a young girl named Cricket to find out the secrets of her childhood in the war-torn land of Akyre. Meanwhile, a tyrant king and an undead dragon may be the challenge that Lukien needs to rediscover his inner strength.
“The Forever Knight” is actually the fourth in a series, but don’t let that dissuade you. The book can be read and understood without reading the books that came before them. I haven’t read the first three books, and I was completely immersed in the story before I’d even gotten fifty pages in. The author does a good job of setting the scene and explaining the events of previous books, but by using Lukien’s brooding as a way to do it, the recap of previous books becomes an organic part of the story.
One of the most interesting things to me about “The Forever Knight” is that I didn’t find Lukien to be terribly likeable, even though I enjoyed the book tremedously. He’s a bit whiny and makes a lot of stupid mistakes which tend to hurt those that he cares about. He can judge people harshly and he can be self-centered. At the same time, Lukien’s personality makes the book more realistic and gives it more depth. He’s got plenty of flaws, even though he does genuinely care about protecting the people he cares about. There’s a difference between his intentions and execution, and that’s part of what it is to be human. Considering that Lukien is now immortal, it keeps him from becoming boring or too god-like.
Another thing I liked about “The Forever Knight” was the presence of GLBT characters. Without getting into too much detail, Marco’s gay characters are presented as complex human beings who are both flawed and heroic. Actually, the description “flawed yet heroic” could sum up most of Marco’s characters, which was one of the factors that impressed me so much about his writing.
A word of forewarning–people die in this book. People die in the previous books. John Marco isn’t afraid to kill off his characters in tragic and painful ways. There’s one particular part of the book that, if you’re at all like me, will make you cry. At the same time, I was pleased with the way that the book ended.
Overall, I’d highly recommend this one if you’re looking for a new fantasy read.
http://bookswithoutanypictures.wordpr...
I received a copy of John Marco’s “The Forever Knight” from TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
When “The Forever Knight” begins, the revered knight Lukien is an old man. He’s got his share of battle scars, and only has one eye. However, he’s kept alive by a spirit that dwells within his magical sword. Lukien has lost the love of his life, and he’s bored with his immortality. He feels as if his life no longer has a purpose. In an attempt to find new meaning, Lukien sets out with a young girl named Cricket to find out the secrets of her childhood in the war-torn land of Akyre. Meanwhile, a tyrant king and an undead dragon may be the challenge that Lukien needs to rediscover his inner strength.
“The Forever Knight” is actually the fourth in a series, but don’t let that dissuade you. The book can be read and understood without reading the books that came before them. I haven’t read the first three books, and I was completely immersed in the story before I’d even gotten fifty pages in. The author does a good job of setting the scene and explaining the events of previous books, but by using Lukien’s brooding as a way to do it, the recap of previous books becomes an organic part of the story.
One of the most interesting things to me about “The Forever Knight” is that I didn’t find Lukien to be terribly likeable, even though I enjoyed the book tremedously. He’s a bit whiny and makes a lot of stupid mistakes which tend to hurt those that he cares about. He can judge people harshly and he can be self-centered. At the same time, Lukien’s personality makes the book more realistic and gives it more depth. He’s got plenty of flaws, even though he does genuinely care about protecting the people he cares about. There’s a difference between his intentions and execution, and that’s part of what it is to be human. Considering that Lukien is now immortal, it keeps him from becoming boring or too god-like.
Another thing I liked about “The Forever Knight” was the presence of GLBT characters. Without getting into too much detail, Marco’s gay characters are presented as complex human beings who are both flawed and heroic. Actually, the description “flawed yet heroic” could sum up most of Marco’s characters, which was one of the factors that impressed me so much about his writing.
A word of forewarning–people die in this book. People die in the previous books. John Marco isn’t afraid to kill off his characters in tragic and painful ways. There’s one particular part of the book that, if you’re at all like me, will make you cry. At the same time, I was pleased with the way that the book ended.
Overall, I’d highly recommend this one if you’re looking for a new fantasy read.
May 22, 2013
THE FOREVER KNIGHT has been a long time coming. The first three novels in the Books of the Bronze Knight series were out when I reviewed THE EYES OF GOD in 2008, my first year of blogging. Given the wait, some might find it especially slim in comparison to the original trilogy. But THE FOREVER KNIGHT is both a wonderful continuation of the series and a new beginning. A wise move on John Marco's part, to draw in new readers. I think THE FOREVER KNIGHT can be easily read by someone who is totally unaware there are earlier books. (And, well, I still need to read the third book myself.)
Lukien is both the Bronze Knight and the Forever Knight. He's nearly immortal and a talented warrior. Perfect for a knight-errant. But he has his weaknesses. He's brittle and directionless, a hero without a cause. Also, he has a gift for making the worst possible decisions. At least his companion Cricket has the excuse of youth for her bad decisions. I'm starting to think Lukien is not that smart.
THE FOREVER KNIGHT is a quick read. Marco's keeps the story moving. There are several different storylines in play, involving the fate of no less than two countries, but they're all intertwined. The least involved story is that of Cricket, who wants to recover her memories, but it's pretty easy to guess that her memories of Akyre aren't totally uninvolved with everything else that is happening. I do wish her character had been a little more deeply defined, but she's a nice foil to the jaded and overly confident Lukien.
The character of Malator, the spirit in Lukien's sword that keeps Lukien alive, is developed more in THE FOREVER KNIGHT. He can be the typical cryptic mentor, but he's also got a sense of snark. He also reveals a bit of a nasty streak of hypocrisy in Lukien, given how often Lukien treats Malator like a slave when he gets in a snit.
I mentioned the length of THE FOREVER KNIGHT before, and I'll say that I think it's the right length for this story. It's a nice epic quest, with zombies and mad kings and good soldiers loyal to the wrong man. It's an interesting direction to take the series and I'm curious to see what Marco will do with his Bronze Knight next.
Lukien is both the Bronze Knight and the Forever Knight. He's nearly immortal and a talented warrior. Perfect for a knight-errant. But he has his weaknesses. He's brittle and directionless, a hero without a cause. Also, he has a gift for making the worst possible decisions. At least his companion Cricket has the excuse of youth for her bad decisions. I'm starting to think Lukien is not that smart.
THE FOREVER KNIGHT is a quick read. Marco's keeps the story moving. There are several different storylines in play, involving the fate of no less than two countries, but they're all intertwined. The least involved story is that of Cricket, who wants to recover her memories, but it's pretty easy to guess that her memories of Akyre aren't totally uninvolved with everything else that is happening. I do wish her character had been a little more deeply defined, but she's a nice foil to the jaded and overly confident Lukien.
The character of Malator, the spirit in Lukien's sword that keeps Lukien alive, is developed more in THE FOREVER KNIGHT. He can be the typical cryptic mentor, but he's also got a sense of snark. He also reveals a bit of a nasty streak of hypocrisy in Lukien, given how often Lukien treats Malator like a slave when he gets in a snit.
I mentioned the length of THE FOREVER KNIGHT before, and I'll say that I think it's the right length for this story. It's a nice epic quest, with zombies and mad kings and good soldiers loyal to the wrong man. It's an interesting direction to take the series and I'm curious to see what Marco will do with his Bronze Knight next.
June 14, 2021
I loved the previous three books and The Forever Knight is a great addition to the bunch. It's been about five years since I finished The Sword of Angels and a lot of characters were kind of hazy when I started this book, however, John Marco does an excellent job of weaving a path for you to follow, where bits of forgotten information are sprinkled along the way, allowing you to refresh your memory as you read.
The entire book is written from the perspective of Lukien, the bronze knight, himself. Finally, we get to delve into the head of this demented hero. Although I thoroughly enjoyed this point of view, I also felt like Marco was itching to give us more details, develop more characters, paint more landscapes. The novel could have easily been a thousand page monster from the third-person perspective, however, in the end I feel John made the right choice. Seeing the world from Lukien's point of view was just too hard to pass up.
Although I could sense where Marco had to cut some of the details short, he amazed me again by using what little space he had to deliver hard-hitting settings. From breath-taking waterfalls to disgustingly vile castles, he constructs a world full of energy and sucks you right into the middle of it.
The story is about Lukien, who lost it all and Cricket, who is just beginning to uncover her past, on a quest to find themselves. They meet several other memorable characters on their journey together as well, all with very unique personalities and bursting at the seams with stories of their own just waiting to be told.
All in all, this book was a fantastic read. If you're ready for an unforgettable adventure, grab The Forever Knight and enjoy!
The entire book is written from the perspective of Lukien, the bronze knight, himself. Finally, we get to delve into the head of this demented hero. Although I thoroughly enjoyed this point of view, I also felt like Marco was itching to give us more details, develop more characters, paint more landscapes. The novel could have easily been a thousand page monster from the third-person perspective, however, in the end I feel John made the right choice. Seeing the world from Lukien's point of view was just too hard to pass up.
Although I could sense where Marco had to cut some of the details short, he amazed me again by using what little space he had to deliver hard-hitting settings. From breath-taking waterfalls to disgustingly vile castles, he constructs a world full of energy and sucks you right into the middle of it.
The story is about Lukien, who lost it all and Cricket, who is just beginning to uncover her past, on a quest to find themselves. They meet several other memorable characters on their journey together as well, all with very unique personalities and bursting at the seams with stories of their own just waiting to be told.
All in all, this book was a fantastic read. If you're ready for an unforgettable adventure, grab The Forever Knight and enjoy!
October 10, 2014
This book was an exciting followup to the trilogy that I can't find one official name for... the Lukien Trilogy? The Bronze Knight trilogy? The Inhumans? The trilogy that consists of The Eyes of God, The Devil's Armor, and The Sword of Angels. I found the first-person narration to be a fun change, it was interesting to experience this adventure from the POV of the character that I followed through the previous three novels. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish.
May 16, 2013
John Marco continues to amaze! Lukien's welcome return to the pages of fantasy was maddeningly overdue. From dying - To becoming Immortal- To now, Walker between worlds! Lukien ripens into a great cask of Amontillado to be savored by each turn of the page.
September 5, 2013
A missed opportunity to use the first person point of view to create more emotional resonance. But, a solid read.
http://www.staffersbookreview.com/201...
http://www.staffersbookreview.com/201...
November 14, 2014
Fantastic!!
October 5, 2022
Continues the story, but told in the first person. Despite the change, it showed a new side to the Bronze Knight tale and his struggle to find peace.
September 3, 2022
Although The Forever Knight is a direct follow-up to John Marco's original Bronze Knight trilogy, this novel is deliberately written to serve as a standalone entry. Although it's been called a reboot - I really hate that term - that is most definitely not the case. Marco doesn't negate or reinterpret events of the first series, and doesn't rewind the chronology to make a fresh start. It is, instead, something of a reset or a refresh, a chance to establish Lukien as a protagonist for new readers, and set him up for new adventures to come.
In that sense, the story suffers a bit from the proverbial 'middle book' syndrome, in that it seems like more of a side-wise detour than the epic journey one might expect. It's an engaging enough detour, entertaining from start to finish, but all the talk of prophecy, destiny, and mysterious purposes makes you feel as if Marco is warming us up for something big . . . something that's only teased here.
Lukien is an interesting hero, a flawed protagonist with some unusual issues and motivations. Immortal - for all intents and purposes - he's already faced his demons, won his battle, and come out the other side, not quite alive, but not unscathed either. He's a man without a purpose, a hero looking for a cause, with only a ghost and a child to keep him grounded. Lukien is an easy man to admire, although a difficult one to like. His anger often gets the best of him, and his mood swings can be just as rough as his scarred, one-eyed appearance might lead one to expect.
If there's one aspect where the narrative suffered a bit for me, it's in the single point-of-view we share with Lukien. With his frantic sojourns to-and-fro, there's so much happening behind him that there could almost be another book lost in the details there. More than that, though, it leaves the climax of Cricket's story to happen off the page, denying us the drama, and redirected our sympathies from her to Lukien. That may very well be a deliberate move on the part of Marcos - Lukien is the protagonist, after all - but given that she represents the only real danger, vulnerability, and weakness in the tale, I felt cheated (in a fashion), of seeing her arc through to the end.
That POV issue aside, this is a fast-moving, richly-detailed novel that goes to some very dark, very grim places. Mad would-be-emperors, armies of the dead, thieving merchant-kings, demon monstrosities, and more populate the landscape, providing Lukien with something to rail against. There are also elements of humour and moments of sympathy, balancing out the tale and providing a thematic counterpoint to the rejuvenation of the protagonist at the heart of it all. Marco does a superb job of recapping previous events in a natural manner, weaving memories and recollections into the story where it makes sense, rather than badgering the reader or hitting us over the head with backstory info-dumps.
Not having read the Bronze Knight trilogy (yet), I can't say how compelling this volume will be for fans of that series, but I know it's made me want to continue reading.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
In that sense, the story suffers a bit from the proverbial 'middle book' syndrome, in that it seems like more of a side-wise detour than the epic journey one might expect. It's an engaging enough detour, entertaining from start to finish, but all the talk of prophecy, destiny, and mysterious purposes makes you feel as if Marco is warming us up for something big . . . something that's only teased here.
Lukien is an interesting hero, a flawed protagonist with some unusual issues and motivations. Immortal - for all intents and purposes - he's already faced his demons, won his battle, and come out the other side, not quite alive, but not unscathed either. He's a man without a purpose, a hero looking for a cause, with only a ghost and a child to keep him grounded. Lukien is an easy man to admire, although a difficult one to like. His anger often gets the best of him, and his mood swings can be just as rough as his scarred, one-eyed appearance might lead one to expect.
If there's one aspect where the narrative suffered a bit for me, it's in the single point-of-view we share with Lukien. With his frantic sojourns to-and-fro, there's so much happening behind him that there could almost be another book lost in the details there. More than that, though, it leaves the climax of Cricket's story to happen off the page, denying us the drama, and redirected our sympathies from her to Lukien. That may very well be a deliberate move on the part of Marcos - Lukien is the protagonist, after all - but given that she represents the only real danger, vulnerability, and weakness in the tale, I felt cheated (in a fashion), of seeing her arc through to the end.
That POV issue aside, this is a fast-moving, richly-detailed novel that goes to some very dark, very grim places. Mad would-be-emperors, armies of the dead, thieving merchant-kings, demon monstrosities, and more populate the landscape, providing Lukien with something to rail against. There are also elements of humour and moments of sympathy, balancing out the tale and providing a thematic counterpoint to the rejuvenation of the protagonist at the heart of it all. Marco does a superb job of recapping previous events in a natural manner, weaving memories and recollections into the story where it makes sense, rather than badgering the reader or hitting us over the head with backstory info-dumps.
Not having read the Bronze Knight trilogy (yet), I can't say how compelling this volume will be for fans of that series, but I know it's made me want to continue reading.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
January 11, 2020
I thought this started really well. I liked the concept and the world-weary attitude of the main character, and I read the first sixty or seventy pages really quickly. Unfortunately, it went downhill after that. I got really impatient with Lukien making the same mistakes over and over again. There's a difference between being world-weary and being self-obsessed, and I think you cross that line right around the time that you crush the dreams of a traumatized 14 year old for the third or fourth time. The book also had some issues with misogyny that felt minor at the beginning, but got really annoying at the end. When the last hundred or so pages of a book only mentions women as sexual objects, I get a little irritated. Heck, I think I've talked myself into downgrading this from three stars to two...
April 1, 2025
John Marco's trilogy "The Eyes of God", "The Devil's Armor" and "The Sword of Angels" is one of the best fantasy trilogies I have ever read. Years later he added a fourth book- "The Forever Knight", but I think he should have kept it a trilogy. "The Forever Knight" is a tired effort; seemingly written because of a contractual obligation rather than passion for the material.
August 27, 2017
It was pretty okay. Didn't expect all the swearing, which always feels out of place--in my opinion--within the fantasy genre. Dragged a little, but great ending. Satisfying conclusion with just the right amount open-endedness.
January 26, 2017
Fourth in the series, I was a little wary to read this as I didn't have time to play catch up with a long involved fantasy series. I was assured however that this book didn't require 'catching up' and could be read stand alone. And for what feels like the first time in a long time it turned out to be true. References and summaries are given for what happened in the first three books (I assume its from the first three books), but Lukien was very focused on the now.
Where it may have benefited was with the other characters and their relationship to him. Marco gives a good accounting why this or that person is important to Lukien, but I felt less invested in them regardless.
In essence Lukien is on a heroic quest to basically find a reason to live. In the preceding novels everything he loved, respected and held dear was taken away from him, leaving him left adrift with no end in sight (he's immortal). This isn't to say he went looking for suicide, but rather he was proactively searching for a means to death. Lukien had a lot of flaws (not the least of which was who he fell in love with), a lot of guilt about what happened. Unlike other heroes with tragic backstories he didn't seem to be looking for redemption. He had made a try of making things better, mucked it up further and now was resigned to finding something else.
Marco manages to pack a lot into a slim by today's standards full length novel. Under 300 pages, The Forever Knight is surprising in the detail presented. Even for a fourth novel in a series Marco goes out of his way to engage new readers in Lukien plight and the larger world. I'm still a bit iffy on how things went down to give Lukien his immortality, and what exactly Malator is, but by in large Marco set a brisk easy to read pace.
The one drawback I think I have is that while I'm interested in Lukien's further adventures especially given Malator's...gift at the end, I'm not as keen to read his previous adventures. I like the Lukien as he is now, and I don't fancy that being ruined by the fact I'm going to get to read as his angst happens instead of in a past sense.
Where it may have benefited was with the other characters and their relationship to him. Marco gives a good accounting why this or that person is important to Lukien, but I felt less invested in them regardless.
In essence Lukien is on a heroic quest to basically find a reason to live. In the preceding novels everything he loved, respected and held dear was taken away from him, leaving him left adrift with no end in sight (he's immortal). This isn't to say he went looking for suicide, but rather he was proactively searching for a means to death. Lukien had a lot of flaws (not the least of which was who he fell in love with), a lot of guilt about what happened. Unlike other heroes with tragic backstories he didn't seem to be looking for redemption. He had made a try of making things better, mucked it up further and now was resigned to finding something else.
Marco manages to pack a lot into a slim by today's standards full length novel. Under 300 pages, The Forever Knight is surprising in the detail presented. Even for a fourth novel in a series Marco goes out of his way to engage new readers in Lukien plight and the larger world. I'm still a bit iffy on how things went down to give Lukien his immortality, and what exactly Malator is, but by in large Marco set a brisk easy to read pace.
The one drawback I think I have is that while I'm interested in Lukien's further adventures especially given Malator's...gift at the end, I'm not as keen to read his previous adventures. I like the Lukien as he is now, and I don't fancy that being ruined by the fact I'm going to get to read as his angst happens instead of in a past sense.
May 11, 2013
The fourth Lukien novel John Marco has published, "The Forever Knight" is a break from the format and story of the previous books, giving new readers an excellent opportunity to dip into this saga. Cursed with immortality by the spirit living within his sword, Lukien begins this novel restless and aimless. He's a man who lives a life without consequence. When the ancient spirit in your sword can heal you of any wound, mortal or benign, what challenge is there in living?
Despite the teaser for this book, this book does not dwell on the Inhumans or Lukien's roll as their protector. With the usual grace of a fantasy novel, Lukien is cast out into the world on a quest, sword in hand and companion at his side. While the stated goal of the quest is to find answers to his companion, Cricket's, past, it's obvious what is really the objective - to find a purpose and challenge to satisfy an immortal knight.
In my mind, two things set this novel apart from many fantasy novels. The first was the decision to present this tale in the first person. For new readers especially, this can be daunting in second world fantasy, where there is no frame of reference for understanding the environment and cultures around the POV. Marco succeeds here by painting with broad strokes, sketching a world and people we can almost see, without lingering on the details that aren't relevant. Not a common choice, but the first person worked well for this story.
The second factor that set this novel apart from so many other epic fantasy novels these days was breadth. At 282 pages, it's a relatively light contender compared to other tomes available. I would continue to argue that this isn't a bad trend to see in books these days. Presenting readers with a single, well drafted adventure can be so much more satisfying than a collection of adventures sewn together for the sake of bulk.
In both efforts I think Marco succeeded with "The Forever Knight." An entertaining adventure story that was extremely accessible for a first time reader, and a well written introduction to a new chapter in this character's journey.
Despite the teaser for this book, this book does not dwell on the Inhumans or Lukien's roll as their protector. With the usual grace of a fantasy novel, Lukien is cast out into the world on a quest, sword in hand and companion at his side. While the stated goal of the quest is to find answers to his companion, Cricket's, past, it's obvious what is really the objective - to find a purpose and challenge to satisfy an immortal knight.
In my mind, two things set this novel apart from many fantasy novels. The first was the decision to present this tale in the first person. For new readers especially, this can be daunting in second world fantasy, where there is no frame of reference for understanding the environment and cultures around the POV. Marco succeeds here by painting with broad strokes, sketching a world and people we can almost see, without lingering on the details that aren't relevant. Not a common choice, but the first person worked well for this story.
The second factor that set this novel apart from so many other epic fantasy novels these days was breadth. At 282 pages, it's a relatively light contender compared to other tomes available. I would continue to argue that this isn't a bad trend to see in books these days. Presenting readers with a single, well drafted adventure can be so much more satisfying than a collection of adventures sewn together for the sake of bulk.
In both efforts I think Marco succeeded with "The Forever Knight." An entertaining adventure story that was extremely accessible for a first time reader, and a well written introduction to a new chapter in this character's journey.
January 23, 2016
I've been a fan of John Marco's writing since his Tyrants & Kings series. His previous sweeping epic fantasies have delighted fantasy fans with their complexity. In FOREVER KNIGHT, he has taken a step back and written Lukien's latest adventure in the first person point of view. This is a difficult task for a lot of authors being confined to only one character's POV, but from the opening pages, I loved this book. The author brings the main character closer to the reader. We hear Lukien's thoughts, share his anguish and it makes this story a compelling read.
Lukien is a complicated character who doesn't seem to be able to reconcile with his immortality and employs every conceivable method he can to try and die. He's restless and spends days in the desert hunting and fighting the dreaded rass snake. With his Sword of Angels that houses the Akari spirit Malator, Lukien is always healed of his injuries. The fact that Lukien has such a contentious relationship with Malator makes this book even more interesting. Our hero is neither all good nor all bad, but definitely adrift in the world. When he volunteers to help a 14-year old girl, Cricket, try to retrieve her lost memories, Lukien must travel to the Bitter Kingdoms, a place that holds nothing but horror for its inhabitants. What he discovers is even shocking to this battle-scarred knight and he sets out to right as many wrongs as he can, but he is only one man. Even being immortal sometimes may not be enough.
It took me awhile to get to this book in my TBR file, but I highly recommend it. Fans of epic fantasy should definitely add this story to their reading list. I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Lukien is a complicated character who doesn't seem to be able to reconcile with his immortality and employs every conceivable method he can to try and die. He's restless and spends days in the desert hunting and fighting the dreaded rass snake. With his Sword of Angels that houses the Akari spirit Malator, Lukien is always healed of his injuries. The fact that Lukien has such a contentious relationship with Malator makes this book even more interesting. Our hero is neither all good nor all bad, but definitely adrift in the world. When he volunteers to help a 14-year old girl, Cricket, try to retrieve her lost memories, Lukien must travel to the Bitter Kingdoms, a place that holds nothing but horror for its inhabitants. What he discovers is even shocking to this battle-scarred knight and he sets out to right as many wrongs as he can, but he is only one man. Even being immortal sometimes may not be enough.
It took me awhile to get to this book in my TBR file, but I highly recommend it. Fans of epic fantasy should definitely add this story to their reading list. I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
March 15, 2014
"The bitter kingdoms had been plagued by every misfortune imaginable-war, starvation, even a demon-but good-hearted men and women still lived here and still struggled. If I could do some good myself, if I could help them, then I would." I truly love a story that is an adventure and this is it! Lukien is the bronze knight and he is on quite a quest. He takes along a teen girl called Cricket as his squire because she wants to return to her homeland and remember what she has forgotten about her past. Along the way, of course they meet a monster. Not just any monster but a demon that has been unleashed from the underworld. Lukien is a hero worthy of his quest and he meets many interesting characters along the way. It includes an epic battle and a great amount of suspense that will drive me to wait not so patiently for book five of this series. I also want to go back and read the other three now. I must say that one of my favorite characters in this book did not make it, but she is in a better place and Lukien promised to avenge her death. Will our hero Lukien be able to slay the beast and save the people that it terrorizes? Will he be able to help Cricket to recall her past? I can't tell as you must read this for yourself.
October 14, 2014
Ah yes. A return to the world of the Bronze Knight. I very much enjoyed the original trilogy featuring Lukien and so I was excited to be able to read another of his tales. This book is quite a bit shorter than the others Marco has written & the novel benefits from this. It's a lot tighter narrative and while there are still some slow moments, The Forever Knight has a good pace throughout.
What I'm noticing with a lot of books lately are missed opportunities. Maybe it's just me but I really enjoyed Chuluun & the Bogati. I wish they'd been introduced earlier in the novel and feel they could've been expanded on. That's probably the biggest problem with the novel's reduced page count. Cricket, Safiyah (if I'm spelling his name right), Kiryk.
However, unlike lots of other authors, Marco isn't afraid to kill off "main" characters. I would've liked more of the deaths to be "on-screen" instead of a mere mention.
All-in-all, The Forever Knight was a rousing, fast paced tale of Lukien and well worth the read.
What I'm noticing with a lot of books lately are missed opportunities. Maybe it's just me but I really enjoyed Chuluun & the Bogati. I wish they'd been introduced earlier in the novel and feel they could've been expanded on. That's probably the biggest problem with the novel's reduced page count. Cricket, Safiyah (if I'm spelling his name right), Kiryk.
However, unlike lots of other authors, Marco isn't afraid to kill off "main" characters. I would've liked more of the deaths to be "on-screen" instead of a mere mention.
All-in-all, The Forever Knight was a rousing, fast paced tale of Lukien and well worth the read.
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