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The Chronicle of Benjamin Knight #1
Knightfall
Lord of the Rings for the Call of Duty generation.
At the age of fifteen, genius Benjamin Knight had developed a technology that would change the world. But when the project is sabotaged, Ben wakes to find himself in a mysterious and unfamiliar land where an uneasy peace hangs in the balance.
Saved from near death by a band of traders, he joins them on their journey north as he struggles to understand the world he's in and how it happened. However, Ben soon realises that everyone has their secrets and that no one is safe, especially when one man has the power to realise his ambitions.
Ben wants answers, but with war looming, he may not survive long enough to find them in this series that breaks the barrier between science fiction and fantasy!
At the age of fifteen, genius Benjamin Knight had developed a technology that would change the world. But when the project is sabotaged, Ben wakes to find himself in a mysterious and unfamiliar land where an uneasy peace hangs in the balance.
Saved from near death by a band of traders, he joins them on their journey north as he struggles to understand the world he's in and how it happened. However, Ben soon realises that everyone has their secrets and that no one is safe, especially when one man has the power to realise his ambitions.
Ben wants answers, but with war looming, he may not survive long enough to find them in this series that breaks the barrier between science fiction and fantasy!
310 pages
First published April 1, 2013
About the author
R. Jackson-Lawrence
19 books24 followersA fan of writing since he could first hold a crayon, R Jackson-Lawrence has had a tortuous path before reaching this point in his life. In between working in a supermarket, care home and hospital, and having a family, it took nearly twenty years for his first book to be finished.
The first three books in the Benjamin Knight series are now available, as well as the eight book series PUPS (the Adventures of a 3rd Grade Werewolf) aimed at younger readers.
The first in his next series (X-Calibur) has just been released, titled The Return.
The first three books in the Benjamin Knight series are now available, as well as the eight book series PUPS (the Adventures of a 3rd Grade Werewolf) aimed at younger readers.
The first in his next series (X-Calibur) has just been released, titled The Return.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 15, 2013
Knightfall by R. Jackson-Lawrence hits the ground running and DOES NOT STOP! From the first page, which appears to be a journal entry with the tortured thoughts of someone scared and alone, to the last page that I ended up reading twice just to keep the story going, I was utterly and completely captivated. Fifteen year old Ben is a genius, dealing with numbers made life make sense to him. He could solve complex problems faster than a computer, so when Excelsior Technologies offered him the chance to use his abilities to their fullest in the name of science, he jumped at the opportunity and began experimenting with theories that could change the world. And that’s where things went horribly wrong. Ben is cast into another existence, a dystopian world where technology is non-existent, peace is a tenuous thing and Ben becomes a pawn in a world where one man’s crazed mind threatens to take over the world at any cost.
But - this story isn’t just about Ben, the cast of characters is huge, the sub-plots and scenes depicted are well done down to the last detail! I had to remind myself that this was the product of an author with a true passion for his work, that the characters were not real, they were THAT lifelike, that filled with emotion and heart.
With a crisp writing style that spares nothing in the details, I lived every minute of this tale, I felt the pain, smelled the fear and saw the love and loyalty people shared with each other. R. Jackson-Lawrence has created characters so vividly lifelike, with such depth of personality that I felt I was watching them as I read, I was that involved. With often brutal clarity, the scenes unfold in 3D, complete with surround sound, causing me to gasp, sigh, and cringe from my toes on up. It isn’t often that I’m not ready for a book to end, but even knowing there is more to come in this series, I was not ready to return to reality. It. Was. That. Good. If you enjoy your fantasy filled with non-stop action, clear cut villains in a world filled with turmoil and heroes who show uncommon bravery against seemingly insurmountable odds, you MUST read Knightfall!
But - this story isn’t just about Ben, the cast of characters is huge, the sub-plots and scenes depicted are well done down to the last detail! I had to remind myself that this was the product of an author with a true passion for his work, that the characters were not real, they were THAT lifelike, that filled with emotion and heart.
With a crisp writing style that spares nothing in the details, I lived every minute of this tale, I felt the pain, smelled the fear and saw the love and loyalty people shared with each other. R. Jackson-Lawrence has created characters so vividly lifelike, with such depth of personality that I felt I was watching them as I read, I was that involved. With often brutal clarity, the scenes unfold in 3D, complete with surround sound, causing me to gasp, sigh, and cringe from my toes on up. It isn’t often that I’m not ready for a book to end, but even knowing there is more to come in this series, I was not ready to return to reality. It. Was. That. Good. If you enjoy your fantasy filled with non-stop action, clear cut villains in a world filled with turmoil and heroes who show uncommon bravery against seemingly insurmountable odds, you MUST read Knightfall!
August 21, 2013
You can read my reaview also on my blog Valsul Fluturilor
There are things that we take for granted: electricity, power, food, resources. But there are things that we don’t know, things that we ignore; all those can change our life. For years people have searched for power, the power to change the unknown. Excelsior is an organization who tries to gain power over the unknown.
Benjamin Adrian Knight is no older that a usual teenager, but he has a different life from every child of his age. Ben is what can be called a genius. His sharp mind can break the barriers of time, space and gravity. At first everything seemed a dream, a great one for a child at his age, but with the time he realized what was happening.
Excelsior managed to take him from his family, from his world. Excelsior was his ending.
At some point things went wrong, not just for Ben, but for all the world, so Benjamin, a fifteen years boy found himself thrown into a new world, a different one. With no one he could trust, Ben must survive, must repair his mistakes. Knightfall is a different book from what I usually read. It is the story of what could happen if we don’t stop messing with our planet. I was fascinated by the story as I continued to read it. The problems that Ben had to face were worse than I could imagine. But wasn’t Ben who made me live and breathe the same air as the characters, no it was another character, a minor one most of you would say.
Catrina was one of the southerners that saved Ben from dying; she was a strong woman that had two children and a loving husband, Edward. Catrina had to pass through a lot, a lot worse than Ben or the other characters, her lost was bigger that you could imagine, and that made her change a lot. The way she managed to accomplish her goals made me wonder if we in her place would react the same, or would be still indifferent to the pain that was around us.
What I really like about the book was the story behind the story, the past of the place where Benjamin has arrived. There was that struggle for life. They didn’t have the commodities we now have, but still didn’t need it.
R. Jackson-Lawrence really brought into light a new problem that our world is facing: the fight for power. The way the book was written reminded me of Lord of the Rings a little, not much, just the atmosphere was a little like J. R. R. Tolkien’s world. When you start reading Knightfall it isn’t the curiosity that makes you read the book at the beginning, no, it is the way it is told the story, it’s like one of the tales my grandfather used to tell me.
One big plus that this book has it’s the balance: you are allowed to guess some elements before they happen, but in the end there are others that will surprise you. I was surprised by the ending, I didn’t see it coming and I just can’t find the explanation for it, but for that I think I have to expect the next book.
For those who are fans of stories like Robin Hood, Gulliver and Lord of the Rings you should read this book, I’m sure that you will enjoy it as much as I did.
There are things that we take for granted: electricity, power, food, resources. But there are things that we don’t know, things that we ignore; all those can change our life. For years people have searched for power, the power to change the unknown. Excelsior is an organization who tries to gain power over the unknown.
Benjamin Adrian Knight is no older that a usual teenager, but he has a different life from every child of his age. Ben is what can be called a genius. His sharp mind can break the barriers of time, space and gravity. At first everything seemed a dream, a great one for a child at his age, but with the time he realized what was happening.
Andrew has been his first driver. First carer. First jailer.
Excelsior managed to take him from his family, from his world. Excelsior was his ending.
Ben’s work would no doubt change the world forever, but if it went wrong?
At some point things went wrong, not just for Ben, but for all the world, so Benjamin, a fifteen years boy found himself thrown into a new world, a different one. With no one he could trust, Ben must survive, must repair his mistakes. Knightfall is a different book from what I usually read. It is the story of what could happen if we don’t stop messing with our planet. I was fascinated by the story as I continued to read it. The problems that Ben had to face were worse than I could imagine. But wasn’t Ben who made me live and breathe the same air as the characters, no it was another character, a minor one most of you would say.
Catrina was one of the southerners that saved Ben from dying; she was a strong woman that had two children and a loving husband, Edward. Catrina had to pass through a lot, a lot worse than Ben or the other characters, her lost was bigger that you could imagine, and that made her change a lot. The way she managed to accomplish her goals made me wonder if we in her place would react the same, or would be still indifferent to the pain that was around us.
What I really like about the book was the story behind the story, the past of the place where Benjamin has arrived. There was that struggle for life. They didn’t have the commodities we now have, but still didn’t need it.
R. Jackson-Lawrence really brought into light a new problem that our world is facing: the fight for power. The way the book was written reminded me of Lord of the Rings a little, not much, just the atmosphere was a little like J. R. R. Tolkien’s world. When you start reading Knightfall it isn’t the curiosity that makes you read the book at the beginning, no, it is the way it is told the story, it’s like one of the tales my grandfather used to tell me.
One big plus that this book has it’s the balance: you are allowed to guess some elements before they happen, but in the end there are others that will surprise you. I was surprised by the ending, I didn’t see it coming and I just can’t find the explanation for it, but for that I think I have to expect the next book.
For those who are fans of stories like Robin Hood, Gulliver and Lord of the Rings you should read this book, I’m sure that you will enjoy it as much as I did.
August 16, 2013
GIVEAWAY
I just finished Knightfall and I just loved it. You can’t just place it under a certain genre from the very beginning and I guess in the end it still remains the reader’s choice if they read a fantasy, SF or dystopian novel.
Ben is a very smart boy that is why he is hired by Excelsior at a very young age. He ends up working in a laboratory along with grown up scientists and after a major experiment he was working at gets sabotaged he finds himself thrown in a world he doesn’t understand. I enjoyed every description of the new world, how every detail felt so vivid and how everything Ben felt sucked you in the story.
The new world into which Benjamin wakes it’s a mystery for him and for us as well. No matter what theories the character or us have you will most certainly find out that you might be wrong.
Here is what I thought:
*SPOILERS?* I initially thought that he was thrown into the future after a major destructive event like and atomic bomb took place, but after some I thought about some things I decided to go with an alternative dimension, which might be closer…*END OF SPOILER?*
I found it fascinating how the present world, the one in which we depend on electricity and technology was viewed as a legend, a story for kids among the Island City habitants, but even so, the broken technology “relics” were valuable for most of them.
The Characters
I rarely get attached to main characters, because for some reason the other characters are better constructed, but the thing is that I liked Ben quite a lot. He was real, he reacted just like someone his age would and in the real world he acted just like a genius of his age would. Once he found himself in the Wastelands he did whatever he could to survive which was what anyone would do.
Another thing that I enjoyed was the fact that the story was not settled around Benjamin, but we got to see other characters’ mind and actions, which was a great way in which we got to explore the history of Island City and the surroundings. We got multiple points of view, and we got to see the action through almost every character’s eyes, even though the villain’s.
The Book
Knightfall is that kind of book full of action and lets you just a couple of seconds to breathe and starts again with the action. It has a lot of mystery, smart characters and some of the nasty villains, with brains and a purpose.
I just finished Knightfall and I just loved it. You can’t just place it under a certain genre from the very beginning and I guess in the end it still remains the reader’s choice if they read a fantasy, SF or dystopian novel.
Ben is a very smart boy that is why he is hired by Excelsior at a very young age. He ends up working in a laboratory along with grown up scientists and after a major experiment he was working at gets sabotaged he finds himself thrown in a world he doesn’t understand. I enjoyed every description of the new world, how every detail felt so vivid and how everything Ben felt sucked you in the story.
The new world into which Benjamin wakes it’s a mystery for him and for us as well. No matter what theories the character or us have you will most certainly find out that you might be wrong.
Here is what I thought:
*SPOILERS?* I initially thought that he was thrown into the future after a major destructive event like and atomic bomb took place, but after some I thought about some things I decided to go with an alternative dimension, which might be closer…*END OF SPOILER?*
I found it fascinating how the present world, the one in which we depend on electricity and technology was viewed as a legend, a story for kids among the Island City habitants, but even so, the broken technology “relics” were valuable for most of them.
The Characters
I rarely get attached to main characters, because for some reason the other characters are better constructed, but the thing is that I liked Ben quite a lot. He was real, he reacted just like someone his age would and in the real world he acted just like a genius of his age would. Once he found himself in the Wastelands he did whatever he could to survive which was what anyone would do.
Another thing that I enjoyed was the fact that the story was not settled around Benjamin, but we got to see other characters’ mind and actions, which was a great way in which we got to explore the history of Island City and the surroundings. We got multiple points of view, and we got to see the action through almost every character’s eyes, even though the villain’s.
The Book
Knightfall is that kind of book full of action and lets you just a couple of seconds to breathe and starts again with the action. It has a lot of mystery, smart characters and some of the nasty villains, with brains and a purpose.
May 16, 2013
Knightfall by Robert Lawrence
Ben Knight, a child prodigy in the field of physics, was taken from his family to work for Excelsior in order to perform research. By age 15, he had found a way to access limitless free energy.
As he and his team of scientists were celebrating his scientific prowess, a group of mercenaries broke into the underground lab. During the resulting gun fight, Ben was flung into the sphere of light produced by his test and that was once protected by a containment field. He was knocked unconscious by the blast.
Once he regained consciousness, he is alone. The lab is empty. When he goes outside, it is no longer summer. For some reason, it is now the height of winter with snow deep upon the ground. Ben finds himself about to be thrust into the adventure of a lifetime.
Knightfall is a surprisingly fresh, creative story, taking the reader on an adventure unlike any other. The characters become friends and hated enemies and the reader becomes swept along in the saga of their lives. The landscape - while changed - is eerily familiar, hauntingly reminding the reader of home, and whispering the hope of wonderful possibilities for the future.
This novel was provided by the author as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ben Knight, a child prodigy in the field of physics, was taken from his family to work for Excelsior in order to perform research. By age 15, he had found a way to access limitless free energy.
As he and his team of scientists were celebrating his scientific prowess, a group of mercenaries broke into the underground lab. During the resulting gun fight, Ben was flung into the sphere of light produced by his test and that was once protected by a containment field. He was knocked unconscious by the blast.
Once he regained consciousness, he is alone. The lab is empty. When he goes outside, it is no longer summer. For some reason, it is now the height of winter with snow deep upon the ground. Ben finds himself about to be thrust into the adventure of a lifetime.
Knightfall is a surprisingly fresh, creative story, taking the reader on an adventure unlike any other. The characters become friends and hated enemies and the reader becomes swept along in the saga of their lives. The landscape - while changed - is eerily familiar, hauntingly reminding the reader of home, and whispering the hope of wonderful possibilities for the future.
This novel was provided by the author as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 18, 2016
This novel follows Benjamin Knight, a teenager and scientific prodigy. An experiment gone wrong sends him to a distant, post-apocalyptic future (though in truth a pocket reality). It’s a land of crude steam engines and feudal lords where most if not all remnants of the past are long forgotten. Before he can adjust, Ben’s technological know-how plunges him into the middle of a conspiracy he doesn’t understand.
If that synopsis sounds familiar to you, you probably shouldn’t read this book. Its first and greatest flaw is that it brings nothing new to the table. The second is the author’s tendency to signal everything that’s going to happen well ahead of time. Finally, every character is a bland archetype, and Ben himself has as much agency as a potato.
Neither the setting nor the plot hit any new beats, and it only takes a few pages for the whole thing to become predictable. Of course the experiment goes wrong. Of course nobody is who they seem. Of course there’s a villain who gets off on torturing people, because why wouldn’t he? There’s a war, a princess equivalent, and a long journey that mostly involves camping and running from the villains. You could say the same of many adventure novels, but there’s nothing in this one to make it stand out.
The setting doesn’t contribute much, either. The author spends an unnecessary amount of time describing the world, which spaces out the action too much. Although I initially dismissed it as another post-apocalyptic future, further discussion with the author revealed that it was in fact a pocket reality reflecting Ben’s own imagination. This never really shone through in the book, at least not in a way that stood out to me, which is a shame since it had far more potential than what I initially believed the setting to be.
The second major problem with the book is excessive foreshadowing. Each chapter begins with a journal entry of Ben’s that, for all purposes, tells the reader exactly what’s going to happen. Instead of framing the story, it gives it away and then leaves the reader to trudge through what follows to its inevitable conclusion. Additionally, most of the twists are given away within the chapter well before they happen. As a result, the book reads more like an extended synopsis than it does a novel.
Finally, the characters. There’s an evil vizier, or whatever you want to call him, who is rubbing his hands together the moment he comes onto the page because he’s so proud of being the villain. He murders, betrays, and tortures with abandon since that’s what all evil, power hungry people apparently do. There are other archetypes as well, the broken woman violent in her grief, the grizzled old warrior, the upstanding young man breaking under the strain of leadership. None of them are realized beyond the most basic confines of their respective archetypes.
At last, we come to Ben. He spends the entire book as a captive or useless lump asking questions about the world for the reader’s benefit. The main characters are the people around him. They’re flat but at least do more than wander around being injured, lost, or confused for an entire book. Ben is little more than a plot device, a Pez dispenser spitting out technology whenever the author feels the need. As written, he should have been a secondary character rather than the focus of the book.
A predictable plot, muddled setting, excessive foreshadowing, and one dimensional characters sabotage this novel before it has a chance to build any steam. This, topped off with a to-be-continued non-ending common to self-published fiction leaves little to be recommended. I give it a 2/5.
If that synopsis sounds familiar to you, you probably shouldn’t read this book. Its first and greatest flaw is that it brings nothing new to the table. The second is the author’s tendency to signal everything that’s going to happen well ahead of time. Finally, every character is a bland archetype, and Ben himself has as much agency as a potato.
Neither the setting nor the plot hit any new beats, and it only takes a few pages for the whole thing to become predictable. Of course the experiment goes wrong. Of course nobody is who they seem. Of course there’s a villain who gets off on torturing people, because why wouldn’t he? There’s a war, a princess equivalent, and a long journey that mostly involves camping and running from the villains. You could say the same of many adventure novels, but there’s nothing in this one to make it stand out.
The setting doesn’t contribute much, either. The author spends an unnecessary amount of time describing the world, which spaces out the action too much. Although I initially dismissed it as another post-apocalyptic future, further discussion with the author revealed that it was in fact a pocket reality reflecting Ben’s own imagination. This never really shone through in the book, at least not in a way that stood out to me, which is a shame since it had far more potential than what I initially believed the setting to be.
The second major problem with the book is excessive foreshadowing. Each chapter begins with a journal entry of Ben’s that, for all purposes, tells the reader exactly what’s going to happen. Instead of framing the story, it gives it away and then leaves the reader to trudge through what follows to its inevitable conclusion. Additionally, most of the twists are given away within the chapter well before they happen. As a result, the book reads more like an extended synopsis than it does a novel.
Finally, the characters. There’s an evil vizier, or whatever you want to call him, who is rubbing his hands together the moment he comes onto the page because he’s so proud of being the villain. He murders, betrays, and tortures with abandon since that’s what all evil, power hungry people apparently do. There are other archetypes as well, the broken woman violent in her grief, the grizzled old warrior, the upstanding young man breaking under the strain of leadership. None of them are realized beyond the most basic confines of their respective archetypes.
At last, we come to Ben. He spends the entire book as a captive or useless lump asking questions about the world for the reader’s benefit. The main characters are the people around him. They’re flat but at least do more than wander around being injured, lost, or confused for an entire book. Ben is little more than a plot device, a Pez dispenser spitting out technology whenever the author feels the need. As written, he should have been a secondary character rather than the focus of the book.
A predictable plot, muddled setting, excessive foreshadowing, and one dimensional characters sabotage this novel before it has a chance to build any steam. This, topped off with a to-be-continued non-ending common to self-published fiction leaves little to be recommended. I give it a 2/5.
August 27, 2013
First posted on: http://nervidetoamna.blogspot.ro/
First, I should say that I was interested in the book because of the plot and to be more specific I liked the idea of the Road Trains. For me it sounded original and I wanted to know how things will change and, maybe, their role in the story will change. But, because I'm not a big fan of the fantasy books I was a little insecure, because I didn't want to dislike the story. When I was reading I was asking myself "would I be surprised?" or "what's going on?", because in the firsts chapters I didn't understand very well what's with the world in which Ben arrived. It's the future or the past? It was a little confusing for me.
Even the world, in my opinion, it was somewhere between the future and the past, I felt that I was reading something that reminded me of the medieval stories. Maybe because of the traders that were traveling around the cities and sell things, or the atmosphere, or because they don't have electricity. But they had trains. This thing was a little bit weird, but not something serious. I really liked the world and that I could see it, it wasn't hard for me to imagine the places and the war that was waiting right after the corner.
I liked how the things developed, and with every chapter the tension was growing, and everywhere you could see enemies, and you really didn't know who to trust. I wasn't exepecting that the killer of the Regent was... *I won't tell you who killed him, you need to find out alone* and that he can be so cruel and bad and... argh, really I don't like him at all. Even is the bad guy, is one very unpleasant to see. Plus, his men are afraid of him. And I think this can be good and bad.
Ben and his new friends, from the begining of the book till the end, had a very stressful journey, full of bullets, cells, blood, betrayals, which made them act more careful, but in the same time they became more quiet, a little bit more mature I think, many of the characters changed in a good way... or not.
I won't speak more about what's going on in the book because you need to read it and to find out yourself, alone, and not from me. But I can say that I really enjoyed, that I liked how the story went and all that was happening, that the author didn't make the characters good or bad, but somehow human... because every human is between the two, depending what he wants. It's a good book, a good start for a series (or trilogy ?), there are many questions that are flying through my head, I want to know what's going to happen, how the war continue, what will happen with Ben and all his friends *that are still alive* and if is someone, there, that can say to him what happened. How he got there? I really want to know, that the response be more clear and to know what happened to the others, in the lab. Where did they go?
So, if you like to read fantasy books, full of adventure and with a spark of "things from the future", with good created characters and true action, if you like wars and blood and fights then you should read this book. I really liked it and I can not wait for the second volume and the nexts.
I ended up gaving this book 4/5.
First, I should say that I was interested in the book because of the plot and to be more specific I liked the idea of the Road Trains. For me it sounded original and I wanted to know how things will change and, maybe, their role in the story will change. But, because I'm not a big fan of the fantasy books I was a little insecure, because I didn't want to dislike the story. When I was reading I was asking myself "would I be surprised?" or "what's going on?", because in the firsts chapters I didn't understand very well what's with the world in which Ben arrived. It's the future or the past? It was a little confusing for me.
Even the world, in my opinion, it was somewhere between the future and the past, I felt that I was reading something that reminded me of the medieval stories. Maybe because of the traders that were traveling around the cities and sell things, or the atmosphere, or because they don't have electricity. But they had trains. This thing was a little bit weird, but not something serious. I really liked the world and that I could see it, it wasn't hard for me to imagine the places and the war that was waiting right after the corner.
I liked how the things developed, and with every chapter the tension was growing, and everywhere you could see enemies, and you really didn't know who to trust. I wasn't exepecting that the killer of the Regent was... *I won't tell you who killed him, you need to find out alone* and that he can be so cruel and bad and... argh, really I don't like him at all. Even is the bad guy, is one very unpleasant to see. Plus, his men are afraid of him. And I think this can be good and bad.
Ben and his new friends, from the begining of the book till the end, had a very stressful journey, full of bullets, cells, blood, betrayals, which made them act more careful, but in the same time they became more quiet, a little bit more mature I think, many of the characters changed in a good way... or not.
I won't speak more about what's going on in the book because you need to read it and to find out yourself, alone, and not from me. But I can say that I really enjoyed, that I liked how the story went and all that was happening, that the author didn't make the characters good or bad, but somehow human... because every human is between the two, depending what he wants. It's a good book, a good start for a series (or trilogy ?), there are many questions that are flying through my head, I want to know what's going to happen, how the war continue, what will happen with Ben and all his friends *that are still alive* and if is someone, there, that can say to him what happened. How he got there? I really want to know, that the response be more clear and to know what happened to the others, in the lab. Where did they go?
So, if you like to read fantasy books, full of adventure and with a spark of "things from the future", with good created characters and true action, if you like wars and blood and fights then you should read this book. I really liked it and I can not wait for the second volume and the nexts.
I ended up gaving this book 4/5.
October 13, 2014
*Note: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review*
3.5 stars
I enjoyed reading Knightfall. It was a good book that was, without a doubt, exciting. I was on the edge of my seat for a good portion of it. I never knew what would happen next!
The Cover:
The cover shows Ben standing on the edge of a mountain with the ruins of a city behind him.
Official Description:
At the age of fifteen, genius Benjamin Knight had developed a technology that would change the world. But when the project is sabotaged, Ben wakes to find himself in a mysterious and unfamiliar land where an uneasy peace hangs in the balance.
Saved from near death by a band of traders, he joins them on their journey north as he struggles to understand the world he's in and how it happened. However, Ben soon realizes that everyone has their secrets and that no one is safe, especial when one man has the power to realize his ambitions.
Ben wants answers, but with war looming, he may not survive long enough to find them in the series that breaks the barrier between science fiction and fantasy!
My Review:
I really enjoyed reading Knightfall though it was very strange. It was very exciting all the way through and also surprisingly complex. My main issue with it was that it was a tad too gory, and I didn't think that some of the gore was necessary to continue the story, which it sometimes is.
I really was impressed by the characters that the author chose to fully develop. They were motivated by their own emotions and experiences and differed greatly from each other. Each character could have easily be identified by their actions without the need for labels since they were so unique. However, there were a few characters that were not picked to be developed, and their character suffered as a result. It would have been impossible to emphasis all of these characters and still continue with the story, so I do not begrudge it too much. However, I think that a fewer number of characters might have benefitted the story.
That said, the plot line was very exciting. It moved from one event to another seamlessly and I was constantly caught off guard by how far Jackson-Lawrence was willing to go. I consistently feared for the characters, and it was always justified! No one was safe. The reader's understanding of the universe Ben finds himself in would often suddenly change, usually accompanied by a few twists or turns. I couldn't help but be on the edge of my seat.
My only real issues with Knightfall were the excessive gore and how exactly Ben crossed into this different world. Having finished the book, I still didn't really have a good idea. Maybe it will be covered in one of the two sequels, but I doubt it. I think we are supposed to just chalk it up to a lab accident, but that doesn't really make any sense to me. (I know that last point is too picky, but it bothered me.)
All in all, I enjoyed reading Knightfall and would recommend it for someone looking for something to read. It was definitely good enough for me to read the sequels, the first of which is Darkest Before Dawn.
Phrase:
The magical electricity
3.5 stars
I enjoyed reading Knightfall. It was a good book that was, without a doubt, exciting. I was on the edge of my seat for a good portion of it. I never knew what would happen next!
The Cover:
The cover shows Ben standing on the edge of a mountain with the ruins of a city behind him.
Official Description:
At the age of fifteen, genius Benjamin Knight had developed a technology that would change the world. But when the project is sabotaged, Ben wakes to find himself in a mysterious and unfamiliar land where an uneasy peace hangs in the balance.
Saved from near death by a band of traders, he joins them on their journey north as he struggles to understand the world he's in and how it happened. However, Ben soon realizes that everyone has their secrets and that no one is safe, especial when one man has the power to realize his ambitions.
Ben wants answers, but with war looming, he may not survive long enough to find them in the series that breaks the barrier between science fiction and fantasy!
My Review:
I really enjoyed reading Knightfall though it was very strange. It was very exciting all the way through and also surprisingly complex. My main issue with it was that it was a tad too gory, and I didn't think that some of the gore was necessary to continue the story, which it sometimes is.
I really was impressed by the characters that the author chose to fully develop. They were motivated by their own emotions and experiences and differed greatly from each other. Each character could have easily be identified by their actions without the need for labels since they were so unique. However, there were a few characters that were not picked to be developed, and their character suffered as a result. It would have been impossible to emphasis all of these characters and still continue with the story, so I do not begrudge it too much. However, I think that a fewer number of characters might have benefitted the story.
That said, the plot line was very exciting. It moved from one event to another seamlessly and I was constantly caught off guard by how far Jackson-Lawrence was willing to go. I consistently feared for the characters, and it was always justified! No one was safe. The reader's understanding of the universe Ben finds himself in would often suddenly change, usually accompanied by a few twists or turns. I couldn't help but be on the edge of my seat.
My only real issues with Knightfall were the excessive gore and how exactly Ben crossed into this different world. Having finished the book, I still didn't really have a good idea. Maybe it will be covered in one of the two sequels, but I doubt it. I think we are supposed to just chalk it up to a lab accident, but that doesn't really make any sense to me. (I know that last point is too picky, but it bothered me.)
All in all, I enjoyed reading Knightfall and would recommend it for someone looking for something to read. It was definitely good enough for me to read the sequels, the first of which is Darkest Before Dawn.
Phrase:
The magical electricity
October 26, 2013
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I had written a review about this book some months back and felt it was necessary to change the review. I had unknowingly received an unedited copy of the book, so I had a lot of problems with the grammar and spelling. I really liked the originality of the story. Benjamin Knight is a genius and is working on a super secret project. During the testing of the project, unknown assailants breach the lab and cause the project that he is working on to malfunction. Benjamin wakes up an unknown amount of time later to a destroyed lab and no trace of any other humans. He finds the world that he is in is similar to the one he knew, yet not. There appeared to be no electricity, no cars; the world seemingly thrust back into the dark ages. Ben finds refuge with a group of people that run a train system that delivers goods and trinkets all over the baronies (as the areas are now called). While with this group of people, he unwittingly sets a plan of a sinister leader into action, causing death, destruction and chaos. Forced to help the people that have helped him, Ben must forget the quest to go home and engage in a fight for his life.
Ben is a really bright, funny and sarcastic kid. At times he shows his age, while others, he seems to have aged a number of years. He is forced to mature in order to deal with the reality of his world and the fact that if he isn't careful, he could end up dead instead of back home. I like how the story is interspersed with old bits of technology from our time and that people use these things as paperweights or decoration, even though they don't work or are broken. R. Jackson-Lawrence has written a vivid, realistic world with characters that the reader can understand and actually care about. When there is drama and heartache in the story, the reader feels it. There is real loathing and a great dislike for the foe in the story; lookout he's a real bastard. The story is not complete in the first book and leaves you with a cliffhanger. You know what is coming in the next book can't be good news for Ben and his friends. You just hope that whatever happens, that Ben will find his happy ending and be able to return home. Though, I'm not too sure that he may still want to after what he has seen and the friends he has made in this world. Looking forward to book #2.
Ben is a really bright, funny and sarcastic kid. At times he shows his age, while others, he seems to have aged a number of years. He is forced to mature in order to deal with the reality of his world and the fact that if he isn't careful, he could end up dead instead of back home. I like how the story is interspersed with old bits of technology from our time and that people use these things as paperweights or decoration, even though they don't work or are broken. R. Jackson-Lawrence has written a vivid, realistic world with characters that the reader can understand and actually care about. When there is drama and heartache in the story, the reader feels it. There is real loathing and a great dislike for the foe in the story; lookout he's a real bastard. The story is not complete in the first book and leaves you with a cliffhanger. You know what is coming in the next book can't be good news for Ben and his friends. You just hope that whatever happens, that Ben will find his happy ending and be able to return home. Though, I'm not too sure that he may still want to after what he has seen and the friends he has made in this world. Looking forward to book #2.
July 3, 2013
Author Robert Lawrence-Jackson says his book is described as, "a Lord of The Rings for the Call of Duty generation", and you know what? I would stand behind that comment without hesitation. Jackson has written a wonderful novel filled with a great story, a new world, and engaging characters. There are so many aspects of this story I enjoyed, from the beginning where it's more of an exploration and adventure novel, to the middle when we're taken off course into the territory of survival and suspense.
The characters were all equally enjoyable. Ben is a very likeable character, young, but smart. Even though he's thrown into a new world, he still has a curiosity to explore and learn. Supporting characters were just as great. Carl was definitely one of my favorites, along with Matthew and Catrina. The antagonist, who I won't name, was a great villain. You could see the evil every time you read about him, but at the same time there was almost a shred of humanity there as well.
There is very little to complain about in Knightfall. There were some grammatical errors, but none that pull you out of the story. My only other complaint would be that I wanted more out of some aspects of the book. I wanted to know more about the experiment in the beginning and who the mercenaries were. I wanted to know more about a couple of the characters, and I was a little confused about whether Ben had been transported into a far distant future, or into another dimension of sorts. Now understand that this is the first book of a series, so Jackson may reveal more about these things in the second book or after. Like I said, these are minor complaints.
Knightfall is a fantastic start to the Chronicle of Benjamin Knight. I'm very anxious to see what happens next. Anyone who enjoys fantasy, science fiction, or overall just a damned good story needs to read this book.
The characters were all equally enjoyable. Ben is a very likeable character, young, but smart. Even though he's thrown into a new world, he still has a curiosity to explore and learn. Supporting characters were just as great. Carl was definitely one of my favorites, along with Matthew and Catrina. The antagonist, who I won't name, was a great villain. You could see the evil every time you read about him, but at the same time there was almost a shred of humanity there as well.
There is very little to complain about in Knightfall. There were some grammatical errors, but none that pull you out of the story. My only other complaint would be that I wanted more out of some aspects of the book. I wanted to know more about the experiment in the beginning and who the mercenaries were. I wanted to know more about a couple of the characters, and I was a little confused about whether Ben had been transported into a far distant future, or into another dimension of sorts. Now understand that this is the first book of a series, so Jackson may reveal more about these things in the second book or after. Like I said, these are minor complaints.
Knightfall is a fantastic start to the Chronicle of Benjamin Knight. I'm very anxious to see what happens next. Anyone who enjoys fantasy, science fiction, or overall just a damned good story needs to read this book.
September 30, 2013
This review is being posted on behalf of Mr. Controversy from The Review Board. For the full review, check this LINK.
At certain points, "Knightfall" takes on the feel of a few Popular games and movies:
-Final Fantasy X (specifically)
-Call of Duty
-Lord of the Rings
-The Matrix
-The Planet of the Apes
If you are familiar with the titles, you can easily piece together who fits what roles, as well as the story lines that ODDLY intertwine with one another in the aforementioned titles.
I particularly enjoy the letters at the beginning of each chapter. Each letter gives the reader an idea of what to expect as they read on. For some, it may be a bit bothersome due to removing the surprise factor. However, the reader will still be surprised by the progression of the story as well as its characters.
Here is another story with England's English (realise vs. realized, settee describing a couch, etc.) which always tickles and have tickled me.
This story is quite lengthy (approximately 300 pages), and will take a week or two to complete. The reader may find themselves dozing off with the book in their hand(s). Dependent on the person, this is either a good or a bad thing. If one has a penchant for good long novels, this is the book for you. If one does not have the patience, it is best that they skip this book (at the same time, it doesn't hurt to read something different and new).
An extra pair of eyes is necessary for maximum effectiveness of sentence structure and smoothness of the storytelling. (example given in extended review)
"Knightfall" can and will satisfy the late night hankering of those looking for a bountiful harvest that will quell the deepest literary hunger. I strongly advise picking up "Knightfall", and taking a look at something that you may very well enjoy.
At certain points, "Knightfall" takes on the feel of a few Popular games and movies:
-Final Fantasy X (specifically)
-Call of Duty
-Lord of the Rings
-The Matrix
-The Planet of the Apes
If you are familiar with the titles, you can easily piece together who fits what roles, as well as the story lines that ODDLY intertwine with one another in the aforementioned titles.
I particularly enjoy the letters at the beginning of each chapter. Each letter gives the reader an idea of what to expect as they read on. For some, it may be a bit bothersome due to removing the surprise factor. However, the reader will still be surprised by the progression of the story as well as its characters.
Here is another story with England's English (realise vs. realized, settee describing a couch, etc.) which always tickles and have tickled me.
This story is quite lengthy (approximately 300 pages), and will take a week or two to complete. The reader may find themselves dozing off with the book in their hand(s). Dependent on the person, this is either a good or a bad thing. If one has a penchant for good long novels, this is the book for you. If one does not have the patience, it is best that they skip this book (at the same time, it doesn't hurt to read something different and new).
An extra pair of eyes is necessary for maximum effectiveness of sentence structure and smoothness of the storytelling. (example given in extended review)
"Knightfall" can and will satisfy the late night hankering of those looking for a bountiful harvest that will quell the deepest literary hunger. I strongly advise picking up "Knightfall", and taking a look at something that you may very well enjoy.
August 22, 2013
This was a great book! filled with adventure and intrigue I couldn't put it down! R. Jackson-Lawrence sets the story well and I was intrigued from the very beginning.
Ben is a brilliant scientist at the tender age of 5 he was able to do things others couldn't and it set him apart from the other children. What Ben didn't know was that others were out to get their hands on his brains and would stop at nothing to get what they wanted out of him.
By the age of 15 Ben is the most brilliant Scientist the world has ever seen and he has built a machine that others have never thought possible and now others are after it too!
Due to unforeseen circumstance Ben is Transported in another world not his own and his doesn't know if he will ever get home. How did he get here? and what has happened to his world? how will he ever get home from here?
As he makes new friends and new discoveries around every corner Ben learns new things about himself and this strange new place he has ended up in, he learns they are all keeping secrets and he is determined to put the puzzle pieces of this world together and go home.
Excellent Story I loved all the characters Each and every one of them were awesome in there own ways and I couldn't say I had a overall favourite besides Ben. Ben was wicked smart! I couldn't believe how smart and dumb at the same time...LOL...you could tell he was still a teen as he would get himself into situations that would require him to talk his way out of trouble...lol
I think R. Jackson-Lawrence is a awesome Author and I would defiantly read more of his work! If you haven't yet read Knightfall it sooo needs to be on you to-read list! so get it NOW~
Ben is a brilliant scientist at the tender age of 5 he was able to do things others couldn't and it set him apart from the other children. What Ben didn't know was that others were out to get their hands on his brains and would stop at nothing to get what they wanted out of him.
By the age of 15 Ben is the most brilliant Scientist the world has ever seen and he has built a machine that others have never thought possible and now others are after it too!
Due to unforeseen circumstance Ben is Transported in another world not his own and his doesn't know if he will ever get home. How did he get here? and what has happened to his world? how will he ever get home from here?
As he makes new friends and new discoveries around every corner Ben learns new things about himself and this strange new place he has ended up in, he learns they are all keeping secrets and he is determined to put the puzzle pieces of this world together and go home.
Excellent Story I loved all the characters Each and every one of them were awesome in there own ways and I couldn't say I had a overall favourite besides Ben. Ben was wicked smart! I couldn't believe how smart and dumb at the same time...LOL...you could tell he was still a teen as he would get himself into situations that would require him to talk his way out of trouble...lol
I think R. Jackson-Lawrence is a awesome Author and I would defiantly read more of his work! If you haven't yet read Knightfall it sooo needs to be on you to-read list! so get it NOW~
August 26, 2013
It’s refreshing to read something like this once in a while. And when I say something like this I am of course talking about a story with a teenager that has a brain and is capable to take decisions that helps him stay alive. Ben is a strong main character, of course a genius, but a little naïve. He seems to always trust the wrong persons. He is not the absolute hero and often needs saving. Benjamin is just a real teenager, a very smart one, lost in a world he cannot understand.
I wouldn’t know where to place Knightfall. We don’t get answers to all the questions in the first volume and labeling the book as a distopy, fantasy or science fiction is very hard. We have the new mysterious world he ended up in, where there is no electricity and his world seems to have never existed, but he woke up in the same laboratory he was working in. Others might find this a minus, but I enjoyed the mystery behind the new universe. It makes me ask questions, it makes me theorize and no matter what others say I like being wrong when I try to guess something in a book. This means that is unpredictable, which is a good thing.
Another thing that I loved was the love (ish) story. It is not exactly the center of attention, and Benjamin is charmed by the princess’s appearance from the first moment he lays eyes on her, but the thing he is focused on is to try and save people.
And the thing I was not very happy about was the shifting between POVs. I know that it was necessary, because we needed to see other character’s actions while Ben was away, but every time it took me a while to get used to it.
Other than that, I absolutely enjoyed the story, the characters and the mystery.
I wouldn’t know where to place Knightfall. We don’t get answers to all the questions in the first volume and labeling the book as a distopy, fantasy or science fiction is very hard. We have the new mysterious world he ended up in, where there is no electricity and his world seems to have never existed, but he woke up in the same laboratory he was working in. Others might find this a minus, but I enjoyed the mystery behind the new universe. It makes me ask questions, it makes me theorize and no matter what others say I like being wrong when I try to guess something in a book. This means that is unpredictable, which is a good thing.
Another thing that I loved was the love (ish) story. It is not exactly the center of attention, and Benjamin is charmed by the princess’s appearance from the first moment he lays eyes on her, but the thing he is focused on is to try and save people.
And the thing I was not very happy about was the shifting between POVs. I know that it was necessary, because we needed to see other character’s actions while Ben was away, but every time it took me a while to get used to it.
Other than that, I absolutely enjoyed the story, the characters and the mystery.
November 18, 2013
***Written by Lizzie Andrews for The Book Landers***
To be perfectly honest Knightfall was a breath of fresh air. The plot was fast paced; every character that you were introduced to served his/her purpose and was included in the story line. I am not a huge fan of the dystopian genre or science fiction but I was pleasantly surprised with this book! It has begun to change my opinion on a genre that I really never thought much about. It wasn’t that I hated it, I just never had much interest in it.
I was not a big fan of the character Alexander and would have liked to reach into the book to smack him in the head but then again every story needs a bad guy. However, the genius Benjamin was fantastic. He really went with the tide in this story. We didn’t hear the whole book, why me? He just jumped right in and got his feet wet. He also showed an amazing amount of maturity for a character that was supposed to be age 15. Then again, he is a genius who seems forced to have grown up very quickly. Which could account for his level of maturity. His character was extremely well developed, as were the supporting characters in the book.
The plot was fast paced, and had quite a few things happen that I don’t think the readers could see coming. Even though the ending was kind of expected, I was still rooting for it to go the other way. I really wanted it to!
I couldn’t put the book down once I started. Knightfall is an amazing start to The Chronicles of Benjamin Knight series. R. Jackson-Lawrence has a brand new fan here! I can’t wait until book number two is ready so we can pick up where we left off!
To be perfectly honest Knightfall was a breath of fresh air. The plot was fast paced; every character that you were introduced to served his/her purpose and was included in the story line. I am not a huge fan of the dystopian genre or science fiction but I was pleasantly surprised with this book! It has begun to change my opinion on a genre that I really never thought much about. It wasn’t that I hated it, I just never had much interest in it.
I was not a big fan of the character Alexander and would have liked to reach into the book to smack him in the head but then again every story needs a bad guy. However, the genius Benjamin was fantastic. He really went with the tide in this story. We didn’t hear the whole book, why me? He just jumped right in and got his feet wet. He also showed an amazing amount of maturity for a character that was supposed to be age 15. Then again, he is a genius who seems forced to have grown up very quickly. Which could account for his level of maturity. His character was extremely well developed, as were the supporting characters in the book.
The plot was fast paced, and had quite a few things happen that I don’t think the readers could see coming. Even though the ending was kind of expected, I was still rooting for it to go the other way. I really wanted it to!
I couldn’t put the book down once I started. Knightfall is an amazing start to The Chronicles of Benjamin Knight series. R. Jackson-Lawrence has a brand new fan here! I can’t wait until book number two is ready so we can pick up where we left off!
September 9, 2013
4.5 stars!! This was a great story, and the premiss is one that has so much potential~ I can't wait to find out what the author has in store for the rest of the series. We start out with Benjamin Knight (Ben), a child genius who has been isolated from his family, and pretty much lives in a secret laboratory. Young Ben, along with a group of scientist at his disposal, are working on an experiment to create energy from space (or something along those lines). As with most high profile, and potentially profitable experiments, someone else wants the secret to his discoveries ~ enter bad guys. We don't know who the bad guys are, but there is an accident and suddenly we awake as Ben does ~ in a very dystopian-ish world. This is where everything got fabulous for me! Ben luckily meets up with a merry band of men and women, who become a surrogate family. I loved, loved, loved the Road Train crew! I won't give anymore away, but this story will keep you guessing all the way through. There was quite a science fiction feel to this book (hence the whole laboratory bit), but there was a wonderful, mystical, fantasy core at the center. Once I got going on this adventure I had a hard time turning it off. I would be out at dinner with my family, trying to figure out what the Regent's motive was (trust me you will be doing the same thing). If you enjoy fantasy worlds, and a little dystopian YA you will love this book.
I want to thank the author for providing me with a complimentary trip to Island City, in exchange for my honest review.
I want to thank the author for providing me with a complimentary trip to Island City, in exchange for my honest review.
August 30, 2013
Benjamin Knight is a not so typical 15 years old boy. What makes him different? The fact that he is a genius and works for a very important company, Excelsior. He was forced by circumstances to see his parents less and his laboratory more often, but even so, he looks like a happy boy.
On the day he starts working at a very important projects along with his colleagues, everything in his life goes downhill. In the same day his project is sabotaged, he loses those that took care of him, much like his parents did and someone he thought it was his friend betrays him.
That is the day he finds himself thrown in a middle of a world he cannot understand. As much as it scared Ben, I found that new world fascinating. He was his entire life surrounded by technology and science and now everything is gone. Humanity seemed to have regressed and mild technology is regarded like long lost antiques. Actually electricity and laboratories are mere fables, children stories.
This new world raised my interest from the very beginning. I found it a little difficult to actually start the book, because there is no way you could put it under a genre, but once you start entering in the actual story, there is no way you can stop.
I liked Ben as a character; he is portrait as a normal teenager occasionally having a hero complex. He feels responsible for his friends so he does whatever it takes to help them. I also liked the supporting characters, but most of all I enjoyed the villain, old fashioned, smart, manipulative and with a hunger for power.
On the day he starts working at a very important projects along with his colleagues, everything in his life goes downhill. In the same day his project is sabotaged, he loses those that took care of him, much like his parents did and someone he thought it was his friend betrays him.
That is the day he finds himself thrown in a middle of a world he cannot understand. As much as it scared Ben, I found that new world fascinating. He was his entire life surrounded by technology and science and now everything is gone. Humanity seemed to have regressed and mild technology is regarded like long lost antiques. Actually electricity and laboratories are mere fables, children stories.
This new world raised my interest from the very beginning. I found it a little difficult to actually start the book, because there is no way you could put it under a genre, but once you start entering in the actual story, there is no way you can stop.
I liked Ben as a character; he is portrait as a normal teenager occasionally having a hero complex. He feels responsible for his friends so he does whatever it takes to help them. I also liked the supporting characters, but most of all I enjoyed the villain, old fashioned, smart, manipulative and with a hunger for power.
June 2, 2013
3.5 star book. I got this as a goodreads giveaway and found that it was an enjoyable read. The adventure of Benjamin Knight as he realizes he is another place and time after an accident during a laboratory experiment was action packed and quick paced. The characters were for the most part interesting, if at times they seemed to be a bit one sided. Ben makes for a nice main character with his struggles to understand his surroundings and trying to deal with the events that seem to be happening to and around him due to his knowledge, which while common to him is like from stories for those of this new world. Overall the plot line is interesting and it makes for a fun light read that was nice. One thing that I found a little disappointing were the journal entries at the start of each chapter, mainly because they gave a quick overview of the chapter so it too a bit of the suspense out of it. While it didn't take away from the story itself I would have rather enjoyed them not being there. I liked this book and look forward to the next chapter in the Chronicles of Benjamin Knight, especially with how this book ended. To sum up short, this book is worth a read and delivers a lot of action and adventure that make the pages fly by.
May 26, 2013
KnightFall by Robert Lawrence
Ben a 15 year-old genius is forced into servitude with the company Excelsior Technologies to research and discover limitless energy. With his parents conveniently and slightly suspiciously taken out of the picture, he focuses attention on his work. On the brink of testing a new discovery, something goes wrong and Ben survives an explosion only to awake and find he has been slammed through time into the future where the dark ages have begun again.
Rescued by a band of train traders, he explores this new world while making friends, discovering new enemies, and eventually becoming involved in helping to stop a useless war between the North and South regions.
Although this is not my normal genre, I have found this scifi-fantasy to be unique and original. The author, Robert Lawrence, has created a new world and given birth to characters that make you feel either love or hate. His story flowed smoothly and kept my interest as a reader. I look forward to the sequel anxiously, as I am eager to find out what Ben’s future and his new-found friend’s future will hold for them. If you are a scifi-fantasy reader and you are looking for a change and something original, I would definitely recommend this book.
Ben a 15 year-old genius is forced into servitude with the company Excelsior Technologies to research and discover limitless energy. With his parents conveniently and slightly suspiciously taken out of the picture, he focuses attention on his work. On the brink of testing a new discovery, something goes wrong and Ben survives an explosion only to awake and find he has been slammed through time into the future where the dark ages have begun again.
Rescued by a band of train traders, he explores this new world while making friends, discovering new enemies, and eventually becoming involved in helping to stop a useless war between the North and South regions.
Although this is not my normal genre, I have found this scifi-fantasy to be unique and original. The author, Robert Lawrence, has created a new world and given birth to characters that make you feel either love or hate. His story flowed smoothly and kept my interest as a reader. I look forward to the sequel anxiously, as I am eager to find out what Ben’s future and his new-found friend’s future will hold for them. If you are a scifi-fantasy reader and you are looking for a change and something original, I would definitely recommend this book.
June 8, 2013
I am not in the habit of writing reviews for my own book but this is a copy of the review my nephew wrote (on paper, I will transcribe it word for word including spelling mistakes and scan it into my blog if you want to check it out at http://jackson-lawrence.blogspot.co.uk/ )
Book report by Scott Deverell-Lawrence
Title: The chronicle of Benjamin Knight
Author: Robert Jackson-Lawrence
Main characters: Benjamin, Carl, Matthew, Alexander, Safran, and Catrina
Storyline: The main storyline is : There is an explosion at the lab Benjamin is in, he wanders out into the snow, he is picked up by the road trains, the regent is assassinated, the new regent (Alexander) rages war on the south baronies, the army starts marching to the south baronies, Benjamin and his friends go to Benjamin's old lab, Benjamin and his friends arrive at the south baronies.
Favourite part: My favourite part is when Alexander's army enters the south baronies and kills all the guards because it is really gory.
My opiniun: My opiniun is that this book is stupendous because, even though I'm not a huge fan of Sci-Fi warfare, this novel really captured my mind.
Reccomend: I would recommend this novel for early teens to O.A.P's 5/5 stars *****
Book report by Scott Deverell-Lawrence
Title: The chronicle of Benjamin Knight
Author: Robert Jackson-Lawrence
Main characters: Benjamin, Carl, Matthew, Alexander, Safran, and Catrina
Storyline: The main storyline is : There is an explosion at the lab Benjamin is in, he wanders out into the snow, he is picked up by the road trains, the regent is assassinated, the new regent (Alexander) rages war on the south baronies, the army starts marching to the south baronies, Benjamin and his friends go to Benjamin's old lab, Benjamin and his friends arrive at the south baronies.
Favourite part: My favourite part is when Alexander's army enters the south baronies and kills all the guards because it is really gory.
My opiniun: My opiniun is that this book is stupendous because, even though I'm not a huge fan of Sci-Fi warfare, this novel really captured my mind.
Reccomend: I would recommend this novel for early teens to O.A.P's 5/5 stars *****
November 14, 2014
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was quickly drawn into this book, the main character was intriguing and I was quite taken with him. Then, to make things even more awesome, there's a whole shift in the story moving it from the modern world into some strange futuristic wasteland.
Lots of drama. I found myself being quite taken with several characters. Some things happen that made me want to smack my head against the door and scream at them, because I could see something happening and I wish they would just listen to me!
I listened to the audiobook version, and was not very impressed with the voice actor. The main character is clearly British, yet he is given an American voice... as is most everyone else. Except the villain - because villains are always British and smart sounding.
The story itself was pretty good, and I'd have rated it 4/5 platypires... but because of the issues with the audiobook, my rating is 3/5 Platypires.
http://www.platypire.com/j-hooligan/k...
I was quickly drawn into this book, the main character was intriguing and I was quite taken with him. Then, to make things even more awesome, there's a whole shift in the story moving it from the modern world into some strange futuristic wasteland.
Lots of drama. I found myself being quite taken with several characters. Some things happen that made me want to smack my head against the door and scream at them, because I could see something happening and I wish they would just listen to me!
I listened to the audiobook version, and was not very impressed with the voice actor. The main character is clearly British, yet he is given an American voice... as is most everyone else. Except the villain - because villains are always British and smart sounding.
The story itself was pretty good, and I'd have rated it 4/5 platypires... but because of the issues with the audiobook, my rating is 3/5 Platypires.
http://www.platypire.com/j-hooligan/k...
June 25, 2013
A jolly good adventure is my initial response. The story deals very well with many human emotions ie loss, love, confusion, loneliness, anger etc as the plot develops. It is an unusual plot. Not sure I would put it in fantasy yet as there isn't much in the way of magic or fantasy creatures. It's more in another dimension so far. Characters develop in that wonderful way so you get to know them well. This is another one of those books I could easily have given 5 stars, but there are still some minor editing issues that need ironing out. I'm eager to continue the journey.
July 8, 2013
Knightfall is the first in a series following the tale of Ben Knightfall, a teenage techie-genius who, through an experiment gone awry combined with an unexpected attack, winds up in a world and time not his own. While he works to figure out what happened and how to return home, he is taken in by a group of traveling merchants and becomes embroiled in a civil war. This story reminded me a little bit of the television series Revolution, where electricity is a commodity beyond reach.
August 5, 2013
I agree with Dianne's review: this story was marvelous! The author kept me fully engaged throughout. My two favorite characters are Carl and Alexander. Gritty, gripping storytelling! This is a new author to keep your eye on. Talented use of characterization and pacing. For me, this was 104,663 words of pure entertainment!
Robert, hearty congratulations!
I'm so thoroughly impressed that I feature the author on my blog: http://williambryanmiller.com/?p=167
Robert, hearty congratulations!
I'm so thoroughly impressed that I feature the author on my blog: http://williambryanmiller.com/?p=167
July 13, 2013
i finally read it after all this time and its well worth reading id thoroughly recommend it for anyone if i hadnt have won it id probably have bought it if someone told me its a good book cant wait for next instalment looking forward to when its out i shall certainly buy it
May 15, 2015
Started off with a good premise but then it felt like it just drew on forever. There were too p.o.v's (I think it was 6). For some reason I just couldn't get into it. Probably wont continue the rest of the series.
October 24, 2013
meh, Benjamin is a poorly though out character. Matthew and Carl are more robust. Too much torture for me. Not going to be picking this up in volume 2.
January 28, 2016
Review to come.
May 23, 2016
main character is smart enough to solve mathematic riddles thats stump people for years. Too bad he is a idiot. Didn't finish..
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