The Faerie Knight

The Faerie Knight #1

by David Niemitz, Sarah Murphy (illustrator)

Trist will be the strongest knight of the age... so long as he keeps sending souls to the Faerie King.

Trist's older brother, Percy, was better than him at almost everything - except for swordplay. Percy was their father's heir, and Trist was perfectly content with his future as a Knight of Narvonne, supporting his brother and protecting their family's land.

In a single night, a beautiful faerie of the Court of Shadows shatters everything Trist took for granted.

Now an Exarch, Trist must Tithe souls to Auberon, the Faerie King. Trading those souls grants Trist power, and he'll need it. Three Hundred years ago, an ancient evil nearly destroyed humanity in a Cataclysm. Now, that evil is rising again, and Trist will have to confront it if he wants to protect the people he loves.

Genres: Fantasy, Ebooks, Fae

379 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 3, 2024

About the author

Dave Niemitz is a writer and teacher; he lives with his wife, son, a black cat named Charlie, and a Pug named Duncan.

Reviews

[Char ღ Denae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit, this book creeped me out a bit. Even the cover, though beautiful, is a little creepy.
That being said, I was immersed in this dark fantasy where the border of good v evil blurs. I thought it did move a little slow at times but not enough to deter me from finishing it.
I would definitely recommend The Fairie Knight to anyone who enjoys dark or faerie/paranormal themes. It will grab your attention and keep you riveted.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book on Royal Road, and when it came out in print I splurged to get a hardcover edition for myself. I'm glad I did. The cover art is stunning, and it just gets better once you crack it open. The first act follows the childhood and young adulthood of Trist, a young noble boy with a very peculiar childhood friend. He becomes a knight, and after a terrible mistake, gets drawn into a war with dire consequences for the world.

There is magic, and the worldbuilding is intricate and detailed, but you never feel like you struggle to remember the details of how it all comes together. The various cultures in the book are drawn from real-world cultures and religions, with understanding and respect; nothing feels like a stereotype.

And Trist... ah, poor Trist. He's a very human character, doing his best to live up to his own high morals. He makes mistakes, he isn't perfect or overpowered by any stretch, and he still has a touch of youthful innocence about him. The other characters in the book are just as believable and detailed, from Trist's family to the knights he ends up surrounded by, as well as the various supernatural characters who make an appearance. Every one of them feels well thought out and realistic.

The pacing is quick, but not unbelievably so or jolting. Things build up to the third act in a reasonable way, without unnecessary padding or fluff just for the sake of it. Frankly, I could have luxuriated in this book for a couple weeks, but I finished it in an afternoon once I got a physical copy.

I had a blast reading this, and I'm very much looking forward to the sequels so I can see the rest of this world. It feels like the perfect setting for a TTRPG campaign.

[Nataliesimmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of fantasy that sinks its hooks in from the first page. Trist begins as a likable, quietly confident knight-in-training, happy to let his more accomplished brother shine. But when a faerie of the Court of Shadows offers him a terrible bargain, the story takes a sharp, intoxicating turn into moral grayness and high stakes.

The soul-Tithing system to the Faerie King is brilliant both a source of escalating power and a constant moral burden. Every time Trist draws on that strength, you feel the weight of the cost, and it adds a delicious tension to every fight scene. Speaking of which: the swordplay is kinetic and beautifully described, full of urgency without ever feeling like a blur of generic action.

The lore ancient Cataclysm, rising evil, tangled fae politics feels both epic and grounded, with enough mystery left to keep you desperate for answers. I especially appreciated how the fae aren’t reduced to mischievous tricksters but are genuinely alien, seductive, and dangerous.

If you like morally complex protagonists, magic systems with teeth, and fae courts that are as terrifying as they are alluring, this book delivers in spades. I’ll be impatiently waiting for the sequel, because something tells me Trist’s troubles have only just begun.

[Crystalclearwpg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself at first not really liking this story because I found it was moving alittle too slow for me in the beginning but it did pick up pretty quickly and I devoured it! The concept of good and evil in this dark fantasy was something I was look for to read at this time and this book did a good job of it. I like the characters and found myself lost within the story, the world building was perfect for the time frame it was written, and the fighting scenes were grossly done but I loved them. I can actually say I have not read something like this before. I look forward to continuing on the journey with the second book.
This is an actual 4.5 ⭐ rating
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

holy paladins

A sharp, creative take on knights and paladins under a new banner. The thread-based magical system is front and center, with angels, demons, and fae adding depth. Progression is tight, nothing is handed over, and every fight is quick, focused, and earned. A fresh story that avoids clichés but still feels classic.

Rating: 5/5
Cover Art: 5/5
Narration: N/A
Favorite Line: N/A

[Erica Besore · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little like an Arthurian tale, but with a twist. Not amazing, but not dull either.