Knights Without Ceremony: Insurrection

by Ari Magnusson

"[A]n extraordinary novel, brimming with electrifying twists and turns while maintaining all the lovable tropes and engaging elements of the genre. With both exciting action and thought-provoking politics, there is something for all readers hidden within this tale...[A] perfectly paced page turner." —Publishers Weekly, BookLife Prize Semifinalist

“A page-turning and thought-provoking adventure that insightfully explores a range of important issues affecting young people’s lives.” — Kirkus Reviews

In the war-torn Kingdom of Gorum, Ettan, Drogue, and Kemo dream of becoming knights, but for more than the title and armor. For Ettan, an orphan whose father had been a castle servant and who is now stuck tending the King’s chickens, knighthood would mean an escape from poverty. Drogue, the son of the kingdom’s most powerful lord, might win his father’s approval. And Kemo, despised by some citizens for his dark skin, would finally feel accepted. But the path to knighthood is not as straightforward as they believe, and the three rivals each face tests far more difficult than the battle exercises on the training field. What they decide when faced with a choice between honor and justice or personal gain—and whether to put aside their rivalries to do what is right—will determine who they become and will set the stage for a final battle for the kingdom.

Set in a vividly imagined medieval world, Knights Without Insurrection is a coming-of-age adventure about loyalty, friendship, and finding the courage to do what is right in the face of great personal risk and cost.

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2025

Reviews

[East of Reality · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fast paced adventure story featuring four young men — not just the three on the cover. Ettan, who wants to be a knight not just for the glory but because being a knight comes with land and a title, land he and his brother can use to have their own house, safety and security for their own children. Kemo is a mixed race young man who sees joining the knighthood as a way to gain acceptance and protection in a world that will always see him as other due to his skin color. Drogue, son of a cruel Lord who only wants to please his father even as he grows aware that his father might not be a person who deserves his respect. And Gerit, Ettan’s younger brother who wants to take care of people. Who wants to feed starving children, take care of widows and orphans, and make a lot of money.

For all that Drogue — thanks to his father — is on the opposite site as Ettan, Kemo and Gerit try to save the kingdom from war, he’s given just as much attention, having to wrestle with his desire to be a good son, his desire to be a knight, and wanting to help his father when he thinks his father has gotten in over his head into a situation that Drogue knows is wrong.

Ettan and Gerit are orphans, but both of them go out of their way to care for other people, never asking for help but grateful when it’s given to them. But, to be honest, Gerit felt very much out of place with very modern approaches to feeding the hungry. He steals, he cheats, he lies … but always in a good cause. But his language is all very modern, standing out from everyone else. He’s meant to be more comedic than serious, but I he stands out from the others rather than feeling like one of them.

The writing is good, the pace is fast, and be warned that the book ends on a cliffhanger. Thank you very much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Sherry Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the advantage of four boys Gorum, Ettan, Drogue, and Kemo. They all have dreams of what they want to do with their lives and none of it has been easy! It was a page turner for me from the first page to the last! I absolutely loved it and I can’t wait for more to come!