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A Knight's Journey #1
The Apprentice
Rowan has lived with his father and his brother in the hills of the Corrinthian Valley for almost seventeen years. He knows that his family's farm holds only chores and plants and predictability. He can envision exactly how his life will play out. Every day. Every season. When the apples will fall and when the frost will come. Always the same, year after year. It is not the life for him. So when a storm brings with it a strange visitor, a knight named Baird, Rowan seizes the opportunity and leaves his home behind. He travels with Baird to the capitol city of Estoria, but the life he finds there is filled with difficult choices and responsibilities. A threat is looming, and the capitol and the royal family may be in need of Baird and Rowan now more than ever.
390 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 14, 2014
57 people are currently reading
798 people want to read
About the author
Alexander C. Hoffman
2 books51 followersAlex Hoffman is the eldest of four children and currently lives in Covington, WA with his wife Carissa and their cat, Lord Peregrine the Gray. He has always loved to read and write, favoring the genres of fantasy and science fiction. When he is not writing or reading, his hobbies include tabletop gaming, hiking, and sleeping. The Knight’s Journey series is his first published work, with more to come.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 12, 2025
This excellently written adventure is a coming of age tale which follows a swordsman's apprentice. YA readers will learn a lot about the valley farm, where Rowan seems destined to eke out a subsistence living on the land, then about his travels. A tall stranger with a fine sword comes through the area looking for a night's shelter, and Rowan knows this is his one and only chance to leave home. His older brother is staying, and as the years pass, their father will need more help, not less.
The landscape dictates the journey, which is well evoked, broken by towns and ending in a city with a castle. Here is the royal family, and here Baird announces Rowan is his apprentice and sets about getting him a sword. He's about to need a sword, more than he ever expected.
If you have played a game like Dungeon Siege or enjoyed the Robin Hobb book Assassin's Apprentice, this will be a great read for you. I did find some of the castle barracks life a bit drawn out, because I wasn't about to waste time getting to like people, if they were either not going to be met again once the main character journeyed, or going to meet a sticky end (I've read such books!). However, younger readers keen to appreciate the daily life of a guardsman in training will get more out of this part. I enjoyed all the experience of sizing Rowan up for the right kind of sword.
The writing pays great attention to detail, such as a dining implement for breaking ice on the surface of a tankard, so that the only complaint I can summon is that I'd have liked more nature detail; more animals, skeins of wild birds overhead on the plains, what kinds of berries and edible leaves can be found by foraging. Spelling and grammar are carefully checked, and personalities are distinct and easy to remember. I'll look forward to Rowan's further adventures; while the tale doesn't end on a cliffhanger, it does set him up for plenty of challenges. I didn't see magic, just treachery, but who knows what will be in the next instalment?
This is an unbiased review.
The landscape dictates the journey, which is well evoked, broken by towns and ending in a city with a castle. Here is the royal family, and here Baird announces Rowan is his apprentice and sets about getting him a sword. He's about to need a sword, more than he ever expected.
If you have played a game like Dungeon Siege or enjoyed the Robin Hobb book Assassin's Apprentice, this will be a great read for you. I did find some of the castle barracks life a bit drawn out, because I wasn't about to waste time getting to like people, if they were either not going to be met again once the main character journeyed, or going to meet a sticky end (I've read such books!). However, younger readers keen to appreciate the daily life of a guardsman in training will get more out of this part. I enjoyed all the experience of sizing Rowan up for the right kind of sword.
The writing pays great attention to detail, such as a dining implement for breaking ice on the surface of a tankard, so that the only complaint I can summon is that I'd have liked more nature detail; more animals, skeins of wild birds overhead on the plains, what kinds of berries and edible leaves can be found by foraging. Spelling and grammar are carefully checked, and personalities are distinct and easy to remember. I'll look forward to Rowan's further adventures; while the tale doesn't end on a cliffhanger, it does set him up for plenty of challenges. I didn't see magic, just treachery, but who knows what will be in the next instalment?
This is an unbiased review.
August 23, 2023
A fantastically done first novel here. Though the first half was a bit more drawn out than I really would have liked, the second half got significantly better, and the ending had me on the edge of my seat and speed reading (and without giving spoilers - even brought a tear to my eye). There were some parts that I wish were more descriptive, while we got a great sense of characters and their motives, I feel like we really just lightly glossed over the visual information to help paint a mental picture.
Looking forward to getting into the second book and continuing the story!
Looking forward to getting into the second book and continuing the story!
February 11, 2015
I read a copy of this book to give it an honest review. The premise of the story is simple, a young boy named Rowan wants to see the outside world and leave his village and he gets a chance when a mysterious knight comes t stay at his house during a storm. Rowan leaves with him and that's when the story picks up speed. "A Knight's Journey: The Apprentice" by Alexander C. Hoffman is book 1 in the the series and you can tell that Rowan will grow in rank and as a character as the series continue.
The author takes a lot of time developing his characters and the settings. The couple of the starting chapters are all about Rowan's life on his farm and his desire to leave. With a page length of near 400 the story can get a bit tedious, but if you keep reading long enough you will definitely end up appreciating the author's style of story telling. I personally liked princess Eliza, it's all good to have interesting female characters in a story.
"A Knight's Journey: The Apprentice" is by no means a quick read but it sure is an enjoyable fantasy story about how the world changes for a young farmer's boy.
Note: The same review has been posted on Amazon US, and UK.
The author takes a lot of time developing his characters and the settings. The couple of the starting chapters are all about Rowan's life on his farm and his desire to leave. With a page length of near 400 the story can get a bit tedious, but if you keep reading long enough you will definitely end up appreciating the author's style of story telling. I personally liked princess Eliza, it's all good to have interesting female characters in a story.
"A Knight's Journey: The Apprentice" is by no means a quick read but it sure is an enjoyable fantasy story about how the world changes for a young farmer's boy.
Note: The same review has been posted on Amazon US, and UK.
January 28, 2015
A Knight's Journey follows young Rowan, a curious and adventurous youth I'll-suited for the life of a farmer. So when a mysterious armed stranger shows up on his family's doorstep, Rowan sees a possible escape. At first reluctant, the stranger, a wandering knight named Baird, gradually accepts Rowan as his apprentice. On the long, arduous journey back to the royal family to whom Baird has pledged his allegiance, Rowan finds himself being trained in the art of wordplay by his new master.
Soon, Rowan will end up in a world far larger than he had ever imagined; a world far removed from his previous life. As political turmoil swirls around him, Rowan finds his new skills put to the test, as he and his new master face a force that threatens the kingdom's fragile peace.
This book started off at an extremely slow pace, as every part of Rowan's perilous trek is spelled out in great detail. The pace does pick up considerably in the second half, by which time the main characters are fully fleshed out, leading to a very gripping climax and wetting your appetite for Book Two.
Soon, Rowan will end up in a world far larger than he had ever imagined; a world far removed from his previous life. As political turmoil swirls around him, Rowan finds his new skills put to the test, as he and his new master face a force that threatens the kingdom's fragile peace.
This book started off at an extremely slow pace, as every part of Rowan's perilous trek is spelled out in great detail. The pace does pick up considerably in the second half, by which time the main characters are fully fleshed out, leading to a very gripping climax and wetting your appetite for Book Two.
March 1, 2015
Right off the bat the author does a nice job drawing us into the story with a clear sense of the hero’s goal and the obstacles before him. The relationship dynamics between him and his father, and between all the characters in the book are nicely defined, and bristling with tension and conflict on the horizon. The world building is vivid and poignant. And nothing comes at the reader too fast or too unsorted to create confusion. The pacing felt just right for an act 1, and as one would suspect, the tempo picks up as the story progresses, as it should. This is solid epic heroic fantasy, not a hybrid or mixed genre piece. So genre purists can breathe easy.
The document is immaculately proofed and devoid of typos, and the line by line editing is also crisp, lending an easy flow to the words.
The young hero’s thirst for adventure, his feeling stifled and bored with his farm life, is a common motif for this genre, and also for sci-fi. I recall a similar set up for Star Wars, episode one, and for many fantasy books that involve a quest of some kind. Still, the author makes the all-too familiar setup his own.
Note: this is YA lit, geared to an audience in the age range of twelve to sixteen, I would imagine, judging by the age of our hero. But obviously, there are readers of all ages who fancy these kinds of tales, myself included. Considering the audience in mind for this one, it was easy to go with five stars, as I can see young kids really enjoying this.
The document is immaculately proofed and devoid of typos, and the line by line editing is also crisp, lending an easy flow to the words.
The young hero’s thirst for adventure, his feeling stifled and bored with his farm life, is a common motif for this genre, and also for sci-fi. I recall a similar set up for Star Wars, episode one, and for many fantasy books that involve a quest of some kind. Still, the author makes the all-too familiar setup his own.
Note: this is YA lit, geared to an audience in the age range of twelve to sixteen, I would imagine, judging by the age of our hero. But obviously, there are readers of all ages who fancy these kinds of tales, myself included. Considering the audience in mind for this one, it was easy to go with five stars, as I can see young kids really enjoying this.
May 19, 2016
A Knight's Journey: The Apprentice by Alexander C. Hoffman is a coming of age tale of a young man Rowan who seems to have his life mapped out for him but, wants to travel his own path. The character Rowan is a typical youth in that he wants to rebel against being a farmer and independently seek what he wants out of life than what his family wants for him, but, unique in that the main character is a young pioneer teaching himself how to read and write making himself more self-sufficient trying to brace himself for what lies ahead in the outside world but, realizes he is not readily prepared for the outside world when he chooses to travel with a knight and learn what it is to be a knight.
Rowan learns that leaving one society (the one he knows so well) for another that is filled with unpredictability and obstacles to overcome as in life. When we leave the nest we explore a world that is unknown. There is a definite philosophy in this story.
Similar to Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” the prisoner leaves the cave and enters the outside world. The light at first hurts his eyes. Thus, expressing the pain of discovering what we thought we knew versus what is true knowledge. To further explore this we must venture into the outside world and experience the knowledge it has to offer. Quoting Socrates "an unexamined life is not worth living.”
Rowan learns that leaving one society (the one he knows so well) for another that is filled with unpredictability and obstacles to overcome as in life. When we leave the nest we explore a world that is unknown. There is a definite philosophy in this story.
Similar to Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” the prisoner leaves the cave and enters the outside world. The light at first hurts his eyes. Thus, expressing the pain of discovering what we thought we knew versus what is true knowledge. To further explore this we must venture into the outside world and experience the knowledge it has to offer. Quoting Socrates "an unexamined life is not worth living.”
March 3, 2016
Rowan has lived with his father and his brother in the hills of the Corrinthian Valley for almost seventeen years. He knows that his family's farm holds only chores and plants and predictability. He can envision exactly how his life will play out. Every day. Every season. When the apples will fall and when the frost will come. Always the same, year after year. It is not the life for him. So when a storm brings with it a strange visitor, a knight named Baird, Rowan seizes the opportunity and leaves his home behind. He travels with Baird to the capitol city of Estoria, but the life he finds there is filled with difficult choices and responsibilities. A threat is looming, and the capitol and the royal family may be in need of Baird and Rowan now more than ever.
This is not your ordinary fantasy Knight and Apprentice novel. This is a coming of age tale of a young man Rowan who seems to have his life mapped out for him but, wants to travel his own path. It is about his trials of becoming a knight and learning about the world around him. I found that this book grabbed me and would not let go. Although I found the ending a bit of a let down, getting there was outstanding. Waiting for the next book and hoping that the main charaters servive to retake thier places. Great Readin Everyone.
This is not your ordinary fantasy Knight and Apprentice novel. This is a coming of age tale of a young man Rowan who seems to have his life mapped out for him but, wants to travel his own path. It is about his trials of becoming a knight and learning about the world around him. I found that this book grabbed me and would not let go. Although I found the ending a bit of a let down, getting there was outstanding. Waiting for the next book and hoping that the main charaters servive to retake thier places. Great Readin Everyone.
April 16, 2019
"It is a poor thing, to value the appearance of knowledge over knowledge itself.”
3.5. The Apprentice is a debut self published novel by Alexander Hoffman. In it begins a coming to age journey with our main character Rowan, as he travels and is apprenticed to a Knight named Baird. The Apprentice take from all the troupes and cliches from fantasies of old and sticks to the tried and true formula. While I didn't mind that so much, the book itself was very slow and the pacing seemed to wear a little bit on me. Throughout the book we are just really exposed to Rowans training and the plot really doesn't pick up till the last 80 pages or so. That being said it would have been nice to have the pacing up a little bit to keep thing interesting.
I did enjoy the character and wish too read more of them, I wished some of them were flushed out some more with questions that I had frequently going unanswered. Overall I did have fun reading the book and it had its good moments. I am not the most excited to jump into the sequel only because I had recently found out that it does not end the series. I may just wait too see if there is a 3rd one that is released and read them both at the same time.
3.5. The Apprentice is a debut self published novel by Alexander Hoffman. In it begins a coming to age journey with our main character Rowan, as he travels and is apprenticed to a Knight named Baird. The Apprentice take from all the troupes and cliches from fantasies of old and sticks to the tried and true formula. While I didn't mind that so much, the book itself was very slow and the pacing seemed to wear a little bit on me. Throughout the book we are just really exposed to Rowans training and the plot really doesn't pick up till the last 80 pages or so. That being said it would have been nice to have the pacing up a little bit to keep thing interesting.
I did enjoy the character and wish too read more of them, I wished some of them were flushed out some more with questions that I had frequently going unanswered. Overall I did have fun reading the book and it had its good moments. I am not the most excited to jump into the sequel only because I had recently found out that it does not end the series. I may just wait too see if there is a 3rd one that is released and read them both at the same time.
February 1, 2015
While over-drawn, some very intriguing parts. A Knight’s Journey has a great premise. A seasoned and decorated knight, Baird, takes on a rough farm boy, Rowan, to be his apprentice. During their travels to the Capitol, Baird trains and instructs his young charge and once in the capital city, learns that skullduggery is rampant as an enemy of the king seeks to destroy him and take over his throne. The author throws in a saucy princess named Eliza, who can stand up for herself. (I really liked her character) While I enjoyed the story, I felt that it was way too long-winded and meandering. Still, I had that feeling about the Lord of the Rings as well. I wanted the action to just ‘hurry up,’ and while the ending and unusual twist was worth it, I suspect some readers will have the patience to make it to the end. Would love to see the novel cut down in size. Still, a good read for the most part.
August 2, 2015
This is a story of a boy with a wanderlust who tags along with a knight who is passing through.
The knight ... well, he's not exactly enamoured of the prospect - at least not initially. The story can seem a little slow initially - it does take it's time in building up the characters concerned.
It's better for it, it's just ... well, just don't expect a high speed action romp from the first page. Expect something with a little more depth and characterisation.
Somewhat inevitably - this is called "the Apprentice" it feels a little like a training montage. But it's not trivial about it, it's very much developing a character who - by the looks of it - might go on to great things.
I know I want to know where this goes next.
The knight ... well, he's not exactly enamoured of the prospect - at least not initially. The story can seem a little slow initially - it does take it's time in building up the characters concerned.
It's better for it, it's just ... well, just don't expect a high speed action romp from the first page. Expect something with a little more depth and characterisation.
Somewhat inevitably - this is called "the Apprentice" it feels a little like a training montage. But it's not trivial about it, it's very much developing a character who - by the looks of it - might go on to great things.
I know I want to know where this goes next.
January 15, 2016
This is currently one of the best books I've read, though the real reason I'm saying that is because I'm a huge fan of the middle ages. I've always been a fan of sword fighting so when I started reading this book I got a bit excited and rarely set it down until I was done with it. It had a good storyline though not necessarily unique. Baird died in the end sadly, but it was a sacrificial death. The book has a lot of action near the end. In the very beginning though their wasn't really a lot of action, and that's not necessarily disappointing as I thought that fact would be the ending completely makes up for that. I really want the author to make a sequel to the book and I hope it's not to far away.
August 5, 2015
Great foundation for a saga
The characters develop quickly and they are easy to like. . . Or dislike either way you will feel strongly about them. The story is solid but at times a bit obvious. Generally I like a bit more tension and mystery however I still found the story enjoyable and would definitely read the next one as I am curious what happens with the young apprentice. I love a good coming of age story
The characters develop quickly and they are easy to like. . . Or dislike either way you will feel strongly about them. The story is solid but at times a bit obvious. Generally I like a bit more tension and mystery however I still found the story enjoyable and would definitely read the next one as I am curious what happens with the young apprentice. I love a good coming of age story
February 24, 2015
The Knight's Journey
An interesting of coming of age book. Baird is the foremost knight of the kingdom, while returning from a secret mission for the king he finds a young man that wishes to leave the isolated region of high forest and mountains. Rowan finds in a world of intrigue and danger.
An interesting of coming of age book. Baird is the foremost knight of the kingdom, while returning from a secret mission for the king he finds a young man that wishes to leave the isolated region of high forest and mountains. Rowan finds in a world of intrigue and danger.
July 7, 2019
I’m pretty biased, since Alex and I have known each other since the first semester of undergrad. I’ll just say that I enjoyed this story and I’m excited to read the next book and see where the characters go from here. :)
January 29, 2015
Loved the book and the great story line and a great ending - leaving me waiting for the next installment.
January 29, 2015
Good plot
The story's flows really nice wish it had more boonies and more beheadings but overall a good book. Peace out
The story's flows really nice wish it had more boonies and more beheadings but overall a good book. Peace out
February 28, 2015
Knight's journey
A good read kind of slow. Doesnt really get going until the last two or three chapters. Looking forward to seeing the second book
A good read kind of slow. Doesnt really get going until the last two or three chapters. Looking forward to seeing the second book
February 27, 2015
Not bad, straightforward book, no surprises but well written
March 26, 2015
So far, so good...
Good story idea, shows promise if he lets this kid grow up. Early yet, still time to go either way. I can only hope.
Good story idea, shows promise if he lets this kid grow up. Early yet, still time to go either way. I can only hope.
April 18, 2015
Excellent srart
Very good foundation for a new series. A bit slow to start but picks up as the story progresses very good, book.
Very good foundation for a new series. A bit slow to start but picks up as the story progresses very good, book.
December 27, 2015
Loved it:)
The ending was intense definitely unexpected and such a crazy plot twist was worth every penny and second of my life
The ending was intense definitely unexpected and such a crazy plot twist was worth every penny and second of my life
January 29, 2016
I loved the book, and the ending was amazing... i am really excited to read the next book...
August 3, 2016
The story's progression was seamless and easy to follow. The pacing is good, ramping nicely with the plot beats and narrative. Hope the next book will come out soon.
October 14, 2016
Absolutely loved this story. Can't wait for book 2.
October 23, 2016
Reads more as a young readers book, or teenage book. Very basic.
Clean, good potential, slow, predictable.
Clean, good potential, slow, predictable.
March 22, 2018
Brilliant
Absolutely loved it from beginning to end. Exciting , well written and good ending. Yes the story has been done before but probably not this well.
Absolutely loved it from beginning to end. Exciting , well written and good ending. Yes the story has been done before but probably not this well.
August 18, 2018
I can’t wait for the sequel
The author did a perfect job of developing his characters. I am so ready for the next book!!!! Write on!
The author did a perfect job of developing his characters. I am so ready for the next book!!!! Write on!
September 3, 2018
I am looking forward to the sequel
October 26, 2024
An enjoyable, quick-ish read about a boy taken so much by wanting to see the world that he leaves his family behind to follow a Knight and become his apprentice.
It's a fine fiction story revolving around this premise and how the main character has to adjust to life in a city and becoming a sword-wielding warrior. There are some emotional beats and character developments that feel a little cushioned/lacking or don't entirely link clearly to one another but it's still a fun read. I'd argue the ending is one of its strongest pieces and it goes to a place where I did not expect at all while reading the rest of the book.
I look forward to reading the sequel.
It's a fine fiction story revolving around this premise and how the main character has to adjust to life in a city and becoming a sword-wielding warrior. There are some emotional beats and character developments that feel a little cushioned/lacking or don't entirely link clearly to one another but it's still a fun read. I'd argue the ending is one of its strongest pieces and it goes to a place where I did not expect at all while reading the rest of the book.
I look forward to reading the sequel.
January 21, 2019
Book 1
I enjoyed book 1. The plot and characters are well developed and had errors throughout. Some of the suspense of the book was over done and repeateditself too much,, but overall was fine. I look forward to book 2.
I enjoyed book 1. The plot and characters are well developed and had errors throughout. Some of the suspense of the book was over done and repeateditself too much,, but overall was fine. I look forward to book 2.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews