What do you think?
Rate this book
A Knight's Tale #1
Fall of Knight
For fans of John Green and Rainbow Rowell
A normal teenager Dean Knight is not.
With a mental illness that threatens to take over his sanity; a sister who’s deep in her own problems; and a wasted mother who couldn’t care less about it all, Dean is left to battle real life on his own. School, bullies and medications are his realities.
Then there are also the ghosts, the hallucinations and of course – the monster.
In the middle of it all, when everything seems to lose purpose, hope comes shining down on Dean’s miserable life. Her name is Ella and for one reason or another, she actually wants to be close to Dean. With Ella’s help, the lost teenage boy decides that he could finally win a battle or two – both in real life and in his writing.
But hope is a tricky thing. And the monster seems to know that.
When secrets buried down for almost a decade come out in the open, what do you do?
A normal teenager Dean Knight is not.
With a mental illness that threatens to take over his sanity; a sister who’s deep in her own problems; and a wasted mother who couldn’t care less about it all, Dean is left to battle real life on his own. School, bullies and medications are his realities.
Then there are also the ghosts, the hallucinations and of course – the monster.
In the middle of it all, when everything seems to lose purpose, hope comes shining down on Dean’s miserable life. Her name is Ella and for one reason or another, she actually wants to be close to Dean. With Ella’s help, the lost teenage boy decides that he could finally win a battle or two – both in real life and in his writing.
But hope is a tricky thing. And the monster seems to know that.
When secrets buried down for almost a decade come out in the open, what do you do?
212 pages, Paperback
First published March 23, 2015
1 person is currently reading
759 people want to read
About the author
Steven Cross
32 books126 followersI'm not quite sure how old I am in dirt years, but it's up there anyway. I am an educator and freelance writer who has been married more years than I was single. I love reading YA fiction because it doesn't get stale. YA authors are not afraid to experiment. I love that. I dabble in screenwriting and playwriting and would love to sell a screenplay or option one of my books for a screenplay and then write the script. I have published some plays, but I don't write many of them anymore. My first love is YA fiction, though I read everything from the classics to King to Koontz. I am a diehard St. Louis Cardinal baseball fan. Currently, my wife and I reside in Poplar Bluff, MO. Our daughter and son-in-law also live in Poplar Bluff, MO. Both of them are also in education. Jean and I do the best we can to spoil our two grandkids.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
April 11, 2018
'ARC Generously received from Author in exchange for a honest review'
I have to give a shout out to the publisher(VanD) for giving me the opportunity to have a go @ this well written book:--a stunning look into the mind of a disturb teenager who was pretty much misdiagnose when coming to his mental health symptoms. Included in this brilliant storyline the readers notice how the author gave a varying explanation on the whys and hows certain family/parents do have a history of mental illness which eventually is past down to the children--example from the dad on down to the sister along the mom who also has a drinking problem add to this storyline was the plot twist of the dad having an affair and going on to fathering twins. Then there was Dean having to deal with being bullied-- which needs to be dealt with on a bigger scale in society because its a huge problem(well research book). Highly recommended!
I have to give a shout out to the publisher(VanD) for giving me the opportunity to have a go @ this well written book:--a stunning look into the mind of a disturb teenager who was pretty much misdiagnose when coming to his mental health symptoms. Included in this brilliant storyline the readers notice how the author gave a varying explanation on the whys and hows certain family/parents do have a history of mental illness which eventually is past down to the children--example from the dad on down to the sister along the mom who also has a drinking problem add to this storyline was the plot twist of the dad having an affair and going on to fathering twins. Then there was Dean having to deal with being bullied-- which needs to be dealt with on a bigger scale in society because its a huge problem(well research book). Highly recommended!
March 6, 2015
With "Fall of Knight", Cross has created a taut, realistic young adult novel that explores territory only recently appearing in the genre: the reality of adolescent mental illness.
All too often, young adult novels seem to miss the authenticity of the high school setting - especially when coupled with the reality of bullying and/or mental health issues. Cross brings a long and studied understanding of the realities of the public school system to bear on his portrait of the life his character has to navigate. In addition, he has a keen insight into the layered, angsty, and emotionally fraught mindsets of the high school student that avoids cliche.
Perhaps what sets his novel apart from others is that he couples this knowledge with a frank and honest rendering of one young man's struggle with mental illness. At no point does the author attempt to convince us that mental illness is a subject that can be neatly packaged into a narrative nor does he attempt to provide clean answers for very ugly situations. Instead, he gives young readers what they need: honesty. "Fall of Knight" is an honest, real portrayal of one young man's struggle. A struggle that might provide more questions and uncomfortable feelings than answers and relief; but in doing so, he cuts through all the red tape that often hinders young people from connecting to a novel.
All too often, young adult novels seem to miss the authenticity of the high school setting - especially when coupled with the reality of bullying and/or mental health issues. Cross brings a long and studied understanding of the realities of the public school system to bear on his portrait of the life his character has to navigate. In addition, he has a keen insight into the layered, angsty, and emotionally fraught mindsets of the high school student that avoids cliche.
Perhaps what sets his novel apart from others is that he couples this knowledge with a frank and honest rendering of one young man's struggle with mental illness. At no point does the author attempt to convince us that mental illness is a subject that can be neatly packaged into a narrative nor does he attempt to provide clean answers for very ugly situations. Instead, he gives young readers what they need: honesty. "Fall of Knight" is an honest, real portrayal of one young man's struggle. A struggle that might provide more questions and uncomfortable feelings than answers and relief; but in doing so, he cuts through all the red tape that often hinders young people from connecting to a novel.
March 2, 2015
Absolutely not for those who need to get other things accomplished within a set time frame! Once started, this book was very hard to put down! The author not only dealt with the issue of teenage mental illness but with the current issues facing so many of our teenage population at the current time. Outstanding read!
September 21, 2015
*I received a PDF ARC version of this from a giveaway on LibraryThing.
**This will also be posted on Booklikes and LibraryThing.
In Fall of Knight we follow Dean and his troubles with life and his mental illness. Our eyes open up and as we hear his voice we hear the voice of a broken boy, of a troubled teen, of someone who has monsters that live in his mind and his writing and his life. We learn how one might think and see the world when diagnosed with a mental illness, how they never really know what to do with themselves.
I'm being honest when I say that the content of this book really got to me. Because sometimes, maybe a lot of the time, I feel like Dean does, or like his sister does, and never have I gone through anything like either of them have and so while it makes me feel guilty it also makes me love this book all the more. And so to connect with them was both slightly triggering and a whole lot fascinating.
I also realized though, that sometimes we never really fully realize what’s happening to the people around us when we’re still young, even in teenage years, because we are too absorbed in ourselves and being what society thinks we should be and our own problems that we face. I think maybe we just make ourselves believe nothing is wrong because we don’t want to know that others are hurting and that our world is as dark as it is light. And I think this because in the book, Dean knows his sister is hurting -heck she was crying!- but he was pissed at her and his bipolar nature allowed him to walk away and let her cry because he had his own problems to deal with and although he was able to sleep when she got home and he knew she was safe, he still didn't go up to her and ask why she was crying, and what could have possibly happened. And you can't really blame him either. I don't think you'd really understand why unless you read Fall of Knight yourself. And I suggest you do.
Or maybe not, because not everyone is okay with reading about drugs [they're prescribed to help him but still], and alcohol, and death and suicide and how mental illnesses might affect how one views the world. But even so, maybe you might be okay with this one. I myself loved it, I adore it actually, because of how real and raw it is, but honestly if it's not for you, then it's not for you.
But aside from that, the writing was brilliant, and even while some might find Dean's creativity sometimes weird or creepy or disturbing, I loved it all. His character, all the characters, were real enough and all had their own personalities and their own feelings and not once did I feel forced to read and I never felt like the story was dragging or that maybe it was going too fast. I rather enjoy that even by the end, Dean isn't cured, because honestly, there isn't a cure for a mental illness, there's just pill that dulls your insanity. At least,t hat's what I took from reading this. And it makes a lot of sense too.
I love the twists too, and how what is revealed at the end is a shocking discovery that actually leaves you wondering how you never saw it coming. There were so many hints, about it and it never clicked, but that's great because in no way was this story predictable and I love that. It was just brilliant, and although this book is officially being published tomorrow, I already can't wait for more.
And I know I can't force you to read this, but I seriously recommend it.
**This will also be posted on Booklikes and LibraryThing.
In Fall of Knight we follow Dean and his troubles with life and his mental illness. Our eyes open up and as we hear his voice we hear the voice of a broken boy, of a troubled teen, of someone who has monsters that live in his mind and his writing and his life. We learn how one might think and see the world when diagnosed with a mental illness, how they never really know what to do with themselves.
I'm being honest when I say that the content of this book really got to me. Because sometimes, maybe a lot of the time, I feel like Dean does, or like his sister does, and never have I gone through anything like either of them have and so while it makes me feel guilty it also makes me love this book all the more. And so to connect with them was both slightly triggering and a whole lot fascinating.
I also realized though, that sometimes we never really fully realize what’s happening to the people around us when we’re still young, even in teenage years, because we are too absorbed in ourselves and being what society thinks we should be and our own problems that we face. I think maybe we just make ourselves believe nothing is wrong because we don’t want to know that others are hurting and that our world is as dark as it is light. And I think this because in the book, Dean knows his sister is hurting -heck she was crying!- but he was pissed at her and his bipolar nature allowed him to walk away and let her cry because he had his own problems to deal with and although he was able to sleep when she got home and he knew she was safe, he still didn't go up to her and ask why she was crying, and what could have possibly happened. And you can't really blame him either. I don't think you'd really understand why unless you read Fall of Knight yourself. And I suggest you do.
Or maybe not, because not everyone is okay with reading about drugs [they're prescribed to help him but still], and alcohol, and death and suicide and how mental illnesses might affect how one views the world. But even so, maybe you might be okay with this one. I myself loved it, I adore it actually, because of how real and raw it is, but honestly if it's not for you, then it's not for you.
But aside from that, the writing was brilliant, and even while some might find Dean's creativity sometimes weird or creepy or disturbing, I loved it all. His character, all the characters, were real enough and all had their own personalities and their own feelings and not once did I feel forced to read and I never felt like the story was dragging or that maybe it was going too fast. I rather enjoy that even by the end, Dean isn't cured, because honestly, there isn't a cure for a mental illness, there's just pill that dulls your insanity. At least,t hat's what I took from reading this. And it makes a lot of sense too.
I love the twists too, and how what is revealed at the end is a shocking discovery that actually leaves you wondering how you never saw it coming. There were so many hints, about it and it never clicked, but that's great because in no way was this story predictable and I love that. It was just brilliant, and although this book is officially being published tomorrow, I already can't wait for more.
And I know I can't force you to read this, but I seriously recommend it.
March 10, 2015
Very edgy for young adult fiction, Fall of Knight perfectly captures today's American high school experience without sugarcoating and combines it with the struggles of teen mental illness, a subject just now garnering more attention. This combination equals a page-turner that is difficult to put down.
Cross writes teenagers very well. Even as an adult female reader, I found it easy to identify with Dean Knight, teenage male protagonist/narrator, but still found him 100% authentic and believable. The text is real and passionate without being cliche and campy. It tackles tough issues without offering boxed-in answers, understanding that mental illness is not a one-size-fits-all situation.
Fall of Knight sucked me in the way Gone Girl did and had me guessing in its entirety.
April 26, 2015
This book was a roller coaster ride. I was left trying to anticipate the next turn and surprised at the twists that came next. The author showed a wonderful understanding of the teenage mind and the problems that may plague them in the course of school. Giving an insight into the mind and world of a boy with mental illness to an extent that those readers who have an illness may catch a glimpse of themselves in Dean's issue of trying to navigate the world and those who are "normal" readers can get at least a small understanding of what it must be like for those with an illness. I will definitely be recommending this book to any readers I know and will be passing it along to my son as well.
January 13, 2015
A powerful book about a teenager's fight with mental illness, bullying and a past long forgotten. It takes the reader on a roller-coaster of edge-of-your-seat events that keep you guessing and longing for more.
March 5, 2015
Great read! Kept me guessing the whole way through!
March 29, 2015
I have to say honestly, that I have been knocked to pillar to post with this one, confusion.com.
The reason?
I will add at the bottom of my review.
Steven Cross did an excellent job with the storyline though. Fall of Knight is someone struggling with bullying, along with his mental health problem. This is aimed at the youth, however, I am 56 and I thought it an excellent agenda to read. I sympathized and I ranted at the bullies. I really wanted to come to his protection, so that in itself was a good thing as it evoked emotions from me.
Now here is the bit I found hard, because I live day to day with someone with Bi Polar and have done for over 30 years, I am well aware of a lot of aspects surrounding that illness and some of the behaviour just was hard to swallow.
I realize that not everyone's country is like my own, we have a NHS here that we can at least rely on to keep the vulnerable medicated and looked after, however, as I say, not all resources are there in other countries, but I did think there was some safety net for those that cannot afford important vital managing medication.
So I did wonder if there was some 'means tested' avenue they could have gone down so that the medication could have still be administered?
The secound thing, most loose a perspective on life, day to day living, reality takes a back seat, I know this does happen in the plot, but, he still have some 'insight' so wasn't completely UP or DOWN.
Although the Monsters in his head took over, he was still able to relate to others around him on a level, which I found odd.
Like I say, being so closely involved with mental health, I just saw a few flaws in that area.
BUT the book itself was very addictive. Hence my 4 stars
March 7, 2015
This book is a brilliant page turner outside my usual genres. It got its hooks into me early on and I was really looking forward to my few reading times, like commutes, where I could see what would happen with Dean Knight and his sister. It's dark, upsetting even, but undeniably great. It's one of those stories that will stick with me.
I would offer a trigger warning for many readers also. If you've suffered from mental illness - as I have with both depression and anxiety - it could be a bit rough. This book captures very realistically many inner experiences I've had. If you have someone special in your life with any kind of clinical depression, this book will be an invaluable reference.
I would offer a trigger warning for many readers also. If you've suffered from mental illness - as I have with both depression and anxiety - it could be a bit rough. This book captures very realistically many inner experiences I've had. If you have someone special in your life with any kind of clinical depression, this book will be an invaluable reference.
March 12, 2015
First off, I would suggest not reading this while at work... I now have a lot of work to do! Secondly, there has to be more! I got sucked in and before I knew it, it was over. I like that it has some finality to it without excluding the potential to continue the story. The story line was clear and easy to follow. I even had an "I knew it!" moment, which I love. Wonderful work Mr. Cross! I cannot wait to read more of your stories.
Respectfully,
Heather Pierce
Respectfully,
Heather Pierce
March 5, 2015
I didn't want to put this book down! Steven Cross does such a wonderful job giving us a glimpse into the life and mind of Dean Knight, a teenager who struggles with mental illness. I feel like this is a must read for teens or adults who work with teens. These characters are so real, and this book just draws you in. I can't wait for the sequel!
March 8, 2015
A well written novel touching on mental illness, family dynamics, and societal norms. A quick read that keeps you guessing. Not for the faint of heart. The characters are well rounded and believable. Several creative plot twist. Highly recommended.
February 2, 2018
The author provides an insight to metal illness, depression, and bullying. It is a quick read with several twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is also fairly clear to see that Cross is in education as he provides details true to teens in today’s society.
Read
March 30, 2015The author brilliantly captured not only the inner workings of the mind of one who is mentally ill but also the environmental chaos that often accompanies such an illness. I was enthralled from beginning to end.
March 1, 2015
The author has brilliantly captured the inner workings of the mind of one who is mentally ill as well as the environmental chaos that often accompanies such an illness. I was enthralled from beginning to end.
March 28, 2015
Various emotions ran through me whilst reading this powerful book based around mental illness. My own son committed suicide due to mental illness. I received an electronic copy of this book through Librarything giveaway.
March 6, 2015
I thought this was a well written book and gave us a deeper insight into this bipolar disorder. Having seen someone fight this demon first hand Steven nailer it very good!
September 3, 2018
Fantastic ya novel about mental illness. Through the viewpoint of Dean, the reader is taken through the high school experience. It is of course even worse for Dean as he lives with mental illness. He has a good imagination and writes, but he sometimes has difficulty distinguishing what is real.
This book grabs a hold of you and doesn't let go. It is dark. It is well written. I can't wait for the next book to be released.
This book grabs a hold of you and doesn't let go. It is dark. It is well written. I can't wait for the next book to be released.
August 25, 2020
From the first moment we realize that history envelops us and you have to give yourself time to read it calmly and without impressive delay the trajectory of the author and I welcome to read to him receive my greetings
May 8, 2015
I just finished "Fall of Knight" by Steven Cross, and...wow! This book is not what I was expecting, and definitely out of my comfort zone/genre. I mean this in the BEST possible way!
Where do I begin? I could start by giving a general overview of the story, but I don't think that would do this piece justice (besides, plenty of other readers have already offered up a plot synopsis). I think I'll just dive right into my thoughts on the book.
In the beginning, I had a tough time reading this book. This is for two reasons. First, Steven Cross was a teacher of mine in high school, and as I was reading this book I could hear his voice in my head. I remember his classes and I remember what his voice sounds like, so it was as if I were right back in high school listening to him from the first seat in the third row all over again. Because of this, Dean Knight's (the main character) voice was lost on me. Obviously, this is not the author's fault, but it did give me a difficult time while reading to the point that I had to re-read the first 30 pages of the book. Second, I felt that in the beginning of the book things were kind of all over the place. Dean's thoughts, interactions between characters, and some awkward dialogue made me scratch my head a couple of times. Maybe this is a stylistic choice by the author that I'm too dim to pick up on since I'm not well versed in the area of teenage mental illness. But, I found that a quarter of the way through the book things were much smoother. The transitioning was flawless and Dean's dialogue felt less...scripted? More natural? Whatever it was - Mr. Cross certainly found his stride. For me, this is where the story really takes off.
This book does a fantastic job helping the reader understand mental illness. Why? Because - for me - this book made me FEEL what it feels like. There were so many times I wanted turn away, or cry, or laugh, or roll my eyes, or pound my fist on something. Ironic, isn't it, that this is the exact roller coaster of feelings Dean Knight is experiencing? By the looks of the reviews, I'd say some of the other readers were "feeling all the feels", too. It's especially frustrating when you don't understand the feelings, or you can't comprehend the emotions. I believe that's probably how someone with mental illness feels all the time.
What's even better than eliciting these feelings from the reader is that there is an incredibly intriguing and suspenseful story to go along with it! As I said earlier, this is not my usual genre. True, I love suspenseful books, but I generally CAN'T STAND young adult literature. It's cheesy, and poorly written, and completely unrealistic in terms of the lives of teenagers. But, this book... This book feels real and honest.
I was able to figure things out pretty quickly, but I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery of it all. I can't wait to read more, and I certainly hope this is just the beginning of an extraordinary writing career for Mr. Cross.
And while I found the book a bit predictable (which is usually not the case; I'm usually in the dark), there is MUCH mystery remaining, and many more secrets to be uncovered!
Where do I begin? I could start by giving a general overview of the story, but I don't think that would do this piece justice (besides, plenty of other readers have already offered up a plot synopsis). I think I'll just dive right into my thoughts on the book.
In the beginning, I had a tough time reading this book. This is for two reasons. First, Steven Cross was a teacher of mine in high school, and as I was reading this book I could hear his voice in my head. I remember his classes and I remember what his voice sounds like, so it was as if I were right back in high school listening to him from the first seat in the third row all over again. Because of this, Dean Knight's (the main character) voice was lost on me. Obviously, this is not the author's fault, but it did give me a difficult time while reading to the point that I had to re-read the first 30 pages of the book. Second, I felt that in the beginning of the book things were kind of all over the place. Dean's thoughts, interactions between characters, and some awkward dialogue made me scratch my head a couple of times. Maybe this is a stylistic choice by the author that I'm too dim to pick up on since I'm not well versed in the area of teenage mental illness. But, I found that a quarter of the way through the book things were much smoother. The transitioning was flawless and Dean's dialogue felt less...scripted? More natural? Whatever it was - Mr. Cross certainly found his stride. For me, this is where the story really takes off.
This book does a fantastic job helping the reader understand mental illness. Why? Because - for me - this book made me FEEL what it feels like. There were so many times I wanted turn away, or cry, or laugh, or roll my eyes, or pound my fist on something. Ironic, isn't it, that this is the exact roller coaster of feelings Dean Knight is experiencing? By the looks of the reviews, I'd say some of the other readers were "feeling all the feels", too. It's especially frustrating when you don't understand the feelings, or you can't comprehend the emotions. I believe that's probably how someone with mental illness feels all the time.
What's even better than eliciting these feelings from the reader is that there is an incredibly intriguing and suspenseful story to go along with it! As I said earlier, this is not my usual genre. True, I love suspenseful books, but I generally CAN'T STAND young adult literature. It's cheesy, and poorly written, and completely unrealistic in terms of the lives of teenagers. But, this book... This book feels real and honest.
I was able to figure things out pretty quickly, but I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery of it all. I can't wait to read more, and I certainly hope this is just the beginning of an extraordinary writing career for Mr. Cross.
And while I found the book a bit predictable (which is usually not the case; I'm usually in the dark), there is MUCH mystery remaining, and many more secrets to be uncovered!
September 2, 2015
Firstly, I'd like to thank Vanya for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I tried. Really, I tried liking this book. I really wanted to like this book (everyone else, whose reviews I read, did). It was about one of my favorite topics after all: mental illnesses. But, I just couldn't. The plot, I admit, was not cliche or typical. That is probably the only redeeming quality of this book. However, there were some parts that bordered on how-typical-can-you-get?
The book was slow, and let's be honest here, boring. And that's a lot coming from me because the one thing I'm not bored of (ever) is mental illness. I was about to give up on this book and DNF it the hell away when at about page 117, things got a tad interesting. This interest lasted for about 30 pages. At this point, I had finished more than half of the book, thus, I decided to continue reading, hoping for a chapter that turned the tables of opinions that already started to formulate in my mind.
I'm not gonna lie-- reading this book was mild torture. I just wanted to be done with it. The characters had annoyed me from the beginning. Let's take Dee for example. I really hated how the author depicted her: as an obsessed, lovey-dovey teenager who cares about a guy more than she cares about her brother. This is a common misconception found everywhere in today's society. I have seen this in so many books and movies-- girls not caring about consequences and making out with assholes while their families drift away. It's not true. We females are not that obsessed with the idea of love to abandon people we've known for our whole lives.
I was disappointed (and relieved) when I finished this book and it saddens me greatly to give such a negative feedback. But, I can't help it, can I? The writing style was not unique; the narrator not funny or influential. Stories concerning mental illnesses are emotional, but I can assure you my eyes did not moisten any where in the book. I did not even get a lump in my throat.
I tried. Really, I tried liking this book. I really wanted to like this book (everyone else, whose reviews I read, did). It was about one of my favorite topics after all: mental illnesses. But, I just couldn't. The plot, I admit, was not cliche or typical. That is probably the only redeeming quality of this book. However, there were some parts that bordered on how-typical-can-you-get?
The book was slow, and let's be honest here, boring. And that's a lot coming from me because the one thing I'm not bored of (ever) is mental illness. I was about to give up on this book and DNF it the hell away when at about page 117, things got a tad interesting. This interest lasted for about 30 pages. At this point, I had finished more than half of the book, thus, I decided to continue reading, hoping for a chapter that turned the tables of opinions that already started to formulate in my mind.
I'm not gonna lie-- reading this book was mild torture. I just wanted to be done with it. The characters had annoyed me from the beginning. Let's take Dee for example. I really hated how the author depicted her: as an obsessed, lovey-dovey teenager who cares about a guy more than she cares about her brother. This is a common misconception found everywhere in today's society. I have seen this in so many books and movies-- girls not caring about consequences and making out with assholes while their families drift away. It's not true. We females are not that obsessed with the idea of love to abandon people we've known for our whole lives.
I was disappointed (and relieved) when I finished this book and it saddens me greatly to give such a negative feedback. But, I can't help it, can I? The writing style was not unique; the narrator not funny or influential. Stories concerning mental illnesses are emotional, but I can assure you my eyes did not moisten any where in the book. I did not even get a lump in my throat.
April 12, 2015
When I first saw this book, I immediately went to Goodreads to learn more about it because it sounded interesting, but I couldn't figure out if I wanted to read it. Goodreads told me I'd like it if I liked books by John Green and Rainbow Rowell. While I'm just eh with John Green, I love Rainbow Rowell, but this book is not like anything either of those authors have written. And I mean that in the best way possible.
Reading this book was, at times, confusing, depressing, and exhilarating, sometimes all those emotions at once. At first, I thought maybe it was hard to read, but then, the deeper I read into the novel, I realized that was the point. This book is told from Dean Knight's point of view, and Dean is a mental case. He's been diagnosed as bipolar, but that, as it ends up, might not be the case. Still, Steven Cross does an amazing job at portraying a mentally ill teenager. His writing made me feel like I was really seeing the world through Dean's eyes, and that made it difficult to know who to trust and who to like. Dean seemed like a really unreliable narrator, but he was just trying the best he could because even he didn't know who to trust or like because of the constant voices in his head telling him contradictory things. Dean's life is not a good one, and this poor kid seems to fall into the middle of everyone else's bad life, too.
This book was amazing. It made me cry, scream, and laugh, all at once. It's frustrating and you just want to reach through the pages and shake Dean, try to help him, but you have to continue on this path and let him self-destruct and hope that he will open his eyes. I would honestly recommend this book for all those who love YA, but are getting rather sick of the boy-meet-girl type stories. This does have a love story inside it, but it's twisted and sad. I'm serious, though. You people should buy this book. Rereading this, I feel like I'm not selling it well, but I cannot stop talking about this book and recommending it to so many people, because of the honest and frank portrayal of Dean and his illness.
Reading this book was, at times, confusing, depressing, and exhilarating, sometimes all those emotions at once. At first, I thought maybe it was hard to read, but then, the deeper I read into the novel, I realized that was the point. This book is told from Dean Knight's point of view, and Dean is a mental case. He's been diagnosed as bipolar, but that, as it ends up, might not be the case. Still, Steven Cross does an amazing job at portraying a mentally ill teenager. His writing made me feel like I was really seeing the world through Dean's eyes, and that made it difficult to know who to trust and who to like. Dean seemed like a really unreliable narrator, but he was just trying the best he could because even he didn't know who to trust or like because of the constant voices in his head telling him contradictory things. Dean's life is not a good one, and this poor kid seems to fall into the middle of everyone else's bad life, too.
This book was amazing. It made me cry, scream, and laugh, all at once. It's frustrating and you just want to reach through the pages and shake Dean, try to help him, but you have to continue on this path and let him self-destruct and hope that he will open his eyes. I would honestly recommend this book for all those who love YA, but are getting rather sick of the boy-meet-girl type stories. This does have a love story inside it, but it's twisted and sad. I'm serious, though. You people should buy this book. Rereading this, I feel like I'm not selling it well, but I cannot stop talking about this book and recommending it to so many people, because of the honest and frank portrayal of Dean and his illness.
April 14, 2015
Where do I start? First, this book is AMAZING. I normally don't rate books very high that deal with mental issues because they don't make me feel anything.. However, Steven Cross had me feeling every word!! Fall of Knight is one of those books that once you start it all other aspects of your life go on hold until you have finished it.
I have dealt with many, MANY mental issues both with my work life and my family life. I feel like this gives you a realistic look at what the world is really like for someone suffering from Mental Illness. It is an uncomfortable subject just because no one wants to talk about it. However, you are thrown right in without a lifeline and you just keep swimming until you have finished. I was refreshed with the way he wrote about such an unsettling subject. I finished this book a week ago and still have trouble putting together the words that would create a review that would do Fall of Knight justice. Steven Cross classifies this book as Young Adult but I think it's in a class all its own.. It's got just the right amount of "pretty" that offsets the "dark".
Dean Knight is not your typical carefree and outgoing teenage boy. He suffers from a diagnosis of a mental disease called bipolar. But is he really? No one gets him because simply no one understands him or his disease. He is bullied, picked on, made fun of (however you want to say it) and because of this AND his monsters, life is anything but normal for him. He changes when he meets Ella in more ways than one.
Cross has so brilliantly wrote a novel that I could literally feel every emotion. I thought I was in every scene. I was pissed, happy, sad, depressed, enlightened etc... If you read one book this year about mental illness, THIS has to be the one!!
Reviewed for Stories and Swag
I have dealt with many, MANY mental issues both with my work life and my family life. I feel like this gives you a realistic look at what the world is really like for someone suffering from Mental Illness. It is an uncomfortable subject just because no one wants to talk about it. However, you are thrown right in without a lifeline and you just keep swimming until you have finished. I was refreshed with the way he wrote about such an unsettling subject. I finished this book a week ago and still have trouble putting together the words that would create a review that would do Fall of Knight justice. Steven Cross classifies this book as Young Adult but I think it's in a class all its own.. It's got just the right amount of "pretty" that offsets the "dark".
Dean Knight is not your typical carefree and outgoing teenage boy. He suffers from a diagnosis of a mental disease called bipolar. But is he really? No one gets him because simply no one understands him or his disease. He is bullied, picked on, made fun of (however you want to say it) and because of this AND his monsters, life is anything but normal for him. He changes when he meets Ella in more ways than one.
Cross has so brilliantly wrote a novel that I could literally feel every emotion. I thought I was in every scene. I was pissed, happy, sad, depressed, enlightened etc... If you read one book this year about mental illness, THIS has to be the one!!
Reviewed for Stories and Swag
May 5, 2015
In the start of my reading this book, the first three chapters were very hard for me to get into. Once I managed to push past them, I got sucked in … hard! I finished Fall of Knight in just over 4 hours! I literally could NOT walk away from it! This book has not only helped me understand the inside of a bipolar mind better, but it’s helped me understand myself better! I was diagnosed as bipolar with mania about 13 years ago and up to before I read this amazing novel, I never quite understood what my mind was all about. Right now, I've got more of an insight on how to help myself and understand myself better than any psychologist or psychiatrist has ever been able to explain. I don't know if there are enough words in the universe to express my gratitude to Mr. Cross for helping to make those realize that we’re not crazies, but just slightly altered within the ‘normal’ realm of society!
This novel should take 1st place globally; as it truly gives you the assistance you need to properly understand yourself. I am absolutely amazed at what I opened my eyes to in the process of reading Fall of Knight. I will be forever grateful to Mr. Cross for developing such an amazing connection to his readers. I for one will be a devoted and admiring reader to anything your brilliant mind comes up with. I am already beyond excited for the next and I hope it isn’t years before the release of your brilliant mind connecting with paper!
Thank you so very much for writing this Nobel Prize! I as well as other bipolar minds across the globe will forever be in your debt!
If you have or know someone who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I highly recommend this novel to help you to understand the inside of our minds!
This novel should take 1st place globally; as it truly gives you the assistance you need to properly understand yourself. I am absolutely amazed at what I opened my eyes to in the process of reading Fall of Knight. I will be forever grateful to Mr. Cross for developing such an amazing connection to his readers. I for one will be a devoted and admiring reader to anything your brilliant mind comes up with. I am already beyond excited for the next and I hope it isn’t years before the release of your brilliant mind connecting with paper!
Thank you so very much for writing this Nobel Prize! I as well as other bipolar minds across the globe will forever be in your debt!
If you have or know someone who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I highly recommend this novel to help you to understand the inside of our minds!
December 16, 2015
This is a novel that will leave you thinking and wanting more. I love books that utilize a format that allow the reader to draw his or her own conclusions. In this book we have a rather unreliable narrator, mainly for the reason that it's difficult for the character to even know the difference between reality and fiction. His own thoughts are unreliable, and it's difficult for him to distinguish between a delusion and a real event. What results is an intriguing and exciting ride through his emotions and thoughts. There are a lot of layers in this book, and it's thematically rich for a young adult audience, so it's highly relatable for young people or those of us who know what's like to have been a young person. The author does a fabulous job navigating the terrifying world of mental illness, and touches upon the real-life aspects that make living with mental illness difficult in a world that's only accepting of what it deems "normal." It's difficult to discuss this novel in too much depth without giving away some key points, so I'll leave it at that. I highly recommend this novel.
April 27, 2015
With this book it didn't take long for me to lose myself in the story. You just didn't know what was going to happen or what to expect.
I have dealt with mental illness myself. I suffer from depression and reading this book brought tears to my eyes because I felt some of the feelings the main characters was feeling. I've been bullied and that made my depression worse. This gives you a look into a person with mental illness and how hard it is to survive and cope with the hatred people can do to you.
The author has brought forth many emotions while I read this book. Yes it's a dark read but it is so much more than that. It takes you on a journey and you are not sure how it will end till you get to the end. I'm still trying to understand certain aspects but that is why I can re-read it and maybe understand better the second time around. Read the book, you are in for one hell of a journey!
I have dealt with mental illness myself. I suffer from depression and reading this book brought tears to my eyes because I felt some of the feelings the main characters was feeling. I've been bullied and that made my depression worse. This gives you a look into a person with mental illness and how hard it is to survive and cope with the hatred people can do to you.
The author has brought forth many emotions while I read this book. Yes it's a dark read but it is so much more than that. It takes you on a journey and you are not sure how it will end till you get to the end. I'm still trying to understand certain aspects but that is why I can re-read it and maybe understand better the second time around. Read the book, you are in for one hell of a journey!
October 17, 2015
Thanking Booktrope Publishing for sending me this ARC, giving me the opportunity to read and review Fall of Knight.
In Fall of Knight, we meet the twins Dean and Dee Knight. Struggling with mental illness and bullying, while their mother – since the death of their father, lays passed out on the couch. Or simply doesn’t bother to get out of bed. Then there’s the secrets. For about a decade, buried… and yet to be revealed.
After all what happens, it would be the drop, the final nail to my coffin as well!
I found myself struggling: It’s dark and sometimes upsetting, yet I couldn’t put it down! Cross had clearly a good insight which he brilliantly shared with the reader and digs deeper than anybody has done before in a Young Adult book. You don’t just read it, you FEEL it! Forget John Green (no offence!), Cross is “the next new thing”!
In Fall of Knight, we meet the twins Dean and Dee Knight. Struggling with mental illness and bullying, while their mother – since the death of their father, lays passed out on the couch. Or simply doesn’t bother to get out of bed. Then there’s the secrets. For about a decade, buried… and yet to be revealed.
After all what happens, it would be the drop, the final nail to my coffin as well!
I found myself struggling: It’s dark and sometimes upsetting, yet I couldn’t put it down! Cross had clearly a good insight which he brilliantly shared with the reader and digs deeper than anybody has done before in a Young Adult book. You don’t just read it, you FEEL it! Forget John Green (no offence!), Cross is “the next new thing”!
November 7, 2015
Contains some strong material, but as a whole fell short for me. Everything directly associated with Dean is great; he is a strong, well-rounded character, and the depiction of his mental illness is intense, yet feels realistic. High school and the bullying that comes along with it are also accurately represented. I can't say that I ever became completely invested in Dean's journey; some of what unfolds becomes muddled due to his mental state, which causes him to act as an unreliable narrator and was difficult for me to follow at times. The secondary characters also could have used more fleshing out; I felt like I knew too little to care about what happened to them, and it doesn't help that a handful of new individuals are introduced in the middle. Although the topics being grappled with are difficult and heavy, it would have been nice if there had been occasional lightness to change up the mood; too often reading this felt like a depressing slog.
April 16, 2015
This was a bit outside of my normal reading area, but I was so intrigued by the blurb that I had to give it a go. And it was worth the jump. The writer does a great job of presenting a teen with all his feelings and fears...but even further in so far that this teen has a bi-polar personality.
The writing is very good, and it's easy to understand Dean, even when his fears no longer matched reality. At times, I wanted to jump into the story and help him. Many emotions were at work, something the author deserves a big thumbs up for. I can only recommend this for young adults and am sure it will give them a deeper understanding of people like Dean and the different ways such problems change the views of the reality around us.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
The writing is very good, and it's easy to understand Dean, even when his fears no longer matched reality. At times, I wanted to jump into the story and help him. Many emotions were at work, something the author deserves a big thumbs up for. I can only recommend this for young adults and am sure it will give them a deeper understanding of people like Dean and the different ways such problems change the views of the reality around us.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews