What do you think?
The Knights: Silver & Gold
Ser Gold the Golden is everything a knight should be: beautiful, unbeatable, beloved by every peasant who's ever cheered his name. What they don't know is that Gold despises them, every fawning villager, every screaming fan, every soul who dares slow him down.
When the king orders Gold and his younger brother Silver to escort a condemned prisoner to the capital for execution, Gold sees it as beneath him, a tedious errand for a knight of his legend. But the road ahead isn't the simple march he expects. As secrets surface and the prisoner proves to be more than he seems, Gold's carefully polished reputation starts to crack, and so does everything he thought he knew about honour, brotherhood, and himself.
A sharp-edged fantasy for anyone who's ever wondered what their favourite "hero" really thinks.
When the king orders Gold and his younger brother Silver to escort a condemned prisoner to the capital for execution, Gold sees it as beneath him, a tedious errand for a knight of his legend. But the road ahead isn't the simple march he expects. As secrets surface and the prisoner proves to be more than he seems, Gold's carefully polished reputation starts to crack, and so does everything he thought he knew about honour, brotherhood, and himself.
A sharp-edged fantasy for anyone who's ever wondered what their favourite "hero" really thinks.
346 pages, Paperback
Published July 5, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 20, 2026
This book contains a lot of deep & dark themes such as:
Social pressure (and hierarchy),
Smothering grief,
Problems of being idolized,
Identity crisis,
Masking,
Jealousy,
Condemnatory,
Sexism,
Violence–gore,
PTSD,
Death–grief,
Guilt,
Corruption–propaganda.
...Which provoked different reactions from Gold and Silver and other characters.. (making the characters display distinct personalities) which is good because it drove the narrative into something like how real people converse and interact with each other...
I do think it's well written for the most part and can be read like in an episodic take, but some flashbacks are put randomly so ... that's a bit confusing and... the ending part is a bit long? Like too long... compared to the consistency of the other other parts.
But at least the fight scenes are good. And everything- the armor, the cape, the horses are all accounted for.
The writing and pace is a bit off putting but this is still an enjoyable read. There's lots of funny moments, banters, and serious/tragic moments...
The magic is underutilized.
Zalbur seem to be a wildcard and idk how he weighs if a command is worthy to be accepted..
The character development of Silver and Gold was good up until the last part... their reconciliation was a bit too fast for me.
I love Lara and Lola but
My favorite characters are Ser Elian, and Eli.
My favorite quotes:
"May your father have peace... and the madness released. The black is gone, the pain is through. I wish i could have saved you" - Silver
"Does the king's word truly make it just?" - Silver
"Get up. Eat. And stop hiding like a little bitch" - Lola
Ahahahahahaha
I love reading Gold's inner thoughts... and his snide comments but lol this line of his...
"My hair... my beautiful fucking hair"
Ahahahaha
(I received a copy via Booksprout and I'm leaving a voluntary review)
Social pressure (and hierarchy),
Smothering grief,
Problems of being idolized,
Identity crisis,
Masking,
Jealousy,
Condemnatory,
Sexism,
Violence–gore,
PTSD,
Death–grief,
Guilt,
Corruption–propaganda.
...Which provoked different reactions from Gold and Silver and other characters.. (making the characters display distinct personalities) which is good because it drove the narrative into something like how real people converse and interact with each other...
I do think it's well written for the most part and can be read like in an episodic take, but some flashbacks are put randomly so ... that's a bit confusing and... the ending part is a bit long? Like too long... compared to the consistency of the other other parts.
But at least the fight scenes are good. And everything- the armor, the cape, the horses are all accounted for.
The writing and pace is a bit off putting but this is still an enjoyable read. There's lots of funny moments, banters, and serious/tragic moments...
The magic is underutilized.
Zalbur seem to be a wildcard and idk how he weighs if a command is worthy to be accepted..
The character development of Silver and Gold was good up until the last part... their reconciliation was a bit too fast for me.
I love Lara and Lola but
My favorite characters are Ser Elian, and Eli.
My favorite quotes:
"May your father have peace... and the madness released. The black is gone, the pain is through. I wish i could have saved you" - Silver
"Does the king's word truly make it just?" - Silver
"Get up. Eat. And stop hiding like a little bitch" - Lola
Ahahahahahaha
I love reading Gold's inner thoughts... and his snide comments but lol this line of his...
"My hair... my beautiful fucking hair"
Ahahahaha
(I received a copy via Booksprout and I'm leaving a voluntary review)
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received a free ARC of this book from the author in exchange for reviewing it.
The story's plot provides an easy way by which the land of Mezlareth and the histories of the protagonists, Gold and Silver, could be built. Certain parts of the story were interesting, and some twists were unexpected yet added excitement to the brothers' journey.
Unfortunately, that's where the book's positives end for me.
Much of the story feels carelessly constructed; many details seemed illogical, unnecessary, and inconsistent. For instance, there are key moments of conflict between Gold and Silver, but no adequate resolution takes place, so their relationship seems weak and shallow. Zalbur, a key character, is a source of magic that remains terribly vague throughout the story, so events catalyzed by him were unsatisfying or confusing to read. Some conversations and events felt like they distracted from the plot, and the story ends unevenly.
Structurally, the book was wanting in many aspects. Transitions across time as well as between some chapters were confusing. Some dialogue felt out of place in relation to the story (e.g. "meh" isn't a word you'd expect spoken in a setting akin to the Middle Ages). The pace is also strange; some chapters went beyond what their main events were, and the epilogue was so long that it lessened the impact of the closure the author was trying to provide. Text formatting was often distracting, and there were many typos, too.
Character growth was sudden and not unpacked enough, so I couldn't connect with and appreciate Gold and Silver for having changed the way they did. The two knights encounter complex internal struggles, but there wasn't a clear trajectory that explained or justified their choices. There were many plot holes, too: the bewitching of Podzod, Trinwog's involvement, and a vague magical being, among others.
I found myself often out of the story I was reading, so I guess this one just isn't for me. I admit that if not for the author's request, I would've DNF'd the book early on.
The story's plot provides an easy way by which the land of Mezlareth and the histories of the protagonists, Gold and Silver, could be built. Certain parts of the story were interesting, and some twists were unexpected yet added excitement to the brothers' journey.
Unfortunately, that's where the book's positives end for me.
Much of the story feels carelessly constructed; many details seemed illogical, unnecessary, and inconsistent. For instance, there are key moments of conflict between Gold and Silver, but no adequate resolution takes place, so their relationship seems weak and shallow. Zalbur, a key character, is a source of magic that remains terribly vague throughout the story, so events catalyzed by him were unsatisfying or confusing to read. Some conversations and events felt like they distracted from the plot, and the story ends unevenly.
Structurally, the book was wanting in many aspects. Transitions across time as well as between some chapters were confusing. Some dialogue felt out of place in relation to the story (e.g. "meh" isn't a word you'd expect spoken in a setting akin to the Middle Ages). The pace is also strange; some chapters went beyond what their main events were, and the epilogue was so long that it lessened the impact of the closure the author was trying to provide. Text formatting was often distracting, and there were many typos, too.
Character growth was sudden and not unpacked enough, so I couldn't connect with and appreciate Gold and Silver for having changed the way they did. The two knights encounter complex internal struggles, but there wasn't a clear trajectory that explained or justified their choices. There were many plot holes, too: the bewitching of Podzod, Trinwog's involvement, and a vague magical being, among others.
I found myself often out of the story I was reading, so I guess this one just isn't for me. I admit that if not for the author's request, I would've DNF'd the book early on.
August 3, 2026
This reads like a Brandon Sanderson novel, yet at the same time, it’s not really a Brandon Sanderson's novel. The prose is similar to his. You'll very rarely see purple prose in this book, which I didn't mind. Unlike Sanderson, who uses strict, well-defined magic systems that hold your hand through every page, the magic in this book is vague, and the rules are only said aloud once; that's it.
Unlike Brandon Sanderson's heavily guided narrative approach, which leaves little room for interpretation, this book invites the reader to fill in the gaps. As another reviewer pointed out, some things aren't explained. Personally, this created a lingering sense of mystery and intrigue around those specific characters. I don't care for being spoon-fed every minor character's ending; I actually appreciate the ambiguity of not knowing. Whether the author intended this or not, I've no clue.
Gold absolutely steals the show as the best character in this book. The contrast between his flawless, arrogant public persona and his private, bitter disdain for the fame that traps him gives him a fascinating layer of psychological depth. Coupled with some wonderfully executed plot twists that genuinely shocked me, there is a lot to love here.
I felt like Gold and Silver's relationship was handled brilliantly, and that careful buildup completely paid off as the story neared the end.
It’s worth noting that this novel contains plenty of flashbacks. Because these scenes aren't marked by any visual breaks and just start on a new line, it can get a bit confusing if you aren't paying attention.
My main gripe, however, is the length. I genuinely wish this book was longer. The problem is that when I finally closed the book, the characters stayed in my mind but the world vanished in an instant. I craved more worldbuilding; I wanted to know more about the lands of Mezlareth, but given the page count, it's clear the author simply didn't have the room to expand on it. Because of that, it lands right in the middle. It doesn't quite do enough to earn a four or a five-star rating, but the story is far too entertaining, especially near the end, to deserve a one or a two. A solid three stars.
Arc review 08/04/2026.
Unlike Brandon Sanderson's heavily guided narrative approach, which leaves little room for interpretation, this book invites the reader to fill in the gaps. As another reviewer pointed out, some things aren't explained. Personally, this created a lingering sense of mystery and intrigue around those specific characters. I don't care for being spoon-fed every minor character's ending; I actually appreciate the ambiguity of not knowing. Whether the author intended this or not, I've no clue.
Gold absolutely steals the show as the best character in this book. The contrast between his flawless, arrogant public persona and his private, bitter disdain for the fame that traps him gives him a fascinating layer of psychological depth. Coupled with some wonderfully executed plot twists that genuinely shocked me, there is a lot to love here.
I felt like Gold and Silver's relationship was handled brilliantly, and that careful buildup completely paid off as the story neared the end.
It’s worth noting that this novel contains plenty of flashbacks. Because these scenes aren't marked by any visual breaks and just start on a new line, it can get a bit confusing if you aren't paying attention.
My main gripe, however, is the length. I genuinely wish this book was longer. The problem is that when I finally closed the book, the characters stayed in my mind but the world vanished in an instant. I craved more worldbuilding; I wanted to know more about the lands of Mezlareth, but given the page count, it's clear the author simply didn't have the room to expand on it. Because of that, it lands right in the middle. It doesn't quite do enough to earn a four or a five-star rating, but the story is far too entertaining, especially near the end, to deserve a one or a two. A solid three stars.
Arc review 08/04/2026.
August 3, 2026
Thanks for the ARC. This grimdark fantasy kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The brotherly dynamic between Silver and Gold is fantastic, though the pacing rockets forward so fast that I sometimes wished it would slow down and breathe. Gold was easily my favourite of the two brothers, but Silver still stood out because even he had a flaw or two.
Fair warning: this is definitely NOT for the faint of heart. I personally loved the ending—it was cleverly executed and can really be interpreted in more ways than one.
Fair warning: this is definitely NOT for the faint of heart. I personally loved the ending—it was cleverly executed and can really be interpreted in more ways than one.
July 8, 2026
I received an early ARC copy; this review is wholly my opinion, and I will be 100% honest.
Firstly, the characters in this book are brilliant and feel so real. This story is VERY character-driven, and that's a great thing (for me at least). Gold is a very complex character shaped by the knight who taught him how to behave when he was just a squire. We constantly hear Gold's thoughts and his backstory throughout the story, and it's very interesting. The dialogue flows very naturally and normally for most characters.
The fights in this book are fabulous and realistic. THE ARMOUR ACTUALLY HELPS. This author has taken into account everything: the armour, the horses, the cloaks, which makes fight scenes feel so, so real.
There is also romance, but that's not the main focus of the story. I think it was done naturally; though I'm not into romance stories, so I can't really review that bit.
This book was surprisingly dark. It does start out funny but gets veryyy dark (in a good way, or bad depending on what you like). There were a lot of WTF moments, especially near the end, which I really enjoyed as it took me by surprise.
This book also has a very unique and cool magic system which I really enjoyed. But we only see one person using magic in the whole story; not a criticism, just makes this low-fantasy.
The plot itself is very fast-paced, and it has to be considering it's a 300-page book. I think the fast pace is a good thing for like 95% of the story, buttt I do think the ending was a bit rushed (that's why I've given this four stars). Again, I can't say much because I'll be spoiling things. Don't get me wrong, the ending is good; every plot point tied up perfectly, but it was all done very quickly. So yep, that's my review!
TL;DR: Dark fantasy, great characters, realistic fight scenes, fast-paced plot, somewhat of a rushed ending.
Firstly, the characters in this book are brilliant and feel so real. This story is VERY character-driven, and that's a great thing (for me at least). Gold is a very complex character shaped by the knight who taught him how to behave when he was just a squire. We constantly hear Gold's thoughts and his backstory throughout the story, and it's very interesting. The dialogue flows very naturally and normally for most characters.
The fights in this book are fabulous and realistic. THE ARMOUR ACTUALLY HELPS. This author has taken into account everything: the armour, the horses, the cloaks, which makes fight scenes feel so, so real.
There is also romance, but that's not the main focus of the story. I think it was done naturally; though I'm not into romance stories, so I can't really review that bit.
This book was surprisingly dark. It does start out funny but gets veryyy dark (in a good way, or bad depending on what you like). There were a lot of WTF moments, especially near the end, which I really enjoyed as it took me by surprise.
This book also has a very unique and cool magic system which I really enjoyed. But we only see one person using magic in the whole story; not a criticism, just makes this low-fantasy.
The plot itself is very fast-paced, and it has to be considering it's a 300-page book. I think the fast pace is a good thing for like 95% of the story, buttt I do think the ending was a bit rushed (that's why I've given this four stars). Again, I can't say much because I'll be spoiling things. Don't get me wrong, the ending is good; every plot point tied up perfectly, but it was all done very quickly. So yep, that's my review!
TL;DR: Dark fantasy, great characters, realistic fight scenes, fast-paced plot, somewhat of a rushed ending.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews