Traitor Knight

by Keith W. Willis

When Morgan McRobbie rescues a damsel-in-distress from a dragon, he expects she’ll swoon, murmuring “My hero!” Instead, Marissa has only loathing for the man everyone believes will betray Kilbourne. That’s fine with Morgan. A woman in his life would just complicate things. A high-level informer threatens the kingdom’s security, and Morgan is out to stop him. Posing as a turncoat himself, he’s walking a fine line between honor and betrayal. A single misstep could result in disaster, and his mission is fraught with the pesky dragon, a pair of conniving courtiers, and the disillusioned damsel who’s certain Morgan can’t be trusted. If Morgan’s going to save the kingdom, win the girl, and manage to stay alive, he’ll need to step up his game. Because the traitor is lurking in the shadows, and his scheme calls not just for the betrayal of Kilbourne, but also the destruction of Morgan McRobbie.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance

331 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 7, 2015

About the author

Keith W. Willis graduated (long ago) from Berry College with a degree in English Lit. He now lives in the scenic Hudson Valley/Adirondack region of NY with his wife Patty. They have one grown son, Matt, who actually thinks it’s pretty cool that Dad wrote a book.

Keith’s interests include camping, canoeing, and Scrabble. Keith began writing seriously in 2008, when the voices in his head got too annoying to ignore. When he’s not making up stories he manages a group of database content editors at a global information technology firm. TRAITOR KNIGHT is his first published novel.

Reviews

[Chase Hackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book.

[Breanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Traitor Knight" is a fantasy book by Keith W. Willis, this isn't a genre that I would usually read but I won it at a renaissance fair last year when the author was there. Even got it signed by him "May your sky's be filled with dragons," he seemed like a nice and cheery guy. The book is centered around our main characters, Morgan McRobbie, as he sullies his reputation to try and catch a traitor within the kingdom. He saves a young Marissa duBerry from a dragon within the first part of the book and Marissa then becomes the main love interest. As it is a fantasy book, it is obviously set in a separate universe than our own but it is based around Medieval Europe. It also mixes a bit of what I believe to be old new English with the modern way of talking, giving it an old-timey feel without making it hard to understand.

As any good modern book, this one strays from a complete "damsel in distress" trope as instead of constantly needing to be saved Marissa is an integral part of the hero's victory at the end. The characters are well developed and likable, it's always a good sign when you like the villain even if just a little bit. One thing I didn't expect this book to dabble in at all is racism but it does, although lightly, repeatedly calling Morgan a "half breed" throughout the book for being half black. It's an interesting aspect but it doesn't factor directly to the plot but there is another book in this series so it is possible that it was simply being set up for that. We fallowed several characters throughout the story, including the main villain, and Willis still managed to slip a plot twist in at the end. He gave us adequate evidence to believe that two different characters could be the traitor but throughout I could only think of it as being the one he placed directly in front. The chapters are very short (I want to say they're about 5 pages each) making it so you're almost never stopped in the middle of something happening.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a light read and I'm going to try to get my hands on the following book that Willis has written. As I said before, this isn't the genre I would usually read but after this book I might look to expand into it more. I'm going to need the reading material if we're out of school for the rest of the month anyways.

[Michele Quirke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Traitor Knight was such a fun read! It's a fantasy that takes place in a medieval setting, but it also had elements of romance and mystery. It had dragons, murder, intrigue, treachery, and even humor. Seriously, this book has so much going for it and I loved it all.

I especially loved Marissa. She cracked me up and wasn't at all the damsel I thought she was going to be when we first meet her in the beginning. Scenes with her were some of my favorites and I enjoyed watching her relationship with Morgan unfold! As he said, she's a woman to be reckoned with. No damsels here!

I definitely recommend this book if you're looking for a fun adventure with plenty of action and fantastic characters! I will DEFINITELY be reading the next book in this series!

[Steven Nedeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book yesterday. This is a detailed work that dives into the most intimate thoughts of the heroes as they wade through a story filled with disguise and treachery. Time and again I enjoyed the miscommunication and fumbling of Morgan and Marissa as they jousted with each other.

Is this a fantasy book? Is it a mystery novel? Is this a Romance?

Yes.

[Alex Arch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spies, battles, romance, and dragons. What more do you want?

M. Willis writes beautifully. He promises swashbuckling adventure and delivers it. I found myself reading in a different voice than I’m used to. One of delight and pure fun. Like someone else narrated a ye olde english story in my head.

The intrigue is compelling and full of twists and turns.

Now to more adventure with Morgan and Marissa!

[Brian L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw the author at a local craft show selling his books. Spoke with him briefly about the plots as well as types of books I liked to read. Anyhow , I wound up purchasing all 4 books in his Knights of Kilbourne series. Glad I did! Book 1, Traitor Knight was a truly fun enjoyable read. 5 stars for the local author from me. On to book 2 in the series!

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an awesome book. The characters were engaging and fun. It was full of charming humor and silly jokes that just made the world click. Highly recommend to anyone who doesn't take their fantasy books too seriously.

[Stephen Allain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keith tells an epic story of intrigue and romance. Throw in a dragon for excitement and you have a recipe for a sleepless knight as you turn pages!

[Adrianne Lemke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining Story

I very much enjoyed this book. The characters were fun, and the storyline kept me entertained. I will definitely be reading the next installment.

[Kim Watt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not usually one for more traditional fantasy tales, and I have to admit to having doubts when the book opened with a damsel in distress and a knight rushing to the rescue. However, within a few pages this trope is being so delightfully subverted that I was hooked. Plus, there was a dragon with hiccoughs. It was always going to be a win.

And the story unfolds into a story of political intrigue, a knight wrongfully accused, and a damsel who's more likely to put others in distress than be in it. Mr Willis has a deft touch with characterisation, a wonderful knack for balancing tension with humour, and - well, I did mention the hiccoughing dragon.

I'm off to get the sequel.

[Sara Niemiec · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was well-written, interesting, and fast-paced. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good medieval fantasy story with both action and a splash of romance. I'm looking forward to reading the next books in the series.

[Mary Yarde · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book open with a ferocious dragon, who's plans are thwarted - not so much by the brave heroic knight who is intent on rescuing the maiden - but by a bad, and appallingly timed case, of the hiccups.

And if that does not get your fingers twitching to turn the pages of this book, then I don't know what will!

This book was so much fun, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The protagonist, Morgan McRobbie - the commander of the Kilbourne Military - is everything a fine commander should be – Brave. Loyal to a fault. Honest. With a dubious reputation? Hopeless romantic ( and I mean hopeless). Traitor...okay so he is a complex character, with one or two issues to work through. But for what it is worth - I really liked him!

Lady Marissa, is just great fun. She isn’t one of those maiden's who is prone to a fainting fits when a spider runs across the room - she bravely faces down a dragon, a network of spies, Morgan and her cat! Of all the characters in this book, I think she made me laugh out loud the most. She was so much fun to read about and boy, as a love interest she was more than a match for Morgan! I even felt sorry for him on occasions - because ouch, that must have hurt!

Through out the story there is a 'real' traitor in the bosom of the court, whose secrets are as dark as his plots. But thankfully, The Watch (a police force) knows how to deal with men like him - if only the scoundrels would stop escaping from their dungeons, they would have everything in hand.

I would like to congratulate Willis on the very believable world he created -think medieval England meets fairy-tale. I soon felt at home there. All of the characters in this book had flesh on them - their individuality shone through. There was plenty of action, romance, suspense, a murder or two, a chase across the roof tops and a dragon - did I mention a dragon?

All in all, a really enjoyable read. I Highly Recommend.

*I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are interested in a fantasy story that has the playful sensibility of a 1980’s matinee, then you should seriously consider adding this to your list.

I do not generally read new fantasy, as it is very hard to get right. The ground is littered with writers who have tried too hard to emulate J.R.R. Tolkien and George R.R. Martin instead of living in a world that they have created, that demonstrates their own personality. This book knows exactly what it wants to be, and is more Dragonslayer than Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones.

The tone is set early, with a hero that is kept in check by – well, almost everyone. Even when a damsel needs to be rescued from a dragon, she is not so overcome that she fails to point the hero’s inability to talk with a girl. He is also aware of his own shortcomings, frequently giving himself the narrative version of the facepalm, stopping short of doing so literally, at least while he has a sword in his hand.

This is a book to have fun with. The chapters are short, so you can pop it open whenever you want to spend a few minutes, but you can easily read several chapters in a sitting. The author provides a lot of banter and some clever wordplay, but does not stretch it too far, so it is neither as intensely comic as Robert Asprin, nor as intensely dark as Jim Butcher.

Recognize that the characters do not take themselves seriously, and enjoy the journey.

[JennaOtterReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

trigger warnings and other info at the end of the review

This book was a total vibe and I am so here for it!

Things I liked about the book!

I loved the story. I mean, honestly, I just had so much fun reading about Morgan and Marissa! I never seemed to know what was going to happen and I was always pleased with the story as I was reading it!

Things I didn't like about the book!

Nothing that was this books fault. I started reading it in a reading slump and because of that had a hard time getting through it at the beginning.

_________________book info____________________

Genre(s): YA, Romance, Fantasy
Recommended Age Rating: 13+
Reasons Why: Mild language, romance (hand holding and a kiss or two), fantasy violence, allusions to sex, alcohol
Recommended for Fans of: Renaissance fairs and a whole lot of fun!
Overall Rating: A-
Brief Summary: Morgan is seen as a traitor to his kingdom. Though he is close to King Rhys, he feels the way people look at him from a mile away.

When he saves Marissa, a girl unlike any Morgan has ever met, from a dragon one day, his life takes an unexpected turn, and he must try to win the girl over while uncovering the true traitor to the crown. Will he ever find who the traitor is? Will Marissa ever learn to like him?

[Tegan Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining and engaging from the very beginning, TRAITOR KNIGHT is a rare gem. Though I pride myself in reading across a wide range of genres, this one took me a bit farther afield of what I typically read. And how delighted I am that I ventured beyond my usual reading comfort zone to experience this well-told story with a witty heroine, a noble-yet-flawed hero, and a colorful set of secondary characters. And a dragon! Let's not forget the dragon!

I suppose the thing I most loved about this book is its ability to bring together in a magical way so many aspects of fiction that I love: you get plenty of humor, suspense, and romance. It's clear from the beginning that you're in the hands of a master storyteller who weaves a tale that's unlike so many of the heavily marketed books on the market. I really tire of those. TRAITOR KNIGHT is like a breath of fresh air. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to be swept away to a place and time where dragons fume, damsels toss out witty barbs, and heroes have plenty of foibles.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Without the humorous Marissa, I probably wouldn't have continued with the story, but the opening scene in which she ribs Morgan and he back at her for not being the tried-and-true damsel in distress, makes this a romp and entertaining.

Willis then engages the traitorous doings from within the Kingdom of Kilbourne to make it a true fantasy with dragons as well as the betrayal in the court. Luckily with men who know a thing or two about how to ferret it out and put a stop to it, yet one wrong move might make him look like he's on the wrong side.

At points it seems like Morgan is questioning his own position, aside from being terribly distracted by a possible romance when she is so offput by him that it has the right mix of both the cunning and the funny. Marissa, won't you give Morgan a chance? It seems like you might...

[Deborah Kaminski · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully-crafted tale of heroes and villains and the occasional dragon. The unexpected plotline keeps you guessing while the characters charm you. I laughed out loud time and again. The author is not afraid to throw in well-disguised anachronisms that point to failings in our own society as much as in the medieval times he couches his tale in. The romance was just a bonus, and a very pleasant one.

[Lindaworkman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morgan James McRobbie—Knight-Commander of the Legion of Kilbourne, Viscount of Westdale, damsel defender, friend to the king, and …traitor to the kingdom?

For Morgan McRobbie, being known as the Dark Knight due to his mixed heritage wasn’t that bad, but the new double meaning that included “traitor to the kingdom” was quickly becoming an issue. This becomes obvious when he rescues Marissa from the impending jaws of a dragon, an event which she treated as almost trivial, only to be horrified at discovering the identity of her rescuer. Still Marissa agrees to the obligatory dinner to show her gratitude, which turns out to be heart-flutteringly enjoyable for the both of them, until she questions Morgan’s loyalty to Kilbourne, a matter he has made an oath to the king not to discuss. A second date finds Morgan stabbed, Marissa kidnapped by Morgan, and both of them brought face to face with the Rhuddlani spy whom Morgan was trying desperately to avoid. From here, this mostly fast-paced tale includes enough court intrigue, espionage, murder, and mayhem to satisfy the intellectual, while the seemingly star-crossed romance and well-timed humor keep the rest of us involved and entertained. This is a Knight’s tale that satisfies childhood fantasies, as well as the adult mind.

The first two-pages of this book are not any indication of the depths we will soon be diving within the realm of Kilbourne. In fact, the first two pages seemed a bit over-the-top and cliché. However, they are extremely important to the rest of the story. I look back upon them as a portal of sorts that allowed me entry to into Kilbourne. I view them as a key to and a caricature of the world that soon follows where humor and sharp wit abound, but where the reader has a bit of work to do to keep up. There is a large number of names to keep track of, especially during a scene that contains a meeting of the Council. It is impossible to know who among these many names will be majorly important later on in the story. I feel strongly that if you are up to taking on this type of challenge, the enjoyment found in this book is well worth every effort. I also recommend buying this particular book in print form. Not only will there will be passages that you will wish to highlight and read again, I think that there is a unique quality to this book that deserves a physical presence. Keith W. Willis has earned himself a fan with Traitor Knight. I believe you may find yourself becoming a fan, too.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like it more. I thought that the story and mystery were good. The world has a lot of potential. I loved the detailed and well thought out points hit throughout the book, it clearly took a lot of work to write this book. What made it a 3 star for me was the interminable draaaaaaaag. It took so long for the characters to work through anything and everything. I think I hit a little over 50% and I was in shock that I still had so much to go. I also felt like the two main characters needed to share more scenes in order for the romance to really click. For the whole second half of the book I was thinking that it was a solid 3 star book. Too long and wordy, but solid and mostly engaging. It was the last page and the last interaction between the main characters that dropped this book right down to a 2 for me and ensured I probably won't read more in this series. I don't want to spoil the last page, so all I'll say is that the female lead was justified in her actions and reactions up to this point, and then that last action pushed her over the edge to too much of a shrew for me. Just left a bad taste in my mouth.

However,

Just because the length and pace weren't my cup of tea, doesn't mean that this is a bad book. I think there are a lot of people who will enjoy the amount of detail that goes into every little action the characters want to take and I'm also sure that many people won't mind, and will even consider humorous, that last scene that I hated. So take my 2 stars with a grain of salt, it's a fine book that I just didn't like.

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once upon a time an author by the name of Keith W. Willis wrote a story about kings, dragons, damsels in distress, romance and spies and more for adults. Traitor Knight is a fairy tale for grown-ups and you will be on the edge of your seat while you get lost in this tale.

Traitor Knight is just that ... a story about a Knight, Morgan McRobbie, who is so much more than just a knight, who is asked by the King of his land to go undercover and try to root out the real traitor. It is feared that there is someone in the King's Legion of Kilbourne who is a spy for their enemies of Rhuddlani. So Morgan is asked by the King who is also a friend to act as a spy which he finds very hard to do as he would never go against the king and never be a spy. It is his JOB as Kinght-Commander to protect his country and all within.

Not only does Morgan have a lot on his plate to deal with but he also comes across a dragon attacking a fair maiden so he has to rescue her !! Unfortunately neither Morgan or Marissa duBerry realize the attraction they have toward each other until it is too late. Morgan is believed by everyone, Marissa included, to be a spy and Marissa is a lady-in-waiting to the Queen so how can their relationship work ?

Readers will love this take on the classic fairy tale we read as children but with a grown-up twist and a lot of new and different storylines to keep you captivated and turning pages. I highly recommend grabbing a cup of tea, a tasty treat and digging in to the story and your snack.

[Kat Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this series of fantasy books, you will find witches, wizards, knights, ladies, kings, queens, traitors, assassins, dwarfs, mages, ghosts and so much more.

Wyverndel, the dragon, is so cute. He is pivotal in the series but not portrayed much in the first book. He does have a problem. What is a fire-breathing dragon to do when you have the hiccoughs and can't breathe fire?

Morgan McRobbie, the Knight-Commander, is accused of being a traitor. He's undercover trying to catch those who are betraying their kingdom. Certain evil individuals desire power, greed, and wealth and they will stop at nothing to get what they want. Murder, and kidnapping to name a few.

Lady Marissa encounters the dragon and Morgan saves her. Is she thankful? Well, yes and no. Thankful she is alive. But by the traitor of their kingdom. His reward is a slap to the face.

Morgan knows what to say and when to say it as the leader of his Knights but when it comes to Lady Marissa, he is so tongue-tied, he can't form the words to say what he wants to say. This makes for some great humor and comedy. Marissa is no wilting violet and easily finds herself in trouble with her inquisitive mind in finding out the truth.

The journey for Morgan and Marissa is fraught with many perils. What he thinks will work in his plans with Marissa never works out, and he is frustrated as she never listens. Typical Venus and Mars among women and men.

Great characters, world-building, and very entertaining.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given the length of time it took me to finish this book one might get the impression that it's a dull, difficult read. Nothing could be further from the truth. I bought the book last December, and quickly read about a third of it. Then, as I seem to do all too often, I misplaced it. It turned up again recently and I was able to finish it. It is, in fact, a cracking good story. There are knights and kings, damsels and even a dragon. There's love and treachery, murder and mayhem. All this the author ties up in a neat package in a distinctly modern style which makes this a slick smooth read. I won't use the cliche that "I couldn't put it down". I will say that it's the sort of book that if you're reading in the evening and bedtime approaches, you will say "just one more chapter". An hour and four or five chapters later you finally get to bed.

[L.T. Getty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swashbuckling fun.

Knight Commander and Viscount Morgan McRobbie rescues Lady Marissa from a dragon, a beast that's been hitherto unseen for centuries. This capitulate them into a slap-slap-kiss relationship (though not necessarily in that order) as the Knight has been working on his bad reputation, so that he can infiltrate a plot against the kingdom.

Lady Marissa is unwittingly used in the game of deception and the problem is, that Morgan is really a decent fellow so he's stuck between his duty and his heart, though both vehemently deny feeling any thing for the other the plot keeps sucking one or the other into situations where Morgan has to pretend to be someone he's not.

This is a good introductory sort of fantasy novel. It has elements that are recognizable, but you won't get bogged down in how different their world is than ours. I think those who like harder science fiction and fantasy might find it a little light, but I think this is a good throw back to the heart of Arthurian Romance.

[K.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Traitor Knight by Keith Willis made for an enjoyable read from start to finish! It reminded me of a cross between "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" and "The Princess Bride", perhaps with even a dash of "Casanova" thrown in!

I usually read more Epic/High fantasy books, so this was a nice change. Traitor Knight is a fun, lighthearted fantasy tale that made for a wonderful distraction during the 2020 Pandemic. Filled with humor, intrigue, and flowery language, I think this is a nice read for teens and adults! Very clean--no swearing, sex, or gore.

I am interested in learning more about these characters, and how the dragon will play into the plot... Bring on the next book!

[O.J. Barré · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished this first book in the Knights of Kilbourne series and thoroughly enjoyed the story and characters. As a dragon-lover, I was hooked from the beginning, and found the strong knight/feisty heroine combo a delight. I enjoyed their interplay and the vein of intrigue that connects their encounters. The ending isn't your typical happily ever after, but neither is their relationship. And you just know that more will unfold for them in book 2. I'm looking forward to reading Desperate Knight next.

If you're looking for lighter fare from a long-ago time, Traitor Knight is a great read. Pick it up, you'll be glad you did.

[bex · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 star

I'd call this fantasy romantic suspense. Has the feel and pacing more of romantic suspense but in a fantasy setting.

I am bummed the dragon wasn't used more. Felt like potential for more with that than was explored in this book. But this means the dragon plot line ends up feeling like a side thing when the actual story is elsewhere.

[Kara F. · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 14 yo old son surprised me with this book when we went to a renaissance fair. He knows how much I love to read and thought this would be a good gift. For this reason alone this might always be my favorite book. 💗
As for the story, I did deduce early on who the culprit was, but it was fun along the way, although a little wordy.

[J.S. Marlo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dragons and knights are usually outside my reading genres, but since I won the book, I read it. The intrigue was captivating, the romance was tumultuous, but what pleasantly struck me the most was the witty humor. Lady Marissa was awesome! Well done!

[Nellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantasy romance

This story stayed very clean. I wish the dragon sub story would have been developed. I was an interesting story.

[Alyssa Olewnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was filled with dragons, knights, traitors, adventure, and romance. Would definitely recommend!