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Chivalry's Children
Meridian the blacksmith, Keira the minstrel, Aurielle the alchemist, and Ivy the librarian, are four spirited and very different young women of Orion’s Court in the European nation of Laudeland. Knights, inventors, and even a prince share in their daily adventures from woodland hunts to masquerade balls.
But their peaceful existence is shattered when a ruthless villain from their past lays siege to their country in vengeance, transforming their lives forever. The ladies and their comrades are then thrown into an even greater conflict that will test the strength and endurance of each of them, yet the inner trials of their hearts may prove to be even more challenging. As iron sharpens iron, the nation of Laudeland will need to unite in honor and chivalry as they face the storms of change.
But their peaceful existence is shattered when a ruthless villain from their past lays siege to their country in vengeance, transforming their lives forever. The ladies and their comrades are then thrown into an even greater conflict that will test the strength and endurance of each of them, yet the inner trials of their hearts may prove to be even more challenging. As iron sharpens iron, the nation of Laudeland will need to unite in honor and chivalry as they face the storms of change.
256 pages, Paperback
Published August 20, 2017
1 person is currently reading
544 people want to read
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Alexis P. Johnson
5 books42 followersChampion for creativity and culture. Lives IN Los Angeles, lives BY the Holy Spirit.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 12, 2018
I want to preface this review by saying that I am definitely not the target audience for historical fiction. There has to be something to keep my interest with this genre of storytelling, such as more humor, action, or even some spooky supernatural elements to bring some levity. That being said, Johnson provides a lot of that in her ebut novel, and I was pleasantly surprised!
Johnson's strength, for me, lies in her cinematic storytelling. With the way she writes, I could picture the movie in my head as it jumps from scene to scene. The characters were very likable, and the humor was on par with other works within this genre, such as A Knight's Tale, and the bantering between Gimly and Legolas in Lord of the Rings. I thoroughly enjoyed the battle sequences and found myself smiling and audibly laughing because I was caught in the moment. Plus, the underlying message was something I found to be very admirable.
My one and only issue with the storytelling was the amount of characters to keep track of. Sometimes, I had to turn back a page to make sure I knew which character the story was focusing on. Again, I could definitely tell that Johnson is a cinematic writer, and I think this would be a great story to translate to the screen. Bravo!
Johnson's strength, for me, lies in her cinematic storytelling. With the way she writes, I could picture the movie in my head as it jumps from scene to scene. The characters were very likable, and the humor was on par with other works within this genre, such as A Knight's Tale, and the bantering between Gimly and Legolas in Lord of the Rings. I thoroughly enjoyed the battle sequences and found myself smiling and audibly laughing because I was caught in the moment. Plus, the underlying message was something I found to be very admirable.
My one and only issue with the storytelling was the amount of characters to keep track of. Sometimes, I had to turn back a page to make sure I knew which character the story was focusing on. Again, I could definitely tell that Johnson is a cinematic writer, and I think this would be a great story to translate to the screen. Bravo!
August 23, 2017
I received an Advanced Reader Copy so keep in mind that that I'm reading an earlier version without later edits:
Overall, an enjoyable, imaginative story set in a fictional medieval European country, focused on the lives of four young women and their families as an attack from a foreign nation threatens their home and livelihoods.
What I Liked:
I really enjoyed the setting and the introduction of some slightly-advanced technology into the medieval world, giving the primarily historical setting a dash of steampunk (medieval-punk?). This prompts a character, Laiken, to utter one of my favorite lines during the battle: "Just where in the blazes is everybody getting all these fancy props?" (As an unrelated aside, I kept picturing Chris Hemsworth in this role). The banter, particularly amongst the main characters' parents, was very enjoyable and felt real to me. I also enjoyed seeing the character Brendan grow and mature. I liked that he doesn't improbably become this amazing or skilled warrior, and that his growth felt more realistic and it was clear he still had a ways to go, but was on the right path.
Some other reviews remarked on the slow pace or it taking a while for the conflict to enter the picture. I personally didn't feel this way as I don't mind late-act conflicts. I felt that the history of the nation and its prior conflict with the Wolves was interweaved in the beginning of the narrative, so Kassim and the Wolves entering the picture later didn't feel jarring or out of place.
- I liked that at the end of the novel, it was clear that both the nation and the people still had healing and recovering to do; showing that war, even when you're the victor, still extracts great costs.
Some minor criticisms/nitpicks I had:
Once in a while throughout the course of the book, I felt there were some instances of "showing and not telling," particularly in regards to why a certain character performed a certain action or made a remark; just some moments that felt overly-explained when the motivation behind the act would have been clear just from describing the act and/or knowing the character's personality/motivation. I personally like some things left to be interpreted by the reader, or getting a feel for the character solely by the character's words/actions, so that may just be a personal nitpick, but they jumped out at me a little nonetheless. One example offhand (that I'm going to describe in vague terms to hopefully not spoil anything) would be a character performing a very simple yet sweet and innocent act, and the text describes why and what about the nature of the character's heart prompted her to do this, when I feel that can be divined by the description of the action itself.
I also have one extremely minor nitpick that I'm sure wouldn't bother most other readers, but I think I would preferred that, since Laudeland is fictional, that Armenia also be a fictional Eastern European country. It took me slightly out of the story trying to envision people from a real place intermixing with those of a fictional place, attempting to put it in a historical context when the novel is (mostly) fantasy, and puzzling over why "Kassim" is an Arabic name when he originates from Armenia (again, I understand this is a fantasy and isn't meant to be historically accurate, but combining real places with fictional places sort of forces my brain to do this and try to make everything make at least cultural sense if not historical sense). I realize many may disagree, and the author I'm sure had well thought-out reasons for mixing in real history (a lot of readers I'm sure enjoy that as well), but speaking personally, I think all of that could have been avoided by creating a fictional Eastern European/Middle Eastern country, maybe even in the same region.
Overall, I would still recommend this to readers who enjoy medieval fiction, low-fantasy, or even anyone who enjoys coming-of-age stories.
Overall, an enjoyable, imaginative story set in a fictional medieval European country, focused on the lives of four young women and their families as an attack from a foreign nation threatens their home and livelihoods.
What I Liked:
I really enjoyed the setting and the introduction of some slightly-advanced technology into the medieval world, giving the primarily historical setting a dash of steampunk (medieval-punk?). This prompts a character, Laiken, to utter one of my favorite lines during the battle: "Just where in the blazes is everybody getting all these fancy props?" (As an unrelated aside, I kept picturing Chris Hemsworth in this role). The banter, particularly amongst the main characters' parents, was very enjoyable and felt real to me. I also enjoyed seeing the character Brendan grow and mature. I liked that he doesn't improbably become this amazing or skilled warrior, and that his growth felt more realistic and it was clear he still had a ways to go, but was on the right path.
Some other reviews remarked on the slow pace or it taking a while for the conflict to enter the picture. I personally didn't feel this way as I don't mind late-act conflicts. I felt that the history of the nation and its prior conflict with the Wolves was interweaved in the beginning of the narrative, so Kassim and the Wolves entering the picture later didn't feel jarring or out of place.
- I liked that at the end of the novel, it was clear that both the nation and the people still had healing and recovering to do; showing that war, even when you're the victor, still extracts great costs.
Some minor criticisms/nitpicks I had:
Once in a while throughout the course of the book, I felt there were some instances of "showing and not telling," particularly in regards to why a certain character performed a certain action or made a remark; just some moments that felt overly-explained when the motivation behind the act would have been clear just from describing the act and/or knowing the character's personality/motivation. I personally like some things left to be interpreted by the reader, or getting a feel for the character solely by the character's words/actions, so that may just be a personal nitpick, but they jumped out at me a little nonetheless. One example offhand (that I'm going to describe in vague terms to hopefully not spoil anything) would be a character performing a very simple yet sweet and innocent act, and the text describes why and what about the nature of the character's heart prompted her to do this, when I feel that can be divined by the description of the action itself.
I also have one extremely minor nitpick that I'm sure wouldn't bother most other readers, but I think I would preferred that, since Laudeland is fictional, that Armenia also be a fictional Eastern European country. It took me slightly out of the story trying to envision people from a real place intermixing with those of a fictional place, attempting to put it in a historical context when the novel is (mostly) fantasy, and puzzling over why "Kassim" is an Arabic name when he originates from Armenia (again, I understand this is a fantasy and isn't meant to be historically accurate, but combining real places with fictional places sort of forces my brain to do this and try to make everything make at least cultural sense if not historical sense). I realize many may disagree, and the author I'm sure had well thought-out reasons for mixing in real history (a lot of readers I'm sure enjoy that as well), but speaking personally, I think all of that could have been avoided by creating a fictional Eastern European/Middle Eastern country, maybe even in the same region.
Overall, I would still recommend this to readers who enjoy medieval fiction, low-fantasy, or even anyone who enjoys coming-of-age stories.
August 8, 2017
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What it's about: Chivalry's Children is a story of four young noblewomen in the court of a medieval realm called Laudeland. The country is an island nation in the center of the North Sea, between the United Kingdom and Denmark. While the book is set almost entirely in this fictional realm, there are a number of connections to "our" world, mainly in the form of characters hailing from Armenia. Despite the lack of magic or other fantastical elements, I'd still classify the book as "fantasy" due to the alternate-reality setting and the presence of some advanced technology in Laudeland. The plot revolves around the young women and their families and friends as they fight to save their kingdom from an enemy bent on destroying their lives.
What I enjoyed: The characters were all distinctive and well-developed. Johnson does a great job handling a large cast without anyone getting lost in the shuffle. Multiple subplots and character arcs weave together to form a cohesive whole. The protagonists were interesting and likable, their banter was humorous, and I felt emotionally invested in what was happening to them.
I also appreciated Johnson's attention to historical details and her vivid imagining of her storyworld. The touches of more "modern" technology in the form of Caspian's inventions were particularly fun. I normally don't care for fantasy that doesn't involve magical themes, but there was enough suspense and enjoyable character interactions to keep me interested despite that.
What I wasn't so fond of: It takes a little too long for things to heat up in this book. I'm not one of those people who wants an explosion in every chapter, but when I begin reading a book, I expect something to go wrong and mess up the characters' lives early on so that I know what the story will be about. The inciting incident of Chivalry's Children doesn't come until roughly halfway through the novel. That is not to say that the preceding chapters are boring, however. The characters are engaging enough to hold the reader's interest despite the lack of a definite conflict in the first part of the book. And once the conflict does begin, it's gripping and keeps you reading eagerly until the final chapter. So the off-kilter pacing is ultimately forgivable.
The lengthy build-up to the inciting event also affects the book's villain. Because he's not introduced until the middle, there isn't much time to flesh him out. As a result, his scenes and storylines feel rushed. He has a strong presence in the book all the same, injecting plenty of menace into the story, but I would have liked to see more of him.
Just to be clear, these are minor concerns. They weren't enough to make me dislike the story as a whole.
Content advisory: A sexual encounter begins but is interrupted before the characters can get undressed. It's not explicit at all. An "off-camera" rape is referenced but not described. There's a smattering of mild profanity and one crude joke. The violence is intense at times but the gore is not excessive. I'd rate this PG-13.
In short: A fun and exciting tale of brave damsels and noble knights. Recommended for anyone who wants to lose themselves in a realm of swords and chivalry for an afternoon.
What it's about: Chivalry's Children is a story of four young noblewomen in the court of a medieval realm called Laudeland. The country is an island nation in the center of the North Sea, between the United Kingdom and Denmark. While the book is set almost entirely in this fictional realm, there are a number of connections to "our" world, mainly in the form of characters hailing from Armenia. Despite the lack of magic or other fantastical elements, I'd still classify the book as "fantasy" due to the alternate-reality setting and the presence of some advanced technology in Laudeland. The plot revolves around the young women and their families and friends as they fight to save their kingdom from an enemy bent on destroying their lives.
What I enjoyed: The characters were all distinctive and well-developed. Johnson does a great job handling a large cast without anyone getting lost in the shuffle. Multiple subplots and character arcs weave together to form a cohesive whole. The protagonists were interesting and likable, their banter was humorous, and I felt emotionally invested in what was happening to them.
I also appreciated Johnson's attention to historical details and her vivid imagining of her storyworld. The touches of more "modern" technology in the form of Caspian's inventions were particularly fun. I normally don't care for fantasy that doesn't involve magical themes, but there was enough suspense and enjoyable character interactions to keep me interested despite that.
What I wasn't so fond of: It takes a little too long for things to heat up in this book. I'm not one of those people who wants an explosion in every chapter, but when I begin reading a book, I expect something to go wrong and mess up the characters' lives early on so that I know what the story will be about. The inciting incident of Chivalry's Children doesn't come until roughly halfway through the novel. That is not to say that the preceding chapters are boring, however. The characters are engaging enough to hold the reader's interest despite the lack of a definite conflict in the first part of the book. And once the conflict does begin, it's gripping and keeps you reading eagerly until the final chapter. So the off-kilter pacing is ultimately forgivable.
The lengthy build-up to the inciting event also affects the book's villain. Because he's not introduced until the middle, there isn't much time to flesh him out. As a result, his scenes and storylines feel rushed. He has a strong presence in the book all the same, injecting plenty of menace into the story, but I would have liked to see more of him.
Just to be clear, these are minor concerns. They weren't enough to make me dislike the story as a whole.
Content advisory: A sexual encounter begins but is interrupted before the characters can get undressed. It's not explicit at all. An "off-camera" rape is referenced but not described. There's a smattering of mild profanity and one crude joke. The violence is intense at times but the gore is not excessive. I'd rate this PG-13.
In short: A fun and exciting tale of brave damsels and noble knights. Recommended for anyone who wants to lose themselves in a realm of swords and chivalry for an afternoon.
March 11, 2018
I believe stories like this are needed now more than ever, especially for the YA genre. Where most YA books explore the self, which is understandable considering the age group and needed within its own context, this story puts the self within the context of the whole - within the context of others. It is about joining your hands with your neighbor and your brother and realizing that we can't do this thing called life on our own. Unity, love, and camaraderie are what truly makes us strong in the face of adversity. This is what this story is all about, and I loved how this group of friends and people of Laudeland come together to not only overcome their enemies from without, but from within as well - often times those being the most impeding. I enjoyed reading each of the characters - unique and endearing as they were, dealing with their own struggles, and how they look to one another and lift one another up. I think one of my favorites was Prince Brendon, the adorkable prince - boy turned king. His story was moving and relatable, and his friendship with Aurielle was so sweet. However, all their stories have something important to offer, even from the villain's perspective, and I really think this is what makes this book stand out.
Yet this story is also about open-mindedness, innovation, and the promise of hope. It is unabashedly idealistic, although not diminishing the sorrow, pain, and confusion that comes to us too. I believe this book inspires us to always dream again - that no matter where you come from or what you've gone through, you can always find hope and that hope can set you free. And that this freedom can ultimately bring you joy.
I would encourage anyone to read this, although most especially the age group it is geared towards. With our media and its stories subsumed in dark themes of cynicism, disillusionment, loss, and despair, this story is like a breath of fresh air from what I would call that "far green country, under a swift sunrise" to quote LOTR. I truly believe in the heart of this book, and invite any reader to come see the same. For there are stories that remind us what was, and there are stories that reveal to us what is, but then there are some stories that dare to show us what could be, and this is one of those stories.
Yet this story is also about open-mindedness, innovation, and the promise of hope. It is unabashedly idealistic, although not diminishing the sorrow, pain, and confusion that comes to us too. I believe this book inspires us to always dream again - that no matter where you come from or what you've gone through, you can always find hope and that hope can set you free. And that this freedom can ultimately bring you joy.
I would encourage anyone to read this, although most especially the age group it is geared towards. With our media and its stories subsumed in dark themes of cynicism, disillusionment, loss, and despair, this story is like a breath of fresh air from what I would call that "far green country, under a swift sunrise" to quote LOTR. I truly believe in the heart of this book, and invite any reader to come see the same. For there are stories that remind us what was, and there are stories that reveal to us what is, but then there are some stories that dare to show us what could be, and this is one of those stories.
July 19, 2017
While reading this book, I couldn't help but imagine every scene of it as if I was watching A Knight's Tale/Ever After-styled flick! It is a page-turner filled with playful and snarky character banter, rich themes on humanity's struggles, and magnificent descriptions of the fictional European nation of Laudeland. This story is just pure fun for the imagination! It contains both depth and delight for the reader. By half way through the book, one will discover the plot changing course in unexpected directions as Laudeland faces its greatest challenge. This is where the author's unique and experimental ideas really shine! In addition, the development of the characters takes on new life as they confront their own weaknesses in the midst of the current threat, as well as take upon their strengths. There were quite a few scenes that left me misty-eyed! Personally, I really love the themes that the author wove throughout her book, especially the ones on home, the weight of our actions/choices, and the power of compassion and love when confronted by trauma and loss.
September 19, 2017
3.5 Stars
Chivalry's Children is a light adventuresome tale that feels inspired by the middle ages without actually being a historical. More of an alternative history or fantasy without magic. At first I thought this would be more of a middle grade story but as things progressed it would probably fit YA better. The story centers around a large friend/family group in a very whimsical storybook type setting that I think young teens/tweens with a love for Arthurian-type legends would enjoy.
It takes some time at the start to set up each character and how they are connected to the others. There is quite a bit of early teen style flirting and what not at the start and I felt a little overwhelmed at each character having such a clear romantic connection, especially seeing as there are quite a few of them. But those in a different age group with different preferences may enjoy not having to angst. Getting to the middle portion more danger and action start setting in that I enjoyed and could have had a bit more of but things get wrapped up well.
Chivalry's Children looks to be free on Kindle unlimited for those who have that service, just an FYI. :-)
Thank you to the author Alexis Johnson for the review copy. Between travelling in early August, then back to school and Hurricane Irma hitting my area I have spent very little time reading the last two months but finally was able to catch up on some things.
Chivalry's Children is a light adventuresome tale that feels inspired by the middle ages without actually being a historical. More of an alternative history or fantasy without magic. At first I thought this would be more of a middle grade story but as things progressed it would probably fit YA better. The story centers around a large friend/family group in a very whimsical storybook type setting that I think young teens/tweens with a love for Arthurian-type legends would enjoy.
It takes some time at the start to set up each character and how they are connected to the others. There is quite a bit of early teen style flirting and what not at the start and I felt a little overwhelmed at each character having such a clear romantic connection, especially seeing as there are quite a few of them. But those in a different age group with different preferences may enjoy not having to angst. Getting to the middle portion more danger and action start setting in that I enjoyed and could have had a bit more of but things get wrapped up well.
Chivalry's Children looks to be free on Kindle unlimited for those who have that service, just an FYI. :-)
Thank you to the author Alexis Johnson for the review copy. Between travelling in early August, then back to school and Hurricane Irma hitting my area I have spent very little time reading the last two months but finally was able to catch up on some things.
March 7, 2018
Some parts were cheesy, and there was some profanity (which I did not like), but overall I truly enjoyed the story. I loved that it promoted positive ideals such as chivalry, courage, compassion, forgiveness and redemption.
July 19, 2017
This book took so much time an effort. I wrote it while working a full time job and living life with my husband, family, and friends. I give the 5 stars simply for how much of myself I poured into it. I will leave it to my readers to decide if it's actually any good haha. Thanks, everyone!
January 9, 2018
Because there were so many primary characters, it took me a few pages to get into the story, but once I did, I flew through the book. The world building was great. I felt like I could have stepped into Laudeland through the pages, and I loved how the women were able to have the jobs they wanted without the stigma of something being "a man's job".
I could tell Alexis has a background in screenwriting, because this book would make a great movie. I could totally envision it as one while I read. I also really loved the spirit of camaraderie among the characters. It reminded me of the relationships I have with my siblings and a couple of my closest friends.
Overall, this was a great read. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy, medieval reads, or adventure.
I could tell Alexis has a background in screenwriting, because this book would make a great movie. I could totally envision it as one while I read. I also really loved the spirit of camaraderie among the characters. It reminded me of the relationships I have with my siblings and a couple of my closest friends.
Overall, this was a great read. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy, medieval reads, or adventure.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews