The Knowledge Seeker

by Rae Knightly

"...shockingly unexpected." - READER'S FAVORITE ★★★★★
2022 Readers' Favorite Book Awards - SILVER MEDAL
2021 Wishing Shelf Book Awards - FINALIST

I NEVER ASKED TO BE THE SOLE BEARER OF THE ENTIRE KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR CIVILIZATION.

Yet, here I am, barely sixteen-years-old, and it has fallen upon my shoulders to save what remains of humanity from a second Dark Ages.

Your civilization is gone now, lost six hundred years ago in cataclysmic wars brought on by climate change. Your virtual information vanished along with electricity. Only your ancient printed books remain, and they have been scanned into a memory device hanging around my neck, to which only I have access.

For Knowledge is power, and the dreaded Wraith Lord knows this. He would keep the Knowledge for himself. He would hunt me down and force me to give it up, submitting humanity to infinite darkness and servitude.

Knowledge must be for all, or for none. I must find a way to spread the Knowledge back to the world, or die trying.


International bestselling, award-winning author Rae Knightly presents a thrilling young-adult dystopian novel, The Knowledge Seeker, which takes a thought-provoking look at what would remain of our civilization six-hundred-years from now, were we to disappear today. This coming-of-age story will captivate fans of The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner, and is perfect for ages 12 to 16.

"An exciting, action-packed dystopian adventure filled with much discovery." (Giselle Schneider, author of Stars Hollow Paranormal Mysteries) ★★★★★

"This book is going to be worth its weight in gold." - Goodreads reviewer ★★★★★

"This is truly a 5 star book. It reminds me of "A Canticle for Leibowitz" but more contemporary and extremely well written." - Goodreads reviewer ★★★★★

"The main character is intelligent and a very positive role model. I don't usually like 'dystopian' stories but this has some great ideas and warnings about our future. I highly recommend this book." - BookBub reviewer ★★★★★

"In our current age of almost anti-science, denial, and misinformation, this is an extremely important book for young readers to learn and appreciate knowledge in all its forms." - READER'S FAVORITE ★★★★★

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Fantasy, Fiction

354 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 18, 2021

About the author

Rae Knightly is a sci-fi/fantasy author for teens and the young-at-heart.

Rae was raised in various locations on Earth, during which time she picked up four languages and came to appreciate this blue pebble floating in the confines of space.

Her current human mission is to keep the stars shining in her two children's eyes, while hopefully igniting new ones within others across the globe.

Rae spends her time spirit travelling to distant galaxies or exploring the breathtaking landscapes of British Columbia, Canada, before returning with more adventures for her ALIEN SKILL SERIES.

NEWSLETTER
Subscribe to Rae Knightly's mailing list and get a free prequel to The Alien Skill Series at www.raeknightly.com

FACEBOOK
www.facebook.com/rae.knightly.37

INSTAGRAM
www.instagram.com/raeknightly/

TWITTER
twitter.com/RaeKnightly

AMAZON
www.amazon.com/Rae-Knightly/e/B079V2K6PN

Reviews

[Pauline Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Podcast Review
https://reidpauline3.podbean.com/e/bg...

YouTube Review
https://youtu.be/v7I8e6wpHtY?si=aOnXY...


My Thoughts
Exciting ebook with tunnels that twists and turns, arrows rushing in the air, dead soilders, a dirty pigeon coop that needed cleaning which I bet is worse than mopping Mums and Dads tiled floor and we even get to experience a ship graveyard with the added bonus of pirates.

Yes, jam packed full of action, where you will have your hand in the bag of chocolate chip cookies without looking where your hand is, and never wanting to leave the page for just one second.
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So why is he called Termite when in his younger life he was only called number 9? This is the key we are looking for to unlock a hidden secret, a revelation of a whole diversity.

I won an ebook as a giveaway on Instagram.
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Genre - SciFi/YA

Definitely giving this adventurous story a 5 star review.
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Award-winning author Rae Knightly presents a thrilling young-adult dystopian novel, The Knowledge Seeker, which takes a thought-provoking look at what would remain of our civilization six-hundred-years from now, were we to disappear today. This coming-of-age story will captivate fans of The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner, and is perfect for ages 12 to 16.

[Maria Fledgling Author Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

Termite lives in Etheneum, the city of the Knowledge Seekers. Raised as an orphan, he is adopted by the Protector of the Etheneum, Uncle Denesius. He is an odd sort of favorite of the Protector, putting him in the line of fire of the other orphans who are training to become Knowledge Seekers.

In particular, Roderick has a terrible case of jealousy and would have made Termite's life miserable but for the barter he established with the Protector's head swordsman, Petregal. In exchange for food to feed his parents, Petregal trains Termite to defend himself.

As the last batch of Knowledge Seekers are anointed and given their red wool capes and Talismans, Termite is given a different mission than going out into the post-apocalyptic world of the 2500's and gathering Books to save in the repository of the Etheneum.

Termite is about to receive his instructions when the evil Wraith Lord from Roarim City attacks the Etheneum. Amidst the chaos, Uncle Denesius is able to give Termite his personal Talisman with directions to take it to the Ground Station of NASA in Roarim City.

What follows is a horrible betrayal, the loss of many lives and, ultimately, the discovery of the truth about Termite's past, the chance for redemption of his world and the revelation of how the Ancients came to the brink of annihilation.

This is truly a 5 star book. It reminds me of "A Canticle for Leibowitz" but more contemporary and extremely well written. You won't regret the time taken to delve into The Knowledge Seeker.

[Meenaz Lodhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic new series! 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review to come soon!

[Beagle Lover (Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 outstanding stars! ***(Mild spoilers!)

Another delightful and action-packed tale from the author of the Ben Archer series.

Eodain is the last of the Knowledge Seekers, those who's sole purpose is to keep the knowledge of the Enlightened People (our present (past era, century), day humanity) safe and contained for all of the human race in what is now the future.

But after his beloved Antenium (library) is destroyed, he escapes the Roarium attackers to seek out the Ground Station in Roarium City to activate the satellites still in orbit. But instead, he discovers abundant deception and treatchery. And as the last Seeker, only 16 year old Eodain has the Talisman to deliver the knowledge to the world. And he is the only one to activate the satellites via the Ground Station!

Filled with astonishing world-building, dialogue, wonderful characters (both good and evil) and a touch of teenage romance, join the adventure! If you dare!

[Diana Stevan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. I was carried away by the times and the characters, who made me believe all of what happens in this story is possible. The Knowledge Seeker is set in the future, six hundred years after civilization has fallen. All that was there was lost and only one leader seems to have access to this wealth of information. He entrusts an ancient memory device, containing that information to Eodain, a 16 year old boy, also known as Termite. His task is to take it to a specific location where it can be disseminated to the world. But along the way, all is not what it appears to be. There are others who have a different motive in mind. To say that Termite's life is in danger is an understatement.

This is a thrilling YA novel that will be cherished I'm sure for years.

[Giselle Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Knowledge Seeker is an exciting, action-packed dystopian adventure filled with much discovery. Discovery of one's self, humanity, friendship, right and wrong. Twists and turns arise everywhere, within past memories and the apocalyptic future the author created, that readers will be left at the edge of their seats. Eodain is definitely a hero to root for.

[Rae Knightly]

CHAPTER 1 The Coming of Dust

My heart sinks as I watch the enemy approach. Tens of thousands of marching boots raise thick clouds of dust, obscuring the afternoon sun, which scorches the desert plains. Already, the advance troops are hammering away at the defensive wall, which is all that separates this vengeful invader from the hill on which I stand. Once the Roarim breach the defensive wall and take over the City of Eliadys, there will be little hope for us up on the hill.
A sharp pain shoots from my left hand up my arm. I stifle a wince and rub the place where, six years ago, the Roarim cut off my ring finger. The ghostly jab is like a warning of the suffering to come: the enemy will be upon us within a few hours, sowing death and destruction in their path.
The faint sound of creaking leather makes me glance sideways. Uncle Denesius’s hand is clenched so hard around his leather scabbard that his knuckles have turned white. His tall frame towers beside me—stoic and commanding—and his gaze is set on the horizon. A gust of hot wind lifts his burgundy cape, the edge of it brushing against the back of my throbbing hand. The woolen fabric feels rough and used against my skin.
Poor Uncle Denesius! Did he really think the Roarim would lie low after he defeated the head of their army six years ago? Did he not foresee that a new head would take his place? Unless the rumors are true…
I hesitate, but need to know. “Uncle,” I say in a low voice, so the soldiers positioned along the fortifications before us do not overhear. “Do you think the Wraith Lord is out there?”
A vein in Uncle Denesius’s temple throbs, and I instinctively know I should not have asked that question.
“There are no such things as wraiths, Termite!” he snaps, turning hard eyes toward me. “I already told you that!”
My cheeks burn. His harsh words bother me because I suspect his anger is hiding fear. It is not good for a leader to go into battle like this. But the Grand Protector of the Atheneum fears nothing, or does he?
There are no such things as wraiths…
A troop of Knowledge Seekers rushes to join their companions, lining up along the fortifications that surround the Atheneum. Their burgundy capes flow, and their greatswords gleam in the sharp sunlight. I take comfort in the sight of them. These men will fight to the death to protect the Atheneum and what lies within.
I do not have such a cape, so I close my right hand over the pommel of my curved sword, which is smaller and thinner than the traditional Seeker blades. It is all I have to offer. “We will defeat them again, Uncle,” I venture, deciding to ignore his anger. “You led us to victory before, and you will do so again.”
Uncle Denesius does not answer right away, but when he does, his words chill me to the bone. “No, boy,” he says, his voice cold. “Not this time.”
One of the Seekers turns to glance at us, his eyes wide. He is only two years younger than me. I know this because he was Anointed yesterday when he turned fourteen. He received his official name—Odwin Atheneumson—, his own Talisman, his greatsword, and a brand new Seeker cape, which hangs down his stiff back. Its burgundy color is rich and full.
The young orphan glances at Uncle Denesius, perhaps waiting for a comforting gesture or a reassuring word. When he receives none, he pulls the cape closer around his shoulders and turns to face the army swarming beyond the wall.
A torrid wind picks up, bringing with it the sounds of thumping feet, grinding carts, and sharp metal. Battering rams thud against the defensive wall, the violent sound reverberating through the air all the way up the hill, and, each time, I feel as though I am being punched in the gut. Hundreds of our archers fight bravely from atop the defensive wall, sending volleys of arrows at the enemy, but, really, they look like tiny ants facing a storm.
Frantic screams from fleeing citizens rise from the jumble of low structures and narrow, dusty roads of Eliadys. Families and elderly people rush out of their clay homes—homes that had to be rebuilt after the last attack—and their disorganized escape jams the messy streets.
I rub my hand. Is this it, then? Will the City of Eliadys fall? Will the Roarim steal the Knowledge contained in the Atheneum tonight? Silently, I calculate the date according to the calendar of the Enlightened People: today is June 7th, 2613.
Will this be a day of triumph or disaster?

[Mahtab Narsimhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Knightly's middle grade Ben Archer series and was keen to try her YA novel, The Knowledge Seeker. What a ride from start to finish! I love the world building of this novel, far into the future, where the Enlightened People have left behind knowledge which is fiercely guarded at the Atheneum by the Knowledge Seekers with Uncle Denesius at the helm. When the safety of the Atheneum and all it contains is at risk, Termite, aka Eodain, sets out on a perilous journey to protect the last Talisman. He is accompanied by a motley crew. This story had a Brotherhood of the Ring vibe but in a more hostile and chilling environment with the Roarim's Wraith Lord and the Pirate Lord both nipping at Eodain's heels. The ending caught me utterly by surprise and, in my opinion, are the best kinds of stories! It all fell into place in the last few chapters and left me wanting to read more about the main character, Eodain and his love interest, Elysa. What I especially appreciated was that the story did not end on a  happily-ever-after, but a hopeful note. I certainly hope there's book two in this fantastic world. Highly recommended!

[Lyndi Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rae Knightly follows up her middle-grade Alien Skill Series with a great first young adult novel. Eodain, the likeable protagonist, who is raised by his uncle, is sent on a quest to ensure that knowledge doesn’t fall into the wrong hands and isn’t lost to everyone. The story jumps right into the action and the action, twists, and secret reveals don’t let up as the story builds to a satisfying ending. A little romance develops as well and couldn’t we all use a large monster who looks out for us? One thing is for sure, there are good reasons why this last Knowledge Seeker finds it difficult to know who he can trust. A recommended read for those who enjoy the juxtaposition of history with the future and suspenseful action.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would make a great futuristic dystopian movie!
Wow! Just wow! Adventure, betrayals, twists and turns, truths mixed with mistruths, romance—this story has it all! Who is telling the truth, and who is not? Were the Enlightened ones really so Enlightened? The author messes with your mind through misleading memories and experiences. Who is good and who is evil? What is right and what is wrong? An excellent, thoughtful saga. It would make a great movie! I received a free copy from the author and am pleased to leave a review.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

im a beta reader for Rae this book if going to be worth its weight in gold it has twists and turns, ups and downs i has everything you need in a book like this one i wish i could say more but i cant because it is not out yet, just buy it you wont be disappointed

[Kian M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Spoiler* A MAJOR TWIST at the end! It left me amazed and shocked! This is one of the best books I've ever read.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: The Knowledge Seeker
Author: Rae Knightly

Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 19
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 5/5

Of the 19 readers:
19 would read another book by this author.
19 thought the cover was good or excellent.
19 felt it was easy to follow.
19 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 9 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
17 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
19 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
“This is an excellently written post-apocalyptic novel for teenagers. Humanity has almost been destroyed and the only remnants of humanity´s knowledge is kept by the hero of the story. He´s cool, calm, collected – the sort of character you root for. Teenagers who enjoyed THG will love this novel.” Girl, aged 15
“The future is very gloomy in this story and has a good climate change message. It´s also exciting and well-plotted. I liked the protagonist, and his quest was interesting. The dystopian landscape is well described too. A bit depressing but it´s that sort of a book!” Boy, aged 16
“I think the author was trying to put across a warning about climate change by hiding it a mega-exciting, super-compelling dystopian novel. It worked! Loved it!!!” Girl, aged 14
“Liked it! Would read another book by this author. The cover´s cool too.” Boy, aged 13

To Sum It Up:
‘A cleverly plotted, futuristic novel with a strong ´climate change´ message. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[T.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this exciting dystopian adventure. I found it hard to put it down as the twists kept coming. The young hero, Eodain is highly likeable, determined, and compassionate, risking his own safety to help others without question. Rae Knightly has created a well-written story within a futuristic setting that sounds all too possible. The story conveys a thought-provoking message of the importance of knowledge and its role in our freedom and survival. This author's books convey timely messages aimed at younger generations who will shape the future. As an adult, I have enjoyed every book Rae Knightly has written and look forward to many more. I highly recommend this book to all ages.

[Sonia Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Knowledge Seeker is an amazing, dystopian novel. Set six hundred years in the future, the bleak new Dark Age is imaginatively created by Rae Knightly. In this world, the hero, Eodain Atheneuson embarks on a nail-biting quest to save what remains of 21st century knowledge. In the face of desolate landscapes and vicious pirates, Eodain discovers that not all knowledge can be found in his precious books. He experiences betrayal, love, honour, and the power of human connections in this coming-of-age adventure. This page-turning novel is gripping and moving from beginning to end. Put it on your 'must read' list!

[Caroline Noe · Rating 4 out of 5]

16 year old orphan,Termite, spends his life studying the books and inventions of 'the enlightened ones' following the collapse of civilisation, centuries before. When his mortal enemies overrun the city, he's given a talisman carrying the last of that famed knowledge and an impossible task. But more than danger lies in his path as betrayal, greed and secrets turn that learning on its head.

The adventurous narrative unfolds at a swift pace as our young hero, and the reader, is forced to rethink everything he's ever known. Touching on perception, the morality of technology and the witholding of education, the story is an interesting and fun read, full of twists.

[Adam Meintzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t hate the book. I liked the premise and the world. However, it just felt so rushed. If this was intended to be a series, I feel book one should have been two maybe even three books.

I didn’t feel I had time to really connect with the characters, and understand or envision the world they were in. It all sounded great and has a great idea behind it, it just didn’t have enough pages to really enjoy it.

[Nathan Smith]

The Knowledge Seeker by Rae Knightly takes the YA dystopian genre in a refreshingly new direction full of post apocalyptic thrills featuring a protagonist that any parent would be happy for their children to look up to. While many YA novels focus on youth leaving their world and studies behind, this novel, as the name may imply, illustrates the importance of education and knowledge in a world where any kind of knowledge is a luxury.
Knightly does a near perfect job of creating distinct characters with intricately designed dialogue and a plot that will draw in any booklover. This book is also extremely appropriate avoiding most language and leaving behind sexual themes as a whole. Parent's should not be wary of the effect that this book and the rest of the novels in the series may have on their children.

[Pamela Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about the coming of age for a young man in a dystopia future .

This Author is one of my favorite in the young adult genre . This author knows how to write a great if not fantastic story that will leave a lasting impact on his readers . I truly enjoyed this one and I'm looking forward to other work by you although I do think that this story deserves at least another book .

[Mystee Pulcine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Knowledge Seeker is an enticing book about the far future of America. It raises questions about the sharing of information: who should hold knowledge and the power that comes with it. Great read.

I am an adult who has read many dystopian novels, and this one kept me interested and asking questions, so I imagine it would be even more intriguing to a young adult less familiar with the genre.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Knowledge Seeker by Rae Knightly is a well written, action filled adventure about the far future of America with discovery of friendship, self humanity, right and wrong. This story is engaging and draws you in and keeps you reading until the end. The main character Eodain is well developed, interesting, and a hero. An excellent read.

[Tristan Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story starts off really slowly, which keeps me from rating it 5 stars, but the plot twist is the most dramatic I have ever read…I highly recommend reading this, if you can get past the excessively frequent and lengthy flashbacks in the first half of the book.

[❄️Olivia❄️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not expecting the ending, and did not know there was romance in there!! It’s not a whole lot but it has a small amount. The only thing is there were some errors on spelling like was the book not proofread???

[C.R. Fulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good middle grade book

This book should have been amazing. It has a fresh look at a dystopian world, and a lot of fascinating twists Still, I wanted it to have that pop that would have made it a favorite

[Arii · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devouring.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable YA dystopian fiction. Fans of the genre should definitely like this one. Read it after my 12yo read it and recommended it.

[Kian Jafarkhani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect.

Just Perfect

[Peter Last · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many plot lines dilute the story; consequently, none of them land like they should.

"The Knowledge Seeker" has an interesting premise and starts out steeped in action. The main character is a lovable underdog swept up in events and machinations far beyond his control. The post-apocalyptic setting is certainly not a new idea, but the world’s relationship with knowledge and technology makes it unique, providing an opportunity to explore the relationship of humanity to knowledge and technology. The novel’s name drives home the point that this is supposed to be the primary theme of the story. Unfortunately, the book never delves in any meaningful way into the relationship between humanity and knowledge and technology. At its core, the story is one about seizing power and revenge, and the generic plot could exist in just about any setting. The concepts of knowledge and technology do not drive or even affect the plot in any meaningful way. Without a competent handling of the main hook and boasting a generic plot, the quality of the book falls back on writing, characters, and world, and these are all middle-of-the-road. The writing does not stand out as anything special but is completely serviceable. There are several errors both in punctuation and word choice, but none which seriously detract from the quality of the writing. Characters are not great and not terrible. Developmental arcs are uniformly flat while aspects of each person which should drastically define them are downplayed and often forgotten about. This results in a cast, heroes and villains alike, who are not memorable in the least. Finally, the world, which should be one of the best parts of this book, ends up being cliched and inconsistent as a uniquely specific setting with a vast array of benefits and difficulties is routinely set aside for a more generic setting. The best example I can give of this is the number and variety of things which exist in this world, six hundred years after said items were originally made. Computers, solar panels, vehicles, ships, clothing, plastic bottles, and even the all-important books exist in working order. First of all, how does this make sense? More importantly, the could have creatively shown the struggle of living only with technologies of hundreds of years ago juxtaposed with the hopeful looking backward to knowledge and technology of the “ancients,” technology which is hardly understood. Instead, the readily available items of today make this feel more like the setting of a zombie story or some other near-future post-apocalyptic tale. In conclusion, this story was entertaining enough that it was not a drag to read, though inconsistencies did leave me scratching my head at times. Meanwhile, flat characters and the unrealized potential of the world mean I would definitely finish everything on my reading list before giving this one a try.

[Trevor Atkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was fun to follow Eodain on his post-apocalyptic journeys around the United States. We were always keen to see what new remnant of our ‘enlightened’ age would show itself. I think we most enjoyed the Pirate settlement and Roarim City sounded impressive, as well. Too bad Eodain and Elysa didn’t have more time to investigate them (for our sake). The role of sharing knowledge/books in (re)building societies was also interesting to explore. Most of all though, we felt the villain was particularly despicable!

[TBRBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so good!

Set in a post-apocalyptic world shaped by war, The Knowledge Seeker explores a society where knowledge is tightly controlled and not accessible to everyone. The twists genuinely caught me off guard, I did not expect such a reveal!

If you enjoy YA with plenty of action, high stakes, and a plot twist that will make you gasp, this one is definitely worth picking up.