Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart

Since I'm a big fan of all the Chuck Black - Kingdom Series and the Knights of Arrethtrea Series; I found this one to be quite enjoyable as well. It has a good amount of internal conflict for the main character and serves as a great bridge for the next one in the series... "Lady Carliss"

Knighthood is more than knowing how to handle a weapon. "Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart" tells the story of Dalton, a well respected knight. But his peers are not so dedicated, as he's left to go on a mission himself - hundreds of his peers are mysteriously missing. With only the help of two close friends, he has to defeat a monstrous Shadow Warrior in order to protect his kingdom. "Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart" is a fine and entertaining adventure, sure to entertain many a fantasy fan.

I really enjoyed "Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart." It is book 3 of the series "The Knights of Arrethtrae", but stands on its own without the need to read the previous books first. I enjoyed a few of the world quirks: the country of "Arrethtrae" is "Earth Terra" spelled backwards, and the Son of the King is Sejus (a scramble of Jesus). The place where the country began is "Nedehaven", which has "Eden" in the front of it and is near the river Tisgri (a scramble of Tigris River). Fun. The story is easy to read, yet not simplistic. The allegory is nicely done, and the author skillfully weaves in present action with flashbacks. This is clearly Christian fiction and delivers a clear message without being heavy handed. I think that pre-teens (and older) would really enjoy this story. Highly recommended.

Chuck Black transports the reader back to a time of sword battles, chivalry, knights in armor and good versus evil. The Knights of Arrethtrae series continues with Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart. While this novel stands alone I strongly suggest the reader begin with book 1 and read the whole series. This series focus is young readers however; we older fans will enjoy it too. There are strong Christian symbolism throughout this series. Sir Dalton's faith was not as strong as his peers. He was captured by Shadow Warrior Sir Prox and imprisoned. Prox's goal is to turn Dalton to the other side. Dalton manages to escape and meets Master Sejus who talked with him and explains things to him. Young Dalton's heart was so filled with passion and faith that he wants to return to the prison and free the captives. This story is a fast paced, easy read. The message is easy to pick up and to understand. I have read the whole series and can hardly wait for the next installment.

Sir Dalton is proud to be a member of the Order of the Knights of the Prince, but he's just not as committed as he could be. He senses there is something he is missing concerning the Prince. As he begins to search for answers, he becomes aware of an hidden enemy who seems to be stalking him. Also, young knighs of the order are disappearing at an alarming rate and no one seems to know how or why. Dalton is attracted to the lovely Lady Byrnn, but he was born a commoner, and as such must prove himself worthy of her attention. Dalton learns he can't serve two masters, and he is faced with a question that only he can answer. Will he serve the Prince with his whole heart, or will he follow the prince of darkness. As he fights to overcome the dangerous forces closing in on him, he struggles to make the right choices. If you like Christian fantasy, and I do, this book is for you. Written for young adults, it is loaded with symbolish, mighty battles, and brave knights. I'm a long way from being a young adult, but I really enjoyed this one.