Hundreds of years ago on a planet once ravaged by war, the nations swore an armistice never to use weapons of mass destruction again. Today, battle-hardened warriors known as Grievar Knights train to represent their nations’ interests in brutal hand-to-hand combat.
Murray Pearson was once a famed Knight until he suffered a loss that crippled his nation – but now he’s on the hunt to find and train the next champion.
Below, in the Underground’s brutal combat rings, an orphaned boy called Cego is making a name for himself. Murray believes he has what it takes to make it in the planet’s most prestigious combat school – but he has to fight his way out of the Underground first.
Alexander Darwin is a second generation Vietnamese-Jewish-American author living in Boston with his wife and two daughters. Outside of writing, he teaches and trains martial arts (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu). He’s inspired by old-school Hong Kong action flicks, jRPGs, underdog stories and bibimbap bowls.
My thoughts: I don’t know much about martial arts, except from my family (dad – judo, sister – karate) and friends. But luckily it isn’t needed in this gripping and intelligent fantasy, set in a world where instead of war, there are knights who fight in single unarmed combat representing their countries. Inspired by his own love of martial arts, Alexander Darwin has created a fully realised history and culture in this, his debut novel.
Murray is a former Knight, now a Scout seeking out fresh talent to be trained up like he was, and when he finds Cego fighting in the Underground, he thinks he’s found a new champion. But Cego’s past is something of a mystery and as Murray digs into that, he uncovers some sinister things.
What I loved most is Cego’s friendships with his fellow fighters – especially Knees and Dozer who he comes up from the Ungerground to the training academy, the Lyceum, with. And then his team, the Whelps, most of whom get written off by their fellow students but Cego brings them together. The bond the group build is so important to their sense of self and to the confidence they need to survive.
The writing feels fresh but also like that of a writer much further into their career than a first book, it’s assured and the world building is strong. I really enjoyed it and look forward to book two.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own
ramblingmads 