Customer Reviews

Knight's Wyrd (Magic Carpet Books)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Wizards, knights, ogres and mermaids -- a typical fantasy tale, right? Wrong! Debra Doyle and James MacDonald take a typical sword'n'sorcery tale (heavier on the swords) and spin it into a slam-bang adventure tale that will definitely cause thrills and chills for both kids and adults.

In one of the dukedoms of Anglia, young William is about to be knighted, which is theoretically one of the best days of his life. But it's overshadowed when a wizard tells him his wyrd -- his future destiny -- that he won't succeed his father because he will encounter Death before a year has passed. Horrified, William sets off on a perilous journey to tell his betrothed, Isobel, that he can't marry her because he's going to die.

But his preoccupation with his impending death is overshadowed when he finds out about political machinations that threaten his life. And with a dubious circle of allies around him -- from an indebted ghost to a cryptic dragon to some murky mermaids -- William must somehow defeat the deathless ogre whose fate is somehow entwined with his -- and with Lord Death's.

"Knight's Wyrd" is pretty standard and only somewhat engaging for the first two thirds of the book, then it rapidly respins itself into a complex and thought-provoking action-fantasy. Shapeshifting wizards, carnivore mermaids, and an ex-fiancee who is not quite what she seems add an element of mystery. To make the book even more interesting, Doyle and MacDonald subtlely include elements of medieval honor and debt.

The writing is stark but very evocative, which gives an extra punch to scenes like the one where Will kneels down, only to find a ghost on either side of him. There's no swearing or smut, but there is a lot of darkness and violence, ranging from a hideous long-armed troll being dragged out of a river to the sharp-toothed mermaids trying to eat Will. Younger kids will probably find this frightening, but older kids will enjoy a fantasy story with some genuinely gruesome beasties -- not to mention the appearance of Lord Death himself, who adds the final kink to a very complicated plot.

"Knight's Wyrd" is a dark, fun, intense read for both kids and adults. Doyle and MacDonald should write a sequel to this gem.

Not heavy on reading books? Well to tell you the trueth I was never fond of reading books myself. Everytime I picked up a book and started reading, halfway through the book I would start to doze off. Till the day I picked up Knight's Wyrd. It was like pulling the sword out of the stone. When I started reading it, I was quickly hooked. And I'm just a normal 16 year old who, like any other youth, would rather play video games or watch t.v. instead of sitting down and open up a book.

When I first started reading Knights Wyrd I found it somewhat interesting but not that great. It had some action and suspense but not a lot just mostley minor adventures. It appeared to be nothing more than a tale of wizards and warriors.
Then as I continued to around page 150-200 I could not put the book down. It bacame a tale of betrayal, friendship, loyalty, and facing your fears.

This book had me hooked on every page. It was hard to put down, and I wanted it to keep on going. There was never a dull moment in this book. It was well told, and I recommend it to children and adults.

On the eve of his knighting, Will Odoson of Rostenbury learns of his wyrd, or destiny. Through treachetrous terrain and evil, and mystical creatures including: a man-eating troll, a magic working dragon, beautiful mermaids, and perhaps the most dangerous advesary and invincible ogre that has hidden his death in a bird's egg. Full of a sense of adventure, love, and destiny; this book is amazing. It was a real page turner, and once you start you won't ever put it down. It's possible to read the book 20 times and find something new EVERY SINGLE time.

Knights Wyrd is very exciting. It catches the readers attention at every moment. Your eyes will never venture away from the pages. If you have children, I reccomend this book as a gift. When I read this book, I had to read at least 3 chapters at a time, before something even slightly boring happened. The reader left out all of the boring areas, and kept the exciting parts. The only flaw is that the book is a little too short for fast readers.

This book is like a surrealist's painting. Sometimes twisted, sometimes magical, and always mystical. It is such a good story, it had me pinned to the sofa for hours. This story has it all: fantastic swordfights, magical journeys, grusome monsters. WOW!

This book starts as a modern fantasy novel, but becomes more and more like a folktale as it progresses. It's a smart, addictive book--very well written.

One of the best books I've read this year. Highly recommended.

The Nights Wyrd is about a young man named Will who is looking for his wyrd (destiny). On his way he encounters many enemy's such as a man eating Troll, carnivorous Mermaids, and an invincible Ogre. It's a lot of fun and adventure. If you like books with action then you should read this book

This book is exciting. I enjoyed this book, although I'm 11 and this book is for young adults. It gets a little bit complex to read in parts, but it's worth reading through those parts. The story is a thrilling adventure about a young knight who is bound to face death.