Rogue's Home: A Knight and Rogue Novel (Knight & Rogue (Hardback)) [Hardcover]

Hilari Bell (Author)

Book Description

Series: Knight & Rogue (Hardback) | Publication Date: August 26, 2008

The Boys Are Back!

Sir Michael Sevenson and his squire, Fisk, can't seem to keep out of hot water. After five long years, Fisk has been called home to Ruesport to investigate who framed his sister Anna's husband, Max, as a blackmailer. Anna figures that Fisk, with his criminal past, is uniquely qualified to find out who set Max up. Of course Michael feels he has to come along to help his friend; but now he wears the tattoos of the unredeemed and fears he might be more hindrance than help.

As in The Last Knight, Hilari Bell's first Knight and Rogue novel, Rogue's Home combines the banter of a buddy story with elements of classic fantasy, medieval derring-do, and mystery. Michael and Fisk are likable guys who just seem to he magnets for trouble. You never know what is going to happen to these would-be heroes next.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7–10—When readers last saw the unlikely duo of starry-eyed Sir Michael and his reluctant squire (and former thief) Fisk in The Last Knight (HarperCollins, 2007), the teens were headed toward Michael's home to face the music. Despite his father's instructions, the young man has refused to bring back a woman falsely accused of murder, and the punishment for this failure is harsh. Michael is declared "unredeemed" and tattooed with marks that will declare his newly despised status to any that see his wrists. What's worse, Fisk has been called back home by his sisters to help them clear the name of a man he dislikes. Michael comes along but somebody has it in for the two, and it will take all of their wits to keep them out of either jail or a hangman's noose. In a story that's part buddy comedy, part Don Quixote, and part mystery novel, Bell outdoes herself with this intrepid pair. Michael's insistence that he is a knight, an occupation that is "two centuries out of date," has waned and now it is Fisk taking center stage. The story line moves swiftly and without a stumble. Count on this book's humor, suspense, and plot twists to keep readers coming back for future installments.—Elizabeth Bird, New York Public Library
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From Booklist

Centuries after knight errantry became an unrealistic career choice, in a land lit by two moons and enriched by Magica, Sir Michael (aka Mike) and his reluctant sometime squire Fisk ride out for the second adventure in the Knight and Rogue series. After receiving an urgent, maddeningly vague cry for help, Fisk returns to his hometown to find his sisters in peril of losing their home now that his brother-in-law has lost his job and reputation. Who is the conniving villain who has schemed to bring the family low and committed murder and arson to cover his tracks? Though the many characters are well drawn and often diverting, their proliferation crowds the field of suspects to the point of confusion. The mystery may be the central focus of the novel, but the appeal of the series lies in the two strong protagonists, Mike and Fisk, and the fundamental tension as well as growing bond between them. Grades 7-10. --Carolyn Phelan

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen; 1 edition (August 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060825065
• ISBN-13: 978-0060825065
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #724,836 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Me the writer--a loose, not-really-biography of Hilari Bell.

A lot of writers will tell you that they've been writers from the time they were children--well, I'm not one of those people. I was always a reader. There's nothing better than falling into the world of a book and just living there till the story's over...and even then, it stays in your head and heart. At least, the best ones do. But writing came a lot later, in school assignments--which I enjoyed, but still, assignments. Homework no less.

I started writing seriously when I first got out of library school. I'd been reading picture books preparing to do storytimes, and I thought, "Picture books. They're short. They're for little kids. How hard could it be?" Several years and dozens of unsold--and unsalable--picture books later I'd found out how hard they could be! Picture books are harder to write (a good one, anyway) than anything except poetry. And they're harder to sell than anything but poetry, too.

One of the things I've learned about writing over the years is to never say never, because whenever I've said "I will never write XYZ" within a few years I end up writing it. Some true examples: I could never write a novel. I could never write a young adult novel. I could never write science fiction. I could never write an adult novel. I could never make those books a romance. (OK, so I haven't actually made them into a romance, but a lot more romantic elements are creeping into my writing.) I should probably say, I could never write a best seller, just to see what would happen... Hmm. I could never write a best seller!

OK, Murphy's Law being what it is, that probably won't work. If for no other reason than that, primarily, I write for me. This is something I probably shouldn't admit, but I don't really care that much about my audience. (Sorry, audience.) I write the books I want to read. I tell the stories that I want to tell. And I write to make the story the best it can be...because the story is what I care about it. I love it when other people care about my stories too, but that's not my primary motivation. Which is the other reason "I could never write a best seller."

(I know it probably won't work--but it doesn't hurt to try, now does it?)

--Hilari

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, January 9, 2009

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rogue's Home: A Knight and Rogue Novel (Knight & Rogue (Hardback)) (Hardcover)

Michael and Fisk are on the road again, after their last adventure turned out sourly. A rider catches up with them, delivering a letter from Fisk's family. He's desperately needed at home.

He returns on his own, hoping that Michael will not follow him.

Michael does follow, and his history shakes up the town. Fisk's brother-in-law has been falsely accused of blackmail. His sister wrote Fisk home, hoping that he could help (specifically with his knowledge of criminals) clear her husband's name.

Fisk and Michael start talking to the townspeople, but some don't like their questions. Someone sets fires, blaming Michael, forcing him to lay low. Can Fisk discover who framed his family before the citizens of the town kill Michael?

The sequel to THE LAST KNIGHT, ROGUE'S HOME is a medieval tale of mystery and action that will captivate readers and keep them guessing until the end of the book.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fun teenage quixotic medieval tale, October 18, 2008

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rogue's Home: A Knight and Rogue Novel (Knight & Rogue (Hardback)) (Hardcover)

Chivalrous teenager Sir Michael Sevenson, THE LAST KNIGHT, accompanied by his squire roguish reformed burglar Fisk, disobeys his father who ordered him to arrest a woman accused of murder. He refused because he felt she was innocent and honor and justice prevailed. However, his irate dad declares him "unredeemed" and tattooed as such on his wrists for all to see and spurn, which means he is shunned by society. Fisk makes it clear he believes his master is an idiot for choosing honor over a warm bed and a hot meal.

Fisk receives a letter from his sister asking him to return home to deal with a family crisis. Away for about five years, he reluctantly heads to his birth village Ruesport with Michael accompanying him to investigate arson and bribery; the suspect is Fisk's brother-in-law who the squire would prefer gets hung rather than solve the case and prove his innocence.

The second teenage quixotic medieval tale is a fun mystery in which the two amateur sleuths find their investigation constantly gets them in trouble and danger. The story line is fast-paced from the moment Fisk receives the missive and never slows down as the pair battle Hilari Bell's equivalent to windmills, but do so with honor. Rotating perspective between the knight and the squire, teen readers will enjoy their squabbles, disagreements and antics in the second amusing adventures of the Last Knight

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Micheal and Fisk are Back!, August 11, 2009

By 

A. Everett "The Family Bookworm" (Flippin' HOT AZ, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rogue's Home: A Knight and Rogue Novel (Knight & Rogue (Hardback)) (Hardcover)

This series is by far one of my favorites. Hilari Bell is already one of my favorite authors, and she is at her best in this awesome book. The knight and rogue's antics and always entertaining. I laughed, I cried, and I was on the edge, following the mystery with just as much curiosity as the characters in the book. I was especially excited by the fact that Fisk was fleshed out a bit more in this book. His history and his present transformation would be a good book all on their own. As always, Fisk and Micheal's relationship despite their obvious differences is also one of the best parts. I can''t wait for the next installment.