Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court

Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court is the second book in the Knights of Arrethtrae series.  While it is not so much a sequel to Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione, it does carry much the same feel.  Once again, the story is so much more than simply a book about knights and fair maidens.  It is a story about the importance of following God and Jesus, or as they are referred to in the books, the King and the Prince.

At the beginning of this book, Bentley is being ordained a Noble Knight of Chessington.  He has been taught that the Knights of the Prince, or followers as they are sometimes referred as, are their enemies.  Then, one day as he is in battle, some followers come to the aid of the Noble Knights.  When Sir York, the commander of the Noble Knights, then captures the followers, Bentley begins to question whether he is on the right side.  That is when he decides to find out more about the Prince and his followers.  That is also when Bentley finds his true calling in life. 

As Bentley starts out on his new mission, he comes into contact with an old comrade of his fathers.  This man, Demus, was also once a Noble Knight who was punished and banished from Chessington for following the calling of the Prince.  After a while, Bentley deicdes to live as a peasants in Holbrook, where he discovers true happiness with the family who has taken him in, true love in Eirwyn, the Mercy Maiden, and true horror at the sight of how the peasants are treated by Sir Averick, the head knight for Lord Kingsley, the ruler of Holbrook.

The story of Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court has many good points.  It first and foremost illustrates the great happiness you can gain from following God and finding true purpose in life.  It also shows how being rich doesn’t make you happy.  In fact, true happiness comes from surrounding yourself with truth, justice and people you love.

The strong characters of the story also help to enhance the message.  Mr. Black truly helps the reader feel the courage of Sir Bentley, the joy of Anya, the little orphan girl, and the compassion of Eirwyn as she delivers food and other goods to the people of Holbrook.  Also, you get to feel the evil of Sir Averick, and the greed of Lord Kingsley.  This all helps to bring the story to vivid life.

Both the plot and characterization are enhanced by Mr. Black’s colorful and vivid descriptions. He actually takes you to the kingdoms and helps you see and feel the cool waters, the pain of battle wounds, and the imagery of the beautiful castle, the harsh terrains and the dilapidated town.

I will also caution the reader that some of the imagery does get intense.  The brutality of Sir Averick, along with some of the battles and a brief segment about ritual sacrifice may prove too graphic for some younger readers.  However, they are important aspects of the book, as the tale would not have quite the same impact without them.

I would absolutely recommend Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court for young readers. The story will give readers the desire to follow their hearts, even when things get tough.  It is an excellent tale of inspiration, which can be a very strong tool especially for kids.  Sir Bentley will have the readers waiting anxiously for the next tale of the Knights of Arrethtrae.