About the BookAccording to legend, King Arthur is supposed to return when Britain needs him most. So why does a man claiming to be the once and future king suddenly appear in modern-day Los Angeles?
This charismatic young Arthur creates a new Camelot within the City of Angels to lead a crusade of unwanted kids against an adult society that discards and ignores them. Under his banner of equality, every needy child is welcome, regardless of race, creed, sexual orientation, or gang affiliation.
With the help of his amazing First Knight, homeless fourteen-year-old Lance, Arthur transforms this ragtag band of rejected children and teens into a well-trained army—the Children of the Knight––where even gay boys and gangsters work side by side. Through his intervention, they win the hearts and minds of the populace at large, and gain a truer understanding of themselves and their worth to society. But seeking more rights for kids pits Arthur and his children squarely against the rich, the influential, and the self-satisfied politicians who want nothing more than to maintain the status quo.
Can right truly overcome might? Arthur’s hopeful young knights are about to find out, and the City of Angels will never be the same.
The Knight Cycle begins . . .
My Review
Hollywood. The first thing that usually comes to mind is the glamor and decadence of the red carpet. Movie stars bedecked in diamonds waving to adoring crowds. However, the reality is quite different. The streets lined with the handprints of famous celebrities are where children abandoned by society are forced to make a living, hustling drugs or selling their bodies. It's a bleak scene, lacking hope and in need of a champion. Michael J. Bowler answers the call by heralding King Arthur from the mists of history to fight for these neglected teens in CHILDREN OF THE KNIGHT.
Arthur is oblivious to the culture of instant fame and America's obsession with reality TV. He magically wakes up in twenty-first century California, but he doesn't know how. Is it the working of Merlin? Legend has it that he would return when Britain needed him most ... but would one of her former colonies count when it comes to summoning him from the beyond? He has Excalibur. He has his throne. He has a trusty steed. All he requires are the knights he can lead into battle against poverty and despair.
But parading through the barrio to combat crime and corruption with a bunch of delinquent teens, gets him noticed. Soon the whole world is aware of his campaign through viral videos and internet postings. The media can't get enough as they follow him around, reclaiming one poor neighborhood after another. Ratings soar. Interest is high. His knights become household names. People can't get enough, hounding them for autographs and asking them to pose for cell phone pics. In a town where everyone's looking to catch a glimpse of a famous person, King Arthur and his new and improved Knights of the Round Table become the hottest stars around.
But there's a mysterious quality surrounding the whole production. Is it really King Arthur or a lunatic with delusions of grandeur or even a well-meaning person acting out one of the world's greatest hero roles? No one really knows for sure. And even though Arthur recruits over a thousand teenagers to train and fight with him, his underground lair remains a secret. He travels stealthily through the city, using the drains and grates of the sewer system. He emerges to right the wrongs of urban decay and child abuse, empowering the weak to take their city back from the corrupt politicians and dangerous criminals who think they are running the show. He gives the people the choice whether or not they wish to help him in his mission, having them reclaim ownership over the place they call home.
Maybe in a day and age where celebrities wield the most influence, Hollywood is exactly the place where King Arthur needs to reign. In spreading the message of right over might, it's no wonder he's such an intoxicating figure. Long live the ideals of King Arthur today and everyday!
***
Children of the Knight can be purchased at:
Amazon
Prices/Formats: $6.99 ebook, $17.99 paperback
Pages: 344
ISBN: 9781623806552
Publisher: Harmony Ink Press
Release: June 20, 2013
Click to add to your Goodreads list.
About the AuthorMichael J. Bowler is an award-winning author of three novels - A Boy and His Dragon, A Matter of Time, and Children of the Knight - who grew up in San Rafael, California.
He majored in English and Theatre at Santa Clara University and earned a master’s in film production from Loyola Marymount University, a teaching credential in English from LMU, and another master's in Special Education from Cal State University Dominguez Hills.
He partnered with two friends as producer, writer, and/or director on several ultra-low-budget horror films, including “Fatal Images,” “Club Dead,” and “Things II,” the reviews of which are much more fun than the actual movies.
He taught high school in Hawthorne, California for twenty-five years, both in general education and to students with learning disabilities, in subjects ranging from English and Strength Training to Algebra, Biology, and Yearbook.
He has also been a volunteer Big Brother to seven different boys with the Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters program and a thirty-year volunteer within the juvenile justice system in Los Angeles. He is a passionate advocate for the fair treatment of children and teens in California, something that is sorely lacking in this state. He has been honored as Probation Volunteer of the Year, YMCA Volunteer of the Year, California Big Brother of the Year, and 2000 National Big Brother of the Year. The “National” honor allowed he and three of his Little Brothers to visit the White House and meet the president in the Oval Office.
He has already completed the two continuations of Children of the Knight that complete the trilogy - Running Through A Dark Place & And The Children Shall Lead. Both will likely be released in 2014.
Links to connect with Michael:
Web Site
Goodreads
Blog
Tumblr
Freado
Blog Tour Site
About the Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks Victoria for the great look into Michael's book! We appreciate the review :)
ReplyDeleteAny time :)
Delete