September Book Review #1: Lady Carlis and the Waters of Moorue by Chuck Black

About this book

Lady Carliss faces the challenge of her life. Can she save the kingdom before it’s too late?

Determined, smart and a master of both the sword and the bow, Lady Carliss has proven herself as a veteran Knight of the Prince. Returning from a mission of aid, Carliss is plunged into adventure once again as she searches for the marauders responsible for kidnapping a friends’ family. Along the way she is reunited with Sir Dalton and discovers that the struggle in her heart is far from over. When Dalton falls to the vicious attack of a mysterious, poisonous creature, Carliss finds herself in a race against time. As Dalton clings perilously to life, she must find the antidote in the distant and strange city of Moorue.

While there, Carliss uncovers the master plot of a powerful Shadow Warrior that will soon overtake the entire Kingdom. Her faith in the Prince and her courage as a knight are tested as she faces evil Shadow Warriors and a swamp full of dreadful creatures. The lives of many, including Dalton’s, depend on Carliss. But she cannot save them all, for time is running out. She faces an impossible save Dalton, or let him die so that others may live.

*Book 4 of The Knights of Arrethtrae

*Genre: Young Adult Fantasy (recommended for ages 15+ for mild battle violence and a few scary scenes with monsters.)

My thoughts

This book was AMAZING!

I've heard of Chuck Black's Kingdom Series and sampled the first book (either in college or high school). When I perused "The Knights of Arrethrae" series, this particular title caught my eye, and from reading a review on Goodreads describing Carliss as "an awesome warrior but still enjoyed pretty dresses... and was still very gentle and kind", my curiosity piqued.

I devoured this in a day! Goodness, this book was an unexpected adventure! I found myself immediately loving and rooting for Lady Carliss, especially her unwavering faith in the Prince and her compassion for others. And it's SOO refreshing to see a female warrior who's brave, gentle, compassionate, and strong in her own way (and NOT the typical "overly feminist-kick-butt-Amazon-woman-warrior").

So many other characters stood out brilliantly. From Sir Dalton to the epic Silent Warriors. Especially Ganoaf. Don't want to spoil it, but you'll have to read it to find out why.

The plot was so full of twists and turns that kept me glued to my seat, especially when not everyone is who they seem... and that the biggest battle is always against the spirit of darkness. I also loved the subtle theme warning against the dangers of escapism and addictions to get what we want in a world without Christ, mirroring the troubles in the modern world today.

Oh, and the light, gentle romance was a delightful touch too!

Thankfully, you don't have to read the previous books to enjoy this story! Brilliantly well-done!

About the Author

Chuck Black first wrote Kingdom’s Edge to inspire his children to read the Bible with renewed zeal. This captivating expanded parable led him to write the Old Testament allegories, Kingdom’s Dawn and Kingdom’s Hope. Chuck added three more titles to the series, Kingdom’s Call, Kingdom’s Quest, and Kingdom’s Reign which were released in May of 2007.

Chuck’s current works include The Knights of Arrethtrae series, Call to Arms, Wars of the Realm, and The Starlore Legacy. Chuck is a former F-16 fighter pilot and is currently the president and general manager of a chemical injection automation company in the oil and gas industry. He has a degree in electrical and electronic engineering and served eight years in the United States Air Force. Chuck and his wife have six children and nine grandchildren.

It is Chuck’s desire to serve the Lord through his work and to inspire people of all ages to study the scriptures in order to discover the hope and love of a truly majestic King and His Son.

Website: chuckblack.com

Instagram: @authorchuckblack

Facebook: Chuck Black Author Page

Youtube: Author Chuck Black's Channel