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Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart (The Knights of Arrethtrae)
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527494 |
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Item description for Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart (The Knights of Arrethtrae) by Chuck Black...
Overview
While on a mission, Sir Dalton is captured by an evil Shadow Warrior, but even though he is bruised and beaten, he refuses to submit to his captor and initiates a daring escape that could lead to his death.
Publishers Description
Sir Dalton, a knight in training, seems to have everything going for him. Young, well-liked, and a natural leader, he has earned the respect and admiration of his fellow knights, and especially the beautiful Lady Brynn.
But something is amiss at the training camp. Their new trainer is popular but lacks the passion to inspire them to true service to the King and the Prince. Besides this, the knights are too busy enjoying a season of good times to be concerned with a disturbing report that many of their fellow Knights have mysteriously vanished.
When Sir Dalton is sent on a mission, he encounters strange attacks, especially when he is alone. As his commitment wanes, the attacks grow in intensity until he is captured by Lord Drox, a massive Shadow Warrior. Bruised and beaten, Dalton refuses to submit to evil and initiates a daring escape with only one of two outcomes–life or death. But what will become of the hundreds of knights he'll leave behind? In a kingdom of peril, Dalton thinks he is on his own, but two faithful friends have not abandoned him, and neither has a strange old hermit who seems to know much about the Prince. But can Dalton face the evil Shadow Warrior again and survive?
“With sanctified imagination, Chuck Black transports readers back to the days of chivalry and valor, clashing steel, and noble conflict–but ultimately he transports readers to the eternal triumph of the King who reigns!”
– Douglas Bond, author of HOLD FAST In a Broken World, and Guns of the Lion
“Chuck Black is a word crafter who is able to weave Kingdom principles into the fabric of one's moral imagination. The characters he has created and the passions they exude, will motivate readers to follow their examples, which have now been etched into their awakened conscience.”
– Mark Hamby, Founder and President of Cornerstone Family Ministries and Lamplighter Publishing
“Chuck Black is the John Bunyan for our times! Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione is a reminder of the origins of the spiritual warfare we are to fight daily.”
–Iaci Flanders, inductive Bible study teacher and homeschool mom
“Not since C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia have any fictional books boosted my faith so much. They make me cry with joy for what the King and the Prince do. They let me see our world through new eyes. I can't wait to read the Knights of Arrethtrae series and experience more. The King reigns–and His Son!”
–Sophia, an avid reader
“I was so caught up in the books I would not do anything but read them. They were amazing…full of action, a little romance, and most of all, a love for the King and His Son. They made me feel as though I was truly traveling with the main character on his noble quest to spread the word of the King and His Son and standing in the middle of the Great Kingdom Across the Sea. I plan on reading the books over and over again. I loved the series so much!”
–Ethan, an avid reader
Chuck Black traveled with the Air Force as a communications engineer and F-16 fighter pilot before beginning a career as a product design engineer. Chuck and his wife, Andrea, homeschool their six children and have a family music ministry that travels regionally. He is the author of nine novels, has been published in The Old Schoolhouse e-zine, and has received praise from parents across the country for his unique approach to telling stories with biblical truths. Chuck and his family live in Williston, North Dakota.
Some tales tell of gallant deeds done by men and women of might. Some tell of great battles fought to free the innocent from the tyranny of wicked men. But some tales tell of the journey of the heart, and such a one is this.
I am Cedric of Chessington, Knight of the Prince. I have taken upon myself the duty of chronicling the stories of many of my fellow knights… those living now and those who came before. Please do not think me over bold if I should implore you to pause in your own life's journey and sit with me these few moments. I have learned that pondering the life of another oft reveals both strengths and weaknesses in my own devotion to the King and his great Son. Such ponderings can beckon hearts to a nobler call and thus are worth every moment spent upon them.
Sir Dalton discovered an enemy lurking in the shadows of his heart—an enemy we must all face at some point. The Prince called one of his mightiest knights “greatest among all,” and yet he too faced this enemy. Therefore judge not Sir Dalton, but glean from his tale the wisdom and the courage to let the light of the Prince so illumine your whole being until your heart holds no shadows at all.
Sir Dalton dared to look into the shadow of his heart…Shall we?
Dalton dared not close his eyes, but he wanted to. He thought that perhaps if he closed them long enough he
would awaken from this nightmare. His heart quickened, and his palms began to sweat. He tried to swallow, but his throat was so tight that the motion of his tongue stopped at the roof of his mouth and would not allow it.
“You fool!” The condescending words came from a dark, evil voice. “Did you really think you could escape me?”
Dalton stood before a true monster of a warrior. Lord Drox was a tower of muscle clad in black chain mail and gleaming black armor. He wung his gruesome blade from side to side as if to taunt Dalton. The warrior stood over seven-and-a-half feet tall, but to Dalton he seemed twice his own height. Dalton was facing a giant of evil and there was nowhere to run.
Dalton quickly loosened the dressing that bound his wounded left arm to his side. He gripped his sword tightly as Lord Drox swung his blade in an arced slice. The swords collided, and Dalton nearly lost his grip. Stunned by the power of Drox's cut, he fought the paralyzing fear that rose up within him.
Surely this will be the end of me.
He gripped his sword tighter and made a diagonal cut toward the hulking form in front of him, but Drox's blade easily met his blow. Dalton's sword vibrated as though he had struck a brick wall instead of an opposing sword.
Dalton recovered his position once more and held his sword before him. Drox actually lowered his sword and began to laugh. The warrior's deep chortles reverberated off the granite walls of the box-canyon arena where they fought. The canyon's walls rose high around them, and though Dalton had searched for an exit, he had found none.He thought of ducking into the trees or maneuvering behind some of the jagged granite outcroppings
nearby, but such moves would be futile. There was no place to run.
Drox finished enjoying his moment of mirth and fixed Dalton with a look of leering hatred.
“Oh how I love to kill the incompetent Knights of the Prince!” He raised his sword and attacked again.
Dalton tried to stand firm and brought his sword to meet the first few cuts, but he quickly found himself in retreat. Drox's blade seemed to pound into Dalton's blade like the blows of a war hammer, and he could not sustain his defense. Drox brought a powerful two-handed horizontal cut from Dalton's right side.
Dalton gripped his own sword with both hands, hoping to withstand the impact, but the force of Drox's weapon sheared Dalton's sword in two and sent him stumbling backward. He flailed for a handhold to keep from falling, but there was nothing to grasp. Time seemed to slow as he fell to the ground and watched the upper portion of his blade fly end over end away from him. It landed in the dirt of the box-canyon floor just as his back hit the ground with a thud.
Dalton closed his eyes and hoped against reality that he would awaken from this nightmare.He saw the dark shadow over him through his closed eyelids and opened his eyes to see the evil form of Drox looming over him.
“Now you know who is truly lord of your life, knave. It is he who has the power to kill you.” Drox's face twisted with utter loathing as he raised the hilt of his sword high above his head, the tip pointing downward
toward Dalton.With both hands, Drox plunged the blade through Dalton's armored abdomen and deep into the ground beneath.
Dalton screamed against the steely invasion of his body as the fear of his imminent death fully gripped him. He released his grip on the worthless hilt of his broken sword and grasped the blade of Drox's weapon, convulsing in unbearable pain.
He wondered briefly why Drox had not pierced his heart instead. Then he understood. This warrior was so vile that he would draw even greater pleasure from executing a slow, painful death rather than a quick one.
Drox loosed his grip on the sword and knelt down beside Dalton. He looked into Dalton's eyes, clearly enjoying the fear, pain, and hopelessness he saw in them. His thin lips twisted into an evil grin.
“My pets prefer their meat fresh.” Drox lifted his hand into the air, and a large raven with two wings on each side of its body landed on his wrist.
Caw! The eerie bird screeched as it looked down at Dalton with impenetrable black eyes.
“When you are too weak to fight them off, they will come,” Drox said as he stood. “Knight of the Prince”—Drox spat—“He never cared about you, fool! You're just a dispensable pawn.” He turned and walked
away.
Pain saturated Dalton's body.The slightest movement amplified the agony tenfold.The sky above him filled with twenty hungry ravens, each one calling for others to join in the final torture. One of the birds landed on the handle of Drox's sword, and the movement from its landing nearly sent Dalton into unconsciousness.
He screamed at the double-winged bird, but it showed no fear. Its feathers were sleek and glistening, its eyes as dark and evil as its master's.
Dalton knew he had but one faint chance—to lift the sword from the ground through his stomach and free himself. He grasped the blade tightly with both hands and took as deep a breath as he could, then pushed up against the embedded steel with all of his remaining strength.
The avalanche of pain crushed him into a semiconscious state, where his mind wallowed between the worlds of reality, memory, and dreams.The vision of a beautiful young woman filled his mind as he was taken back two years earlier.
“Lady Brynn…,” he whispered, and reached to touch her…but she was not there. |
Item Specifications...
Studio: Multnomah Books
Pages 176
Dimensions: Length: 0.5" Width: 5.5" Height: 8"
Weight: 0.3 lbs.
Binding Softcover
Release Date May 5, 2009
Publisher WaterBrook Press
Age 9-12
Series Knights Of Arrethtrae
Series Number 3
ISBN 1601421265
ISBN13 9781601421265
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Availability 1 units.
Availability accurate as of May 22, 2012 06:18.
Usually ships within one to two business days from Carlisle, UK.
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Books > Youth > Youth Interests > Science, Faith & Evolution
Reviews - What do customers think about Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart (The Knights of Arrethtrae)?
 | Good Story... May 11, 2010 |
Since I'm a big fan of all the Chuck Black - Kingdom Series and the Knights of Arrethtrea Series; I found this one to be quite enjoyable as well. It has a good amount
of internal conflict for the main character and serves as a great bridge for the next
one in the series... "Lady Carliss" | | | | Fascinating and Relevant Allegory May 5, 2010 |
Chuck Black is a masterful storyteller with a God-given gift. His books are filled with adventure and force readers to contemplate their own lives.
"Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart" is the third instalment in "The Knights of Arrethtrae" series. I have not read the previous books, but this book is easy to follow.
Sir Dalton is a Knight in the service of "The King and his Son across the sea". The knights are preparing for warfare against Lucius and his Shadow Warriors, beings who rebelled against "The King" because of their pride. Dalton trains at a compound with many other knights. A new trainer has just arrived. He is well-travelled and knowledgeable, and the majority of the group take to him immediately. A small number, Dalton included, are disturbed by the trainer's lack of conviction. Dalton in particular finds himself asking many questions about his beliefs. He encounters three individuals who force him to examine his loyalty to the King. Hounded by a malevolent enemy and enduring several attacks, Dalton must confront himself and call upon the One who can give him strength.
Sir Dalton is one of the most compelling characters Chuck Black has ever created. This book is relevant and unforgettable. The Church as a whole is descending into "lukewarm" apathy, and we are all tempted to compromise our beliefs for the sake of peace. We must all "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the whole armor of God so that you can take your stand against the Devil's schemes, and after you have done everything, to stand" (Ephesians 6-10).
The audio version of this book is magnificent. Andy Turvey and Dawn Marshall, two exceptional British narrators, read with vibrancy and feeling. The music and sound affects bring the story vividly to life. Happy reading, and God bless you. | | |  | A good read for a teen boy Nov 29, 2009 |
I am coming into this read not having read the first or second book. Truly written in a good VS. evil style right from the early pages I felt as though I was playing catch up on a story that had begun two books ago. While this book does stand on its own, if I were to have had time, I would have started with book 1 and went from there working my way to this book in order to just pick up on the flow of Chuck Black's writing style. I have to say that the introduction in the book to the Knights of Arrethtrae was very helpful!)
In this book Sir Dalton is in training to be a knight and when he is sent on a mission he finds when he is alone he is being attacked. (I really love this metaphor in the book and actually paused a bit to think how true this can be... we are more easily attacked when we are separated from others.)
A likable YA read, I think Sir Dalton makes a wonderful character that kids (I am thinking boys ages 7-13) will relate to. The book covers great Christian subject matter in a way that reads like the story of knighthood and at the same time great questions are wove into the words... Sir Dalton
Why should we believe?
What do we do with doubt?
Who can save him?
Sir Dalton continues his training through the book and again I am thinking if my boys were younger they would have enjoyed these books. A quick read for me.... I was excited to get a bit of a CS Lewis feel to this read. I think this book would be a great discussion book to review with your child about the power of good and evil and the wonders of a strong spirit. | | | | knights + allegory = deep stories Oct 14, 2009 |
Sir Dalton's life is going very well. He is young and handsome, respected among his fellow knights and admired by the beautiful Lady Brynn. But a shadow of doubt grows in his heart. Is that enough to destroy him? The powerful Lord Drox seems to be intent on killing Sir Dalton at all costs. Is there nothing Sir Dalton can do to escape the evil lord?
This book was clever. I like the way Chuck Black uses knights and allegory to write deep stories. Having not read the first two books in the series, it took a bit to grasp the storyworld and what the knights were all about. I read this one to my seven-year-old son and he liked it, though it wasn't one of his favorites. I'd like to read the other books in the series, especially the next one, as this book left us hanging a bit! Recommended for readers 8 and up who love medieval knights.
| | |  | Not Stunning, But Good Allegory Sep 28, 2009 |
Four or five years ago, I borrowed and read the first three books of Chuck Black's Kingdom series. While the writing was not great, the storytelling swept me away, and the pictures of Biblical truths had me eagerly rereading Scripture to savor the source of the echoes. Each book ended with the piano music to a haunting (but not too difficult) song, which I simply loved.
Chuck Black has been off my radar for a few years, but recently I discovered he's still writing books set in the world of Arrethtrae, and I suddenly found the third of his second series in my hands. I usually refuse to start in the middle of a series, but I couldn't find copies of the first two in time and had to just jump in. And in The Knights of Arrethtrae series, each book focuses on different characters, making them more episodic than epic. There's an epic level, of course, but it's explained in the first few pages.
Sir Dalton's story was a decent kids' adventure, an allegory full of medieval motifs like swords and knights and battle. The main character learned some important things about being a Knight of the King, and there were some great pictures of spiritual principles about doubt, faith, friendship, and freedom.
Most of the time I felt it was a bit too heavy-handed on the allegory to get let readers fully immerse themselves in the story, but when I did get lost in it, it was wonderful. While allegory is not my favorite form of story, I don't think it's evil. Sometimes formulas and direct correlations are helpful, sometimes they are just dry and distracting.
For a fairly short, kid-friendly book, Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart was a thoughtful look at doubt in the life of Christians and how to combat it by knowing Christ and His Word well. For timeless, better-written (but more challenging) allegory, find Pilgrim's Regress or The Faerie Queene. | | | Write your own review about Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart (The Knights of Arrethtrae)
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