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The Comrades of Honor #2
In Search of Adventure: A Tale of Courage and Devotion
Enter In Search of Adventure, the thrilling second installment of The Comrades of Honor Series! Packed with action at every bend, this tale takes up the story of Nathaniel de Lance, once the page of Sir Robert.
Now a young man and belted knight, Sir Nathaniel takes young Kenneth Dale for his squire, a boy left destitute by a stroke of ill-fortune. Quickly learning to trust and care for each other, Sir Nathaniel and Kenneth become fast friends, little knowing how much they will need their mutual comradeship.
Taking advantage of his liberty as a knight, Sir Nathaniel leaves his boyhood home to visit old friends. The small journey quickly takes an unexpected turn, however, and climaxes into a perilous adventure. Old enemies revisit the scene, creating hazards that require all of Sir Nathaniel’s strength and valor to overcome. Trapped in a hostile country, the question arises: Will he ever return?
Join Sir Nathaniel and Kenneth in their rousing adventure and witness the perils that strengthen their courage. Their friendship is extraordinary – but will the rewards of their devotion be greater still?
A novel of adventure, comradeship, and suspense, as a valiant knight seeks to overcome his merciless foes and retain honor in a hostile land.
Now a young man and belted knight, Sir Nathaniel takes young Kenneth Dale for his squire, a boy left destitute by a stroke of ill-fortune. Quickly learning to trust and care for each other, Sir Nathaniel and Kenneth become fast friends, little knowing how much they will need their mutual comradeship.
Taking advantage of his liberty as a knight, Sir Nathaniel leaves his boyhood home to visit old friends. The small journey quickly takes an unexpected turn, however, and climaxes into a perilous adventure. Old enemies revisit the scene, creating hazards that require all of Sir Nathaniel’s strength and valor to overcome. Trapped in a hostile country, the question arises: Will he ever return?
Join Sir Nathaniel and Kenneth in their rousing adventure and witness the perils that strengthen their courage. Their friendship is extraordinary – but will the rewards of their devotion be greater still?
A novel of adventure, comradeship, and suspense, as a valiant knight seeks to overcome his merciless foes and retain honor in a hostile land.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
2 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Alicia A. Willis
8 books165 followersAlicia Willis is a homeschool graduate and avid historian. When not writing or doing endless historical research, she enjoys being a church pianist, teaching music, singing, and playing volleyball. Her other passions include working in her church and spreading the love of Jesus Christ. She also manages a monthly e-newsletter entitled "Little Corners". Be sure to like her FB page for updates: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alicia...
To visit her at her website or sign up to receive her newsletter, navigate over to http://www.aliciaannewillis.com/
To visit her at her website or sign up to receive her newsletter, navigate over to http://www.aliciaannewillis.com/
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 21, 2016
I really loved this sequel to the first book, To Birmingham Castle: A Tale of Friendship and Adventure! This second book was just as good, if not even better in my opinion, than the first. It was full of adventures and I was quickly hooked into the story.
What I Liked: Well, let me just say first off, I LOVED Nathaniel; he was by far my favorite character from this book. His bravery, kindness, humility, and chivalry were amazing. I enjoyed reading of the many adventures that he and his squire, Kenneth Dale, experienced. As a writer myself, it was fun to see how Alicia would get her characters out of the scrapes they were in.
I also really liked Adela. She was sweet, kind, caring, compassionate, and even though her relationship with Sir Nathaniel was kind of predictable, I didn't mind that in the slightest. I rather enjoyed kind of guessing to myself what was going to happen, then sitting back to see how Alicia was going to bring it about.
Kenneth's pain and suffering from losing his knight, Sir Bruce, was heartfelt and I ached for him as he mourned the loss of his comrade, but then Sir Nathaniel stepped in and took on Kenneth as his squire and it was very neat to read of their developing relationship as knight and squire. I'm really looking forward to reading more of Kenneth in the third book, Rising to the Challenge: A Tale of Perseverance and Unconditional Love.
What I Didn't Like: I can't say that there was anything that I disliked about this story.
I give this book 5 stars for the quality of the story, the strong elements of faith, and the well- developed characters within the pages! Well done, Alicia A. Willis, for another job well done!
What I Liked: Well, let me just say first off, I LOVED Nathaniel; he was by far my favorite character from this book. His bravery, kindness, humility, and chivalry were amazing. I enjoyed reading of the many adventures that he and his squire, Kenneth Dale, experienced. As a writer myself, it was fun to see how Alicia would get her characters out of the scrapes they were in.
I also really liked Adela. She was sweet, kind, caring, compassionate, and even though her relationship with Sir Nathaniel was kind of predictable, I didn't mind that in the slightest. I rather enjoyed kind of guessing to myself what was going to happen, then sitting back to see how Alicia was going to bring it about.
Kenneth's pain and suffering from losing his knight, Sir Bruce, was heartfelt and I ached for him as he mourned the loss of his comrade, but then Sir Nathaniel stepped in and took on Kenneth as his squire and it was very neat to read of their developing relationship as knight and squire. I'm really looking forward to reading more of Kenneth in the third book, Rising to the Challenge: A Tale of Perseverance and Unconditional Love.
What I Didn't Like: I can't say that there was anything that I disliked about this story.
I give this book 5 stars for the quality of the story, the strong elements of faith, and the well- developed characters within the pages! Well done, Alicia A. Willis, for another job well done!
June 27, 2013
Age Appropriate For: All Ages
Best for Ages: 12 and up
Description: Enter In Search of Adventure, the thrilling second installment of The Comrades of Honor Series! Packed with action at every bend, this tale takes up the story of Nathaniel de Lance, once the page of Sir Robert. Now a young man and belted knight, Sir Nathaniel takes young Kenneth Dale for his squire, a boy left destitute by a stroke of ill-fortune. Quickly learning to trust and care for each other, Sir Nathaniel and Kenneth become fast friends, little knowing how much they will need their mutual comradeship. Taking advantage of his liberty as a knight, Sir Nathaniel leaves his boyhood home to visit old friends. The small journey quickly takes an unexpected turn, however, and climaxes into a perilous adventure. Old enemies revisit the scene, creating hazards that require all of Sir Nathaniel’s strength and valor to overcome. Trapped in a hostile country, the question arises: Will he ever return? Join Sir Nathaniel and Kenneth in their rousing adventure and witness the perils that strengthen their courage. Their friendship is extraordinary – but will the rewards of their devotion be greater still? A novel of adventure, comradeship, and suspense, as a valiant knight seeks to overcome his merciless foes and retain honor in a hostile land.
I tend to make a bad habit of underestimating certain authors. I don’t think I will ever underestimate Alicia Willis again. When she asked me to review her upcoming book, I agreed, having loved her last book. To Birmingham Castle had been so good that I thought In Search of Adventure couldn’t possibly be as good. I also thought it was likely some events would be reminiscent of the last book. Was I ever surprised!
In Search of Adventure was even better than To Birmingham Castle: A Tale of Friendship and Adventure. Both stories were set in the same time period, had some of the same characters, and were full of adventure and good morals. That is where the similarities end. Nothing felt repetitive, or old. It kept me tuning pages until the last one, and left me eager for the next book.
Not only were the events different, but the characters themselves were different. Alicia does an amazing job of giving each character their own personality. Nathaniel is strong and kind, but can be too easily angered or annoyed. Kenneth is faithful and compassionate, yet sometimes says the wrong things or shows a lack of respect. Each character was well developed in such a way readers will feel like they are friends.
Historically, Alicia’s books are some of the best researched I have ever read. Indeed, my own upcoming historical fiction looks very poor in comparison. Not only does she write in a language that feels period correct, she puts historical details seamlessly into her story. I have only read two or three other authors that come close to Alicia’s level of research.
I have to say one of the most refreshing parts of the book was the romance. Especially girls are bad about dreaming about the perfect romance and then writing every romance that way. Oh, they change a few things, but really it is the same thing over and over. Whereas in To Birmingham Castle the romance develops slowly over time, in In Search of Adventure it proceeds much quicker.
I highly recommend this book to those who like books set in the Middle Ages, adventure, high moral standards, and well researched stories.
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.
June 10, 2013
A finalist in the LifeWay manuscript contest, In Search of Adventure is a medieval tale of courage, devotion, gallantry, and perilous escapades! The twists and turns of Sir Nathaniel's adventures will keep you guessing and cheering him on. From the safety of your armchair, experience the journey of a lifetime and discover battles, friendship, and romance - all in unexpected places!
January 3, 2020
“A novel of adventure, comradeship, and suspense, as a valiant knight seeks to overcome his merciless foes and retain honor in a hostile land.” [From the back cover]
In Search of Adventure is the second full-length novel of Alicia Willis, one of my favorite new authors, and the second installment of her Comrades of Honor series. It continues the story of To Birmingham Castle. Like the first, it breathes history and proves that the old way of storytelling is effective and compelling.
It felt like the Middle Ages, from its accurate description of the life of knights and squires to its extolment of chivalry, virtue, and heroism to its third-person omniscient narration and the Middle English dialogue of its characters. Miss Willis has certainly accomplished her goal of writing a historical fiction series that’s “family-friendly, entertaining, yet accurate.” (From The Comrades of Honor Series website.) I really appreciate her skill!
I found the characters interesting and endearing: Kenneth Dale, the squire, was perhaps my favorite of all the series yet. Adela, Sir Nathaniel’s love, was runner-up. Even though there were many dangerous moments, these by no means overshadowed the richness of the characters. The three main characters were such good friends and it warmed my heart to read their banter, because it was just like friends tease each other today, only in the beautiful language of old England. Each one’s devotion was exemplary.
Even though all of the main characters were virtuous, Miss Willis correctly portrayed them as exceptions, because there were many unscrupulous people – such as murderous lords and brutal knights – during that time and in the book. But we wouldn’t want to read about them without the light of true Christians nearby, now would we? What a depressing prospect! Fortunately, In Search of Adventure showed, in powerful ways, good triumphing over evil. People like Sir Nathaniel and Kenneth modeled godly character, which included making hard choices and dying to self. It influences you to analyze your own actions and motives.
I can think of only one downside, but really, it may not be a downside at all, because Miss Willis specifically targeted this subject: the book focused on small noblemen, knights, and squires, and very little on any other personality. But this limited focus allowed the relationships between the characters to be depicted in full.
There’s one more book in this series, scheduled for 2014. Let’s just say I’m glad 2014 is almost here – I can’t wait to find out how this series will wrap up!
In Search of Adventure is the second full-length novel of Alicia Willis, one of my favorite new authors, and the second installment of her Comrades of Honor series. It continues the story of To Birmingham Castle. Like the first, it breathes history and proves that the old way of storytelling is effective and compelling.
It felt like the Middle Ages, from its accurate description of the life of knights and squires to its extolment of chivalry, virtue, and heroism to its third-person omniscient narration and the Middle English dialogue of its characters. Miss Willis has certainly accomplished her goal of writing a historical fiction series that’s “family-friendly, entertaining, yet accurate.” (From The Comrades of Honor Series website.) I really appreciate her skill!
I found the characters interesting and endearing: Kenneth Dale, the squire, was perhaps my favorite of all the series yet. Adela, Sir Nathaniel’s love, was runner-up. Even though there were many dangerous moments, these by no means overshadowed the richness of the characters. The three main characters were such good friends and it warmed my heart to read their banter, because it was just like friends tease each other today, only in the beautiful language of old England. Each one’s devotion was exemplary.
Even though all of the main characters were virtuous, Miss Willis correctly portrayed them as exceptions, because there were many unscrupulous people – such as murderous lords and brutal knights – during that time and in the book. But we wouldn’t want to read about them without the light of true Christians nearby, now would we? What a depressing prospect! Fortunately, In Search of Adventure showed, in powerful ways, good triumphing over evil. People like Sir Nathaniel and Kenneth modeled godly character, which included making hard choices and dying to self. It influences you to analyze your own actions and motives.
I can think of only one downside, but really, it may not be a downside at all, because Miss Willis specifically targeted this subject: the book focused on small noblemen, knights, and squires, and very little on any other personality. But this limited focus allowed the relationships between the characters to be depicted in full.
There’s one more book in this series, scheduled for 2014. Let’s just say I’m glad 2014 is almost here – I can’t wait to find out how this series will wrap up!
July 14, 2013
Do you like a good story? Do you like tales of knights? Well, have I got a story for you! There’s this new book coming out by this really cool author that’s all that and more. The book, In Search of Adventure, is a totally cool, historically based story about knights in the middle ages. It’s a tale of Adventure, courage, friendship and honor. Not to mention there’s romance where you’d least expect it. There’s no shortage of sword fights, suspense and chivalry. For you parents, this is truly a story you can feel good letting you kids read.
As for the drab details, this book is... well, a lot of things. It is well written and accurate. You can really tell the author put a lot of care and time into this work. It’s evident as you read through this book that it’s well researched and historically accurate. It’s a very gripping story and hard to put down. You can relate to the characters and are very easily drawn in. Lastly, but just as important, this book can totally make you smarter. I’m not kidding! The conversational parts are written in an understandable oldER English fashion. This benefits you in two ways. If you apply the vocabulary, people will start to think you’re really smart. You’ll be able to hang out with an entirely different class of people. Not to mention, It makes you more understanding. When you meet people from other countries you'll be able to get along with them better!
You must read this story! I mean come on, who doesn't like a good story. As far as historical fiction books go, this is a great one. After all, it was a finalist in the LifeWay manuscript contest.
As for the drab details, this book is... well, a lot of things. It is well written and accurate. You can really tell the author put a lot of care and time into this work. It’s evident as you read through this book that it’s well researched and historically accurate. It’s a very gripping story and hard to put down. You can relate to the characters and are very easily drawn in. Lastly, but just as important, this book can totally make you smarter. I’m not kidding! The conversational parts are written in an understandable oldER English fashion. This benefits you in two ways. If you apply the vocabulary, people will start to think you’re really smart. You’ll be able to hang out with an entirely different class of people. Not to mention, It makes you more understanding. When you meet people from other countries you'll be able to get along with them better!
You must read this story! I mean come on, who doesn't like a good story. As far as historical fiction books go, this is a great one. After all, it was a finalist in the LifeWay manuscript contest.
January 23, 2015
Lives up to title
Just finished reading. I loved the character of the Knights, Esquire s and pages the danger and romance. Great how the love of God inspired the Knights of the Englishman of that time.
Just finished reading. I loved the character of the Knights, Esquire s and pages the danger and romance. Great how the love of God inspired the Knights of the Englishman of that time.
May 19, 2019
I dearly loved this book!!!♥️ a little bit or romance, a LOT of action and adventure, and knights!!! What else could you want?! I enjoyed this book and really loved Sir Nathaniel and Kenneth! And of course Adela! I look forward to reading more of this authors work in the future! I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes being on the edge of their seat and guessing at every turn!
February 6, 2024
I really enjoyed reading the Comrads of Honor series! Tales of true courage, chivalry, loyal knights and fair maidens, along with clean and wholesome storylines! It kept my attention from the start. I highly recommend this exciting medieval series!
May 17, 2015
Though the title may sound a little on the cheesy side to some, this book is anything but. Those looking for a good, old-fashioned adventure/coming of age story with knights and ladies will likely be well pleased with this one.
Written in the style of classical authors, such as Henty and Pyle, it could also appeal to thier readers, and is free of some of the issues that sometimes plague more modern works (political correctness, excessive sexual content etc.....).
In a sense, its just smashing good fun- and family friendly fun at that. With the last book I found the archaic style langauge to be something of an issue- but this time around I actually found it rather endearing.
It was intersting to see some of the characters from the last book develop and come into thier own- especially those like Nathaniel whom I found a little flat last time around.
The theme of loyalty and courage was also well-delivered (as well as the messages about not judging by appearances, or failures which could be derived from the story).
Historically- it seemed fairly accurate in the broad sense- though having French characters referring to Shires in France seemed a little dubious. Also, I'm not sure if the idea of bands of knights being able to travel across countries to attack and kidnap one another, without intervention from any kind of centralized legal system seemed plausible.
The King was supposed to be able to control things like that, or local enforcement officers- but we don't really see anything like that here.
The above were really my only complaints though. Overall I enjoyed this, and would certainly like to read the next one.
Written in the style of classical authors, such as Henty and Pyle, it could also appeal to thier readers, and is free of some of the issues that sometimes plague more modern works (political correctness, excessive sexual content etc.....).
In a sense, its just smashing good fun- and family friendly fun at that. With the last book I found the archaic style langauge to be something of an issue- but this time around I actually found it rather endearing.
It was intersting to see some of the characters from the last book develop and come into thier own- especially those like Nathaniel whom I found a little flat last time around.
The theme of loyalty and courage was also well-delivered (as well as the messages about not judging by appearances, or failures which could be derived from the story).
Historically- it seemed fairly accurate in the broad sense- though having French characters referring to Shires in France seemed a little dubious. Also, I'm not sure if the idea of bands of knights being able to travel across countries to attack and kidnap one another, without intervention from any kind of centralized legal system seemed plausible.
The King was supposed to be able to control things like that, or local enforcement officers- but we don't really see anything like that here.
The above were really my only complaints though. Overall I enjoyed this, and would certainly like to read the next one.
March 12, 2014
Action, romance, chivalry, betrayal, suspense, and adventure!
You will be unable to put down, because it will keep you locked into its beautifully crafted lines for hours. If you are looking for romance, read this book. More of an adventurer? Read this book. Perhaps you enjoy suspense. Well then this book is for you. Medieval history buff? Get this book, and read it.
I read it, and enjoyed every minute I spent. I was swept away, to a time of heroic warriors, with brave hearts, and dastardly villains, seeking out a name for themselves. Not to mention the Charming maidens, and fearful Paige’s.
Another excellent book by Alicia Willis. Keep it up!
You will be unable to put down, because it will keep you locked into its beautifully crafted lines for hours. If you are looking for romance, read this book. More of an adventurer? Read this book. Perhaps you enjoy suspense. Well then this book is for you. Medieval history buff? Get this book, and read it.
I read it, and enjoyed every minute I spent. I was swept away, to a time of heroic warriors, with brave hearts, and dastardly villains, seeking out a name for themselves. Not to mention the Charming maidens, and fearful Paige’s.
Another excellent book by Alicia Willis. Keep it up!
November 5, 2024
I really enjoyed this second installment to the Comrades of Honor series.
My review for the first book says most of what I think about all the books. For this one, I’ll add that I really enjoyed the faster pace of the story and the squire Kenneth.
For younger readers, there is more romance in this one than in the first one.
Great book!
My review for the first book says most of what I think about all the books. For this one, I’ll add that I really enjoyed the faster pace of the story and the squire Kenneth.
For younger readers, there is more romance in this one than in the first one.
Great book!
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March 14, 2014Once again, Alicia Willis has created a masterpiece. A beautiful story of courage, heartbreak, devotion, and of course, adventure. Highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews