Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
In a land rife with injustice, plague and peril, war rages between two medieval kingdoms. A cryptic map delivered in a wooden box unlocked with a mysterious key holds a secret that eventually launches three teens on separate journeys, exploring a kingdom where all is not as it seems, intertwining their lives in ways they can't imagine.
Hugh, a young blacksmith, struggles to lead a clandestine group after his father, its founder, is abducted by enemies. News of his father's fate propels him on a course of vengeance he is unable to control. Marie, the daughter of a knight, is convinced her family has abandoned her when she is sent away to a distant castle to be prepared for a future she rebels against. Upon her return, she is menaced by a danger she never contemplated and must chart her course through it. Stephen, a squire to the legendary Sir Bart, yearns to become a knight, but struggles with self-doubt and wavering courage as he attempts to master the requirements of knighthood and the anxiety of combat.
Each teen's loyalty to a king they have never met is put to the test, and they must overcome personal challenges before they are able to complete their journeys. Through a series of unexpected events their lives converge as they are given by their king a quest in which they must trust each other while evil forces threaten to tear them apart. Along the way each faces a moment of truth where their decision could mean life or death.
Two Kingdoms is an epic tale of adventure, love, and loss that wrestles with themes of doubt and faith, trust and courage, and love and forgiveness. This allegorical coming of age story draws the reader into the nuanced inner world of youths attempting to understand who they are, how they fit into the world around them, and what is their ultimate purpose.
Synopsis
An insidious evil spreads through the land, intent on overthrowing the true king. But when mysterious
messengers arrive, distributing maps and hidden messages, three teens find themselves engaged in
a battle where all is not as it seems.
Hugh, a blacksmith, experiences a trauma he cannot forget, for which a ruthless pursuit of revenge
is the only answer. Marie, a knight's daughter, is sent away by her family, a slight she sees as a
cruel abandonment. Her struggle to return transforms her. And Stephen, a fatherless
squire, struggles to master the requirements of knighthood until he is faced with a fateful choice on
the battlefield which could determine his future path.
As encroaching darkness threatens to consume the kingdom, each youth is propelled on a journey
where they are faced with life-defining decisions. United by unpredictable events, they chart a
course through danger, heartache, and doubt to find the true king, the only one they believe can
save them from the grip of an evil leader.