In Children of the Knight, Lance and Arthur created a New Camelot of Knights in Los Angeles by using might for right. They rallied the populace to take charge of their communities, while simultaneously putting the detached politicians in check. Now, despite what appears to be the loss of their First Knight, the young activists—joined by a significant new recruit named Ricky—must find a way to move forward.
Their new goal is lofty: give adult rights to kids fourteen and older who are only considered “adults” when they break the law. The crusade seeks to provide teenagers with rights that make a difference in the real world: voting, driving, trading high school for work, and sitting as jurors for peers charged with criminal behavior.
The adults of California balk at giving such power to youth, and the road ahead is anything but clear. However, before Arthur can fully contemplate these matters, he finds himself face-to-face with an ally from the past—one who proves that things aren’t always what they seem, especially for the fallen Lance.
The Lance Chronicles Continue…
Bronze Award in the 2014 Wishing Shelf Book Awards
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Read an excerpt of Running Through A Dark Place
Reviews:
“A compelling, fast-paced adventure. A BRONZE medal winner and highly recommended.”
– The Wishing Shelf Awards
“Just like the first volume in the cycle, this book is not only beautifully written, but also touches the reader on a deeper level. It’s not just entertainment, but a story that changes your outlook on life. It is a story that explores the depth of human madness and hate, but also the depth and beauty of the various types of love. Such a fantastic book!”
– Readers’ Favorite
“A superbly written tale, this book kept me on the edge of my seat as I lost more than a few hours sleep from needing to know what happened next. How was character XYZ’s behavior going to be explained? What exactly was Operation Silent Treatement? A difficult past haunts main characters, a mysterious figure becomes a part of daily life in a way that is difficult to figure out, and a wonderfully rich story unfolds in a way that gives me hope that a spark can move mountains. Can children change the world? Watch them.”
– Only God Writes Trees
“Heart. That’s what fills the writings of Michael J. Bowler. Love, empathy, a warm embrace of humanity, together equals a special kind of goodness that flows through his pages. To be blunt, if you don’t like to feel, then don’t read his work. But if you’re okay with getting emotional, he has the ability to tug at your heartstrings like no one else can.”
– Tribute Books
“Taking a historical figure made mythological and imagining what his crusade would be in today’s age is really ingenious, and is a testament to Michael J. Bowler’s skill, but what I like best about his writing is that he does not pull any punches. He lays the tough issues out there as they are and shows his characters’ struggles in tackling these issues. While many of his characters are what would be considered at-risk youth, Running Through a Dark Place, and the rest of Michael J. Bowler’s Knight Cycle, will appeal to all youth and those adults who work with youth.”
– Reading Challenged
“This book is just as interesting and original as the first one was, and the characters were just as good, if not better. The author did a great job of toeing the line between fantasy and contemporary. There were enough elements of the world we’re used to that it was easy to relate to and there was still enough fantasy and differences that it was still incredibly interesting.”
– Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words