The book was archived before our group could download it. We are sure that we would have enjoyed the book judging from the reviews it has received.

Loved the first book in this series, so the second was absolutely no disappointment.
Thank you to the publisher for letting me read and review!

Omg......... this book was amazing I flew threw the pages with Olympic speed I was hooked from the very first page. I found it full of twists and turns threw out and it kept me on the edge of my seat all the way threw  I would defiantly recommend this book if you like a good book to keep you reading threw the night hopefully you enjoy it as much as I did

When I requested this I had no idea that it was the second book in a series.

It just wasn't for me, probably would have been better if I had read the first one.

I don't even know where to start with this book! It is quite a rare find where you have such a unique, lyrical writing style applied to a dark/horror undertoned genre. It was magnificently done!

We see a deeper development, not only to Denizens story but to the world Dave Rudden created. Very rich and fast paced!

Great story!

While I generally believe that the genre YA can be read by anyone regardless of age, this is one series I think I was a little old for. Now that isn't to say it wasn't enjoyable, I was just a little young for me. That been said I eagerly recommended it to several friends with young readers who were crying out for an adventure story that wasn't focused around love triangles or murders.
This book is great as an intro to adventure stories and dark adventures.
Grab this book for the younger readers in your life, get them hooked on books young and they will have lives filled with adventures.

Book 1
This is the next harry potter/hunger games, of that I’m sure. while the genre can feel a bit overworked as of late, the deft creation of a truly unique world of monsters, steel, danger and glory as well as Rudden's gorgeous mastery of language makes this unlike anything I’ve read recently, YA or not.
This book is about thirteen-year-old Denizen Hardwick, an orphan who only knew his parents for two years. Crosscaper Orphanage is the only place Denizen has seen in eleven years. But when an auntie he has never heard of about sends for him, his dull life suddenly turns vibrant. A colleague of his auntie's picks him up. And after an encounter with a nightmarish creature, the teenager learns about an entire different world. He's taken to mysterious Serephin Row, where he learns about the Knights of the Borrowed Dark, people who use words to destroy creatures made of darkness. Denizen then meets his auntie and experiences a period where light bursts out of him. This means he can be a Knight, like his auntie and her colleagues. He's offered a career, but will he choose to take it?
What follows is a super fun read full of action and monsters and knights. These knights don’t deign to tell poor Denizen very much, and he end up having to learn their methods in his own ways. Given the option to join this order of knights, Denizen then must make a life-changing decision. Knights of the Borrowed Dark is a thrilling, compulsive and completely magical story. Packed full of enthralling characters, with more action and mystery than I was expecting, this book exceeded my hopes entirely. I can’t wait to read the next book.

Book 2
Second books are often not as satisfying but this one bucks the trend. Fast paced with a bit of horror and so many twists and turns, as well as a whole family of new characters to come to grips with.
Uriel Croit has spent his entire life waiting for the Redemptress to awaken. The Croits train and prepare for the War that will come when they will take over the world. But when Uriel's fondest dreams are realized, he finds the world isn't as simple as he thought . . .
Denizen Hardwick is in training to become a Knight who kills the Tenebrous who invade the world from some outer dimension. Too bad he's absolutely fascinated by Mercy, the Tenebrous he saved, the Tenebrous who granted him knowledge of ALL of the Cants the Knights use to control their magic. And when a message comes from the Tenebrous asking for Denizen by name, no one knows what to think. Could peace even be possible, or is this some elaborate scheme? And even if it is a genuine offer from the Tenebrae, will the Knights risk it, or try to sabotage it themselves?
I adored the first book, and was happy to find this one was just as good. Uriel's sections are important, but Uriel isn't as funny as Denizen, so I tended to prefer Denizen's commentary about basically everything. I feel like there's so many things I have to say about these books but on the other hand I feel like anything I say about them will fall short of even beginning to describe how awesome they are, so I'll just end my review by encouraging everyone to give them a go. Also, while the orphan suddenly becomes a hero or has their entire world change drastically is an overused storyline, these books are nothing like all other books with that kind of storyline that I've read so don't let that put you off.
Like the first, this has a good dose of horror, humour, and fantasy. Denizen is exploring his first crush---and amusingly enough it's Mercy. Which gets him into no end of trouble with everyone.

I must admit from the get go that I have not personally read these books. This review is therefore based on the comments and observations of a younger member of my family who has read the books:-

'These books are quite similar to Harry Potter in quite a lot of ways. A boy who is an orphan has to save
the world, and so on. But that's okay because I like books like Harry Potter and anything magic. Anything
that has monsters and evil things in general actually (!). Oh, the books are a bit like Percy Jackson too,
which I also like. I particularly liked the fact that these books aren't too girly although there are girls in
the books and I think girls would like reading them too. I really enjoyed reading both of these books. I
think I liked the first one a little bit more as I read it quicker and there were a lot of new characters in the
second book to get used to. I liked them both though and I would really like to read the next book when
it comes out. Thank you very much for letting me read these books.'

I guess I had better read both the books myself now and get caught up before the next one is published. Thank you NetGalley and Penguin/Puffin for keeping a young man happy and, dare I say, quiet for a few rainy days ;)

<http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=63376>

An action-orientated series opener with a hero by the unlikely name of Denizen Hardwick, Knights of the Borrowed Dark borders that line between upper middle grade and younger YA. I may have read it in paperback, but it reads rather like a comic book, its pages splashed with gaping cliffs, flashes of lightning and lurking henchmen. The Forever Court continues in much the same style, while expanding on characters and their relationships, heightening the stakes and throwing in a lot of twists for Denizen to face. The prose is functional rather than lyrical, but it's the action-adventure that takes precedence. Rudden takes familiar ingredients of unlikely-hero fiction and mixes them with the heightened atmosphere of the almost-gothic – a kind of Rick Riordan meets Lemony Snicket recipe – to create an accessible fantasy series, though it doesn’t avoid all the pitfalls of its genre(s)>

Knights of the Borrowed Dark (Reviewed last year - *****)

The Forever Court ***

I liked this book but felt it was a heavier read than the first. The characters have matured, new enemies were introduced but for all the subplots and intriguing undercurrents, sadly, I felt this story lacked the spark that made the first book so unforgettable.

Denizen is now an official knight in training. Struggling to contain the power given to him by Mercy, the daughter of The Order’s greatest enemy, the endless King - he lashes out at those closest to him, isolating himself away before he can hurt someone. But when a new threat rises, and the Knights are called to action once more, Denizen will need all his wits if he is to defeat the evil that is rising, and rising with a power that matches his own…

A lot of new characters were introduced to the story, and at times the switching POV’s were a little confusing. However I liked the new, fire-wielding bad guys, but missed the variety that the Tenebrous (and their mishmash bodies) brought to the previous story. Unlike book one which really excelled at creating a creepy atmosphere, I found these pages pretty lacklustre.

Having said that Dave Rudden’s beautiful writing remains intact, and I liked the sarcasm and humour threaded through the story. The Epitaphs on the gravestones really made me smile, as did the witty banter between fights.

Denizen though has done some significant growing and comes across older, and much more mature. He has begun to develop an interest in girls, but is closed up about his feelings. Whenever it came to building bridges with his mother, he turned into a typical petulant teenager, which although entertaining to read, took up a lot of his thoughts making this story less action based and more emotional.

I also felt that many of the original characters didn't get much page time. While everyone was present, most were given fleeting appearances meaning we got no more backstory, or character development from them. Mostly I just really missed the teamwork aspect that played such a significant part in the previous book - this novel read like a Denizen solo.

As for the plot, it really picked up toward the end, and it was engaging enough that I will read the next book. Despite the negativity of this review - I did ENJOY this book, I just didn't connect to this story the way I wanted to. I’m crossing my fingers the next book will feature more evil Tenebrous!

3 stars!

I really enjoyed these two books. I felt that they flowed well into each other and that the story made sense. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and really felt drawn into the story taking place. I liked that it was enjoyable to come back to the book and that I felt I had to know what was going to happen next. It really made the read exciting and fun. I also liked the pace of the story and feel it will be one that a lot of readers will enjoy.

I am a huge fan of Dark fantasy and found the premise of this enticing.

However I found myself getting confused by the wording and some of the things that were happening once we got to about a third of the way through and then I seemed to slowly pick it up a little bit better the more I read through it but all in all I was a little disappointed because I though I was gonna love this but I didn't enjoy it half as much as I thought I was going too.

I really liked the characters of Denizen and Grey and particularly liked the path that he took Grey down. That really shocked me and took me by surprise. All in all not a bad read and I'm looking forward to reading book number 2.


I don't know why but i just couldn't connect with this book. Much like the last book I was lost for about 75% of it and then by the time I'd figured it out a little it was basically over. I don't know whether it's because I'm ridiculously simple but I just found it far too complicated.

I hate to give It two stars as I was really hoping that I'd enjoy these books but it just didn't have the same feeling as the first which I liked slightly more than this one. Maybe if it was developed a little more and aimed at adults it could have given it a little more sparkle.

I thought that this book might focus on Denizen and Grey mainly as of how the last story ending. But there wasn't enough of them for my liking. I'd like to have seen more from Grey and what becomes of him but there wasn't enough for me.

Overall I just wished I'd enjoyed it more.

This series is just plain AWESOME! Dark fantasy! Horror! Monsters! Action! These books are fast-paced, punchy, and just so darn enjoyable - I highly recommend them!

I will write a more in-depth review soon, once I can gather my thoughts after riding this book high!

n 2016, debut author Dave Rudden won the Irish Children's Book of the Year for Knights of the Borrowed Dark - the story of an orphan boy who discovers he's part of a secret order to protect the world against the darkness. This April, The Forever Court continues the story and you can read both in this NetGalley Exclusive. Read with caution, for once you turn this page you may never trust a bookseller in tweed again.

How do you win a war against shadows?

Knights of the Borrowed Dark - The first book in a new series about an orphan boy who discovers he is part of a secret army that protects the world from a race of shadowy monsters. Denizen Hardwick doesn't believe in magic - until he's ambushed by a monster created from shadows and sees it destroyed by a word made of sunlight. That kind of thing can really change your perspective.

Now Denizen is about to discover that there's a world beyond the one he knows. A world of living darkness where an unseen enemy awaits. Fortunately for humanity, between us and the shadows stand the Knights of the Borrowed Dark. Unfortunately for Denizen, he's one of them . . .

In The Forever Court, Life is returning to normal for Denizen Hardwick. Well, the new normal, where he has to battle monsters in quiet Dublin bookshops and constantly struggle to contain the new powers he has been given by Mercy, the daughter of the Endless King. But Denizen may need those powers sooner than he thinks - not only are the Tenebrous stirring again but the Order of the Borrowed Dark face a new threat from much closer to home...

I really enjoyed reading both these books, well written, interesting and engaging characters and a fast moving plot always make for a good book, and these two books have all of that and more.

I enjoyed these books enormously and am really looking forward to the third in the series- it has all the right ingredients: adventure, magic (or not magic), monsters (or not monsters) and some lovely touches of humour. We will definitely be adding these titles to our library. Thank you to Net Galley for giving me the chance to discover Denizen Hardwick and his friends and family.

The Knights of the Borrowed Dark

Knights of the Borrowed Dark is a novel which constantly takes you by surprise. It takes a storyline we’ve all heard before – an orphan boy discovers he’s part of a secret, magical world – and turns it inside out. Rather than being met with wonder, Denizen is thrown into a magical war that is unforgiving, dangerous and deadly.

Denizen discovers the world is plagued by shadowy monsters, Tenebrous, who thrive on fear and chaos. Only a small group of people have the power to push against these creatures, and it comes with a Cost, one that cannot be undone. Rudden is incredibly creative with how he depicts this, particularly in the Tenebrous themselves; each one is unique and, with that, they step up from being a two-dimensional enemy to a very much present and complex one.

The writing is the perfect balance for a middle grade novel. It captures the world that Denizen finds himself in perfectly, yet in a way that is easy to read and absorb. There were so many twists and turns while the pacing kept me griped to the novel. That being said, it does get dark in places so younger children (and some older ones too, for that matter) may find it a little bit scary.

Knights of the Borrowed Dark kicks off this series with a bang and, with what this book demonstrates of Rudden’s creativity and writing skill, the sequels are going to be equally as thrilling, if not more so. This book wraps up well but leaves plenty more for us readers to get our noses into later on; and it’s a book which will keep you thinking about it even when you’re not reading.

The Forever Court

I am not sure what I was expecting when I started the sequel to Knights of the Borrowed Dark, but after reading The Forever Court, whatever I was expecting was surpassed, trodden on and forgotten.

The Forever Court takes what we learnt in the first book and expands it, twists it into something deeper and more complex. I cannot say too much about the plot, for fear of spoiling previous events, but this book sees a new villain arise, one more terrifying than the Tenebrous we see in Knights of the Borrowed Dark and all the more human. Denizen also continues his ventures into the world of the Knights and, in the process, opens it up to the reader.

Where Knights of the Borrowed Dark works as a set up to the series, The Forever Court takes that foundation and steadily builds upon it. Everything we see is developed in an organic manner – nothing felt forced and the more fantastical elements were nicely integrated into the realistic aspects of the story.

I really liked the addition of the Croits; they were easily my favourite part of the book and I could barely tear my nose away from the page during their chapters. They expanded what we knew of the Knights and Tenebrous while also introducing a sinister cult family element. The Croits’ storyline paralleled nicely with Denizen’s and this kept the pace of the book going while keeping my own interest firmly in place.

If you enjoyed the first book, you will love The Forever Court. It does everything a sequel is supposed to and steps far away from the dangers second novels usually come up against. I am very much looking forward to what the next book has to offer and am only disappointed that I will have to wait so long to read it.

Denizen Hardwick is an orphan who lives in the rainy west of Ireland. He’s at the age where he’s given up hope that a long lost relative will come and rescue him. That is, until someone come to take him away to meet his aunt in Dublin. On the way there they’re attacked by mysterious shadows and Denizen learns there’s a whole other world full of darkness and evil creatures. He learns of an ancient order of knights who fight to keep the world safe using these special powers that come with a cost. Denizen must decide whether he wants to join this order or not. I really enjoyed reading this, I loved that it’s a fantasy story set in a comtemporary Ireland and enjoyed the world building. It was an exciting read, I flew through reading this as I just couldn’t put it down! It’s full of suspense and mysterious and genuinely funny at times. The book is aimed at early teenagers and they’ll love it, but adults will love it too! If you’re a fan of Artemis Fowl or Darkmouth, then this is for you.

The Forever Court was just as exciting as fun as Knights of the Borrowed Dark. At first I wasn't feeling the second story line that was woven in but I think it'll be interesting for the next book. It definitely made sure the world and story didn't become too stale and added more mystery. I will be picking up the 3rd book for sure!

Oh my Tenebrous, the sheer MAGIC of this book. It's everything you want and more. Dave Rudden creates a world that is so charming, thrilling, engulfing, hilarious, and all around marvellous that you never want to leave it. You have not heard this from me, but I think this might be even better than Harry Potter. Sorry, JK.

Both of these books are masterfully written and create an intriguing reality with the Tenebrous. I love the details and the depth of characters, espeically Denzien's development through Book 1 in particular. The book was so clever, I loved that the King's Mercy ended up being his daughter, and at the end of Book 2 when you find out that Mercy holds the Forever Court and not her father. High praise for Dave Rudden and his Knights of the Borrowed Dark.