The+Last+Knight

=The Last Knight By Hilari Bell=

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== Sir Michael Sevenson, son of the Baron of Seven Oaks, decided to become the first knight-errant in 200 years. He hires a reluctant squire, Fisk, who was formerly a con artist and was rescued by Sir Michael, who paid for his sins. Fisk and Sir Michael make the perfect team, because they could not be more different from each other. Sir Michael wants a life that includes adventure and glory, and Fisk merely wants to gain enough money to live in comfort. When the story begins, Sir Michael and Fisk are rescuing a woman in distress from a tower meant to contain her as a punishment. They soon find out that they have just released a murderess, and are put in jail until Sir Michael’s father pays their bail. Once out of jail, Sir Michael’s father declares that Sir Michael and Fisk must perform a few tricky tasks before their debt to him is paid. The two young men ride off on an adventure full of surprises to capture the young damsel they released. Along their journey, they encounter a few clues that force them to wonder if the woman they are after is truly a murderess. This book takes place in a world where magica (magic) exists, and seems to follow the men in both dangerous and helpful ways. Along the journey Fisk and Sir Michael learn the true values of both friendship and honor, and how the two are related. ==

One idea in the book that struck me as strange was the way criminals were tried and punished during that period in time. The trials were held outside in open areas, and people gathered around to witness the punishment and invoke their opinions on the verdict. Most of the time the punishment involved paying money for the allotted amount of money your crimes cost the townsfolk. Occasionally the amount was purposely far more than the criminal possessed so the judges would be almost sure that they were put in jail. People in the audience could also help pay for the fines, if they wanted to help, or thought the penalty was unjust. This really inspired me to learn more about the judicial system in that era, and more about how it worked. I would definitely recomend this book to one of my class mates. I think anyone who enjoys a great adventure tale is sure to love this book. This book also has a unique way of writing chapters in different characters voices to show every point of view. Although it is long, this book is a farely easy read and enjoyable all the way until the end. I enjoyed that this book made you think while you were reading it. The characters are also very believable and fun.