What worked:
From the synopsis, readers know Ettan, Drogue, and Kemo will work to stop an insurrection, but it’s not a smooth or peaceful process. The boys are training to become knights, but only a few candidates will be selected. Drogue is an entitled bully, and the other boys fear him but don’t respect him. Drogue’s father has told him to use any tactics necessary to be chosen, and the others know he repeatedly cheats to win his sparring matches. Worse than that, Drogue is instructed to make sure that Kemo and especially Ettan are dismissed from knighthood training. Contrary to the synopsis, Drogue is the boy who first learns of his father’s plans for insurrection, and he’s confused and uneasy about it.
The plot switches between the three boys, but it mostly follows Ettan’s plight. His younger brother Gerit is a treat because of his entrepreneurial plans and matter-of-fact way of speaking. The boys are in charge of the king’s chickens, and they make daily egg deliveries to merchants in the market. Gerit donates bread to the hungry that he secretly liberates from a baker and he has a sensible explanation for why it’s not stealing. He also has plans to start their own chicken business after Ettan is sacked from training. Drogue insults Ettan’s family honor even though Ettan doesn’t remember details about his parents. His mother died when he was young, and his father was often away on missions for the king. The plot slowly reveals the truth about his family and why Drogue’s father is afraid of Ettan.
An underlying tension between cultures permeates the knighthood training and the kingdom. Some people, including Drogue’s father, want the kingdom to stop diluting the power and prestige of royal blood and restore the purity of the citizens. Peasants and foreigners may be allowed to stay as long as they don’t have any opportunities to advance in society. Ettan will receive land if he’s promoted to knighthood, and he experiences unfairness daily during his training. However, readers won’t realize what’s really going on until Drogue makes a shocking discovery. Lies have been spread, and citizens don’t understand the real threat to the kingdom.
What didn’t work as well:
The biggest issue is with the book’s synopsis. Readers will anticipate the moment when the three boys join forces to go on a secret mission with secret identities. However, Ettan is the last of the three to discover the insurrection plot, and that doesn’t happen until the book is almost finished. The boys don’t really work together on one assignment, as Ettan and Kemo go on separate secret missions. The plot is gripping and exciting, but readers shouldn’t expect what’s described in the synopsis until the next book is published.
The final verdict:
Ettan’s pursuit of knighthood takes a left turn and creates a captivating adventure. The story seems to be about prejudice and unfair treatment, but the covert conflict isn’t revealed until later. The end of the book may evoke memories of The Ranger’s Apprentice series when Ettan is given a secret mission. The last page will leave readers hanging, but I still recommend you give this book a shot.

I really enjoyed this as a coming-of-age tale and how it showed how long the shadows of family can be, it was everything that worked in this universe and thought the overall feel worked in the time-period. I was invested in getting to know the boys and their world, it had that element that I wanted in the genre and was glad I read this. Ari Magnusson wrote this so well and I hope there is more adventures with these characters.