Knights Without Ceremony

Insurrection

by Ari Magnusson

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Pub Date 30 Sep 2025 | Archive Date 31 Jan 2026

Middle Grade | Teens & YA

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Description

In the war-torn Kingdom of Gorum, Ettan, Drogue, and Kemo dream of becoming knights, but for more than the title and armor. For Ettan, an orphan whose father had been a castle servant and who is now stuck tending the King’s chickens, knighthood would mean an escape from poverty. Drogue, the son of the kingdom’s most powerful lord, might win his father’s approval. And Kemo, despised by some citizens for his dark skin, would finally feel accepted. But the path to knighthood is not as straightforward as they believe, and the three rivals each face tests far more difficult than the battle exercises on the training field. What they decide when faced with a choice between honor and justice or personal gain—and whether to put aside their rivalries to do what is right—will determine who they become and will set the stage for a final battle for the kingdom.

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A Note From the Publisher

Book description revised 8/13/2025.

Ari Magnusson is an author of fiction and nonfiction for adults and children. His middle grade novel Bitopia was named one of the best books of the year by Kirkus Reviews. His nonfiction has been used in schools at the elementary, middle, high school, and university levels in the United States and Europe.

Book description revised 8/13/2025.

Ari Magnusson is an author of fiction and nonfiction for adults and children. His middle grade novel Bitopia was named one of the best books of the year by...

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Advance Praise

"The novel’s secret weapon...is its courageous exploration of weighty and timely topics, including racism, xenophobia, and the rise of authoritarian regimes…. Numerous sequences are chilling in their examination of an extremist political landscape…. The brilliance of the novel is in the author’s presentation of such ideas, which offers social commentary in the natural flow of the narrative.... A page-turning and thought-provoking adventure that insightfully explores a range of important issues affecting young people’s lives.” — Kirkus Reviews

"[A]n extraordinary novel, brimming with electrifying twists and turns while maintaining all the lovable tropes and engaging elements of the genre. With both exciting action and thought-provoking politics, there is something for all readers hidden within this tale...The relatable yet epic nature of the book make it gripping, and readers will be absorbed into the novel's fantasy world...An electrifying fantasy that will captivate fans of epic hero tales." — PW's BookLife, Prize Semifinalist

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Marketing Plan

Kirkus, PW, and NetGalley reviews. Facebook, BookBub, and current fan word of mouth. Regional (New England, USA) bookstore readings. Professional PR campaign. Reviewers are strongly encouraged to review the book on NetGalley, Goodreads, BookTok, Bookstagram.

Kirkus, PW, and NetGalley reviews. Facebook, BookBub, and current fan word of mouth. Regional (New England, USA) bookstore readings. Professional PR campaign. Reviewers are strongly encouraged to...

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