Knightfall

Serving as a castle knight isn't as gratifying as Axel envisioned. When not enduring torment from the other guards, he is exasperating the very nobles he swore an oath to protect, and he can't help resenting what his life has become. Filled with bitterness about his past, he finds himself unable to break free from the repetitive patterns that lead to the same tired outcomes. However, everything changes when he witnesses the execution of a mysterious alchemist. Determined to escape the oppressive confines of his miserable life, Axel becomes obsessed with mastering the art of gold transmutation. Unsatisfied with his job and plagued by repeated failures in his relationships, he embarks on a quest to locate the last known alchemist, who vanished more than a century ago. In his reckless pursuit, Axel risks life and honor to learn the secrets of alchemy and find true happiness by awakening to a new way of living.

Review :
★★★★★ - C.L. Embry's Knightfall grips readers with a powerful blend of ambition, identity, and shifting perspectives. Set against a backdrop of medieval intrigue, the narrative follows Axel, a knight disillusioned by tradition and consumed by his obsession with alchemy. What starts as a simple pursuit to master transmutation turns into a journey of self-realization, pushing Axel to question everything he knows about his world and himself. The lessons he learns along the way are as unexpected as they are transformative. Action, introspection, and mysticism weave seamlessly throughout the story, keeping you invested while also making you think. Embry crafts a world so vivid and detailed, you can almost feel the tension in the kingdom's air-especially as fear and fascination with alchemy collide. The societal and political layers are rich, making every interaction feel loaded with consequence. Axel himself is a character who doesn't ask for your sympathy. His flaws are real, his decisions often questionable. Yet, it's precisely this complexity that makes his eventual growth deeply satisfying, turning what could have been a straightforward quest into something much more meaningful. Embry doesn't spoon-feed you the story's deeper meanings. Instead, clues and reflections are sprinkled throughout Axel's journey, allowing you to unearth layers of insight as the story unfolds. Political intrigues and hints of larger, unseen forces add depth without overwhelming the central narrative. By the time you finish, there's plenty to ponder, and the world lingers in your mind. Fans of introspective fantasy will feel right at home here, especially those who crave stories driven by character development and philosophical themes. If you love tales of personal growth, redemption, or the tension between power and knowledge, Knightfall delivers. The novel strikes a fine balance between being accessible and thought-provoking, making it an excellent pick for readers who want more than just a standard adventure. -Literary Titan Axel finds himself adrift in the melancholy of his life. Plagued by repeated failures in his past, his callous approach to life immediately endangers his new position as a Black Guard. As Axel navigates his journey to return the young baron to his home, the reader peels away the layers of his past. The mind perceives what it needs to be right so that it feels safe. This habit reinforces those beliefs, strengthening the illusion. C.L. Embry does an excellent job making the setting come to life. The secluded valley with the "field of lotus flowers" is detailed with just enough description to ignite the imagination. Instead of describing the area, Embry breathes life into the setting as if it were a character. Whereas Axel's mind is constantly overworked and overprocessing information, the lotus flowers become a lifeline of compartmentalization. Embry takes the simplicity of lotus flowers to explain the perception of a thing and what the mind believes to be true. Your thoughts and beliefs lead directly to your experience. You are the cause, and your life is the effect." -Reedsy Discovery