The Unremarkable Squire (Available Now!)

In honor of the publication of my husband's latest book, The Unremarkable Squire, I am re-posting for your viewing pleasure a piece of the review I wrote when the book was still a manuscript. The original review can be found here. The Unremarkable Squire is published by Barking Rain Press and can be found on Amazon or on special request from your local book dealer for $13.95 in paperback or $5.95 as an eBook. You may also get the book directly from the publisher and sign up to read the first four chapters free!

If you know Nick and would rather get a signed copy straight from him, contact him on The Works of Nick Hayden Facebook page, and visit worksofnick.com to keep updated on book signings and the like.

We've all read or watched or heard the stories of knights and princesses, fantasy tales with strong heroes and beautiful heroines. The Unremarkable Squire is like the behind-the-scenes version, casting all the extras and misfits as its main characters. The squire himself is Obed Kainos, a boy approaching manhood, who lives a simple life and keeps to himself and is thrust into service quite accidentally.

What follows is high adventure, taken on by the lowest and humblest (or not) cast of characters, comprised of servants, thieves, bumbling guards, and monsters. Though much like a spoof with the driest of humor liberally flavoring it, the plot is also serious, kept so by the deeply introverted Obed, who swears a squire's oath and means to follow it to the letter, no matter what. He fights mages and thieves, even death, as he learns what it means to be a squire and what it means to be human.

Obed is unique because, unlike other heroes whose motivations for acting the way they do are obvious, Obed isn't really motivated in the normal way. He is a boy who does what he must because he said he would. An apparently boring character becomes a fascinating hero as nothing deters him from his mission.

Nick Hayden can't write a normal story, and that's why you should read him. You will find yourself intrigued by the simplest of people and laughing until the very last line.