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The Unremarkable Squire Paperback – July 9, 2013

by Nick Hayden (Author)

4.5 4 ratings

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A squire’s oath is to be of service… but to whom?

In the kingdom of Basileon, an unremarkable and emotionally detached young man named Obed Kainos is about to stumble into adventure—quite against his will. When the knights of the realm gather in a quest to search for the lost Armor of Arkelon, Obed is chosen at random to replace the recently deceased squire of Sir Lance Valentino. While trying to perform his menial tasks faithfully, the young squire becomes entangled in the plots of mages, thieves, and kings.

And that’s just his first week on the job.

Unfortunately for Obed, his indifference cannot save him from his new oath. For despite his enigmatic personality (or perhaps because of it), he manages to attract a band of misfits to his cause— the ugly, the arrogant, the clumsy, and the cowardly—putting the legendary armor within the grasp of one who never wanted anything at all.

“A remarkable tour de force set in a medieval world where magic is as common as muck, misunderstandings are ten a penny, and everyone but the hero has a remarkably good opinion of themselves. Nick Hayden mixes humor with fantasy to delight the inner eye and ear of the reader.” — Adele Abbot, author, Of Machines & Magics and Postponing Armageddon

“Dazzling damsels in distress, a magical suit of armor, mayhem and danger at every turn, a host of unique characters and plenty of laughs make this novel worth reading. Mr. Hayden tells a worthy tale well!” —Phillip Tomasso, author, Sounds of Silence

“An engrossing and adventurous novel with echoes of the Arthurian Romances by De Troyes. The unlikely rise of Obed Kainos from contented obscurity to fame and fortune will provide entertainment for readers of all ages.” — Sean Mulcahy, author, Slip Sliding Away

Print length

222 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Barking Rain Press
Publication date

July 9, 2013
Dimensions

6 x 0.56 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

1935460544
ISBN-13

978-1935460541
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Barking Rain Press; 1st edition (July 9, 2013)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 222 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1935460544
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1935460541
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.7 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.56 x 9 inches

Customer Reviews:
4.5 4 ratings

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About the author

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Nick Hayden

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Nick Hayden has never known exactly what to write in his author's bio, but he's willing to try.

Nick is married to his lovely wife Natasha, he is father to his wonderful children Fyodor (no, we are not Russian) and Serenity.

Sometimes Nick really loves to write. Sometimes, he prefers to dream about writing. Most times, he enjoys reading things he's already written.

Without a doubt, he has to write. He truly believes that fiction is a lie that tells the truth. That is why he writes, and that is why he loves fiction.

He tends to read books published before his birth, though he is always willing to make exceptions. He tends to write speculative fiction, though he is always willing to make exceptions.

Nick believes in the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus Christ and believes that Jesus is the truth. This may very well show up in his writings, but hopefully won't land like a piano from a third story window.

Above all, Nick hopes that something here will inspire you, entertain you, make you think, or simply make you smile. If not, he supposes he'll have to keep at it until something does.

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AMA

The Unremarkable Squire is a Remarkable Read...

Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2013

The Unremarkable Squire, by Nick Hayden, isn't exactly my usual read. It just isn't a genre that tends to resonate with my particular sensibilities and flavors. Nonetheless, this book quickly pulled me into its pages. The solid story line, vivid images and humorous band of unruly characters were certainly entertaining, but this story isn't all mystery, magic, fight scenes, and suspense.

For me, a truly good story exchanges my time for upfront entertainment intertwined with underlying food for thought. The Unremarkable Squire does just that. Obed Kainos, the unremarkable squire, is a plain, taciturn young man, blindly committed to people, promises, and principles even when self-preservation and common sense suggest he ought to act otherwise. His subsequent journey stretches and defines him as a man while also redefining the world he lives in. That alone is worth pondering.

As I read, I occasionally had to stop and remind myself that I know the author. Not in a bad way. Not at all. Lost in the story, I almost immediately found myself forgetting. Nick Hayden is a skilled storyteller and a talented wordsmith. This work is a delight to read. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

2 people found this helpful

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Nerdimus_Prime

'The Unremarkable Squire' is remarkable!

Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2013

Admittedly, I haven't finished the book yet, but I promise to write a fuller review later, I promise.

A young, emotionally detached man is recruited by an arrogant knight to be his squire. Hijinx ensue.

That doesn't sound like an interesting premise, but it's better in execution than in concept. Trust me, it's quite fun. Hayden is a master of dry humor, of which there is plenty in this book. Obed, the titular character, gets himself into trouble because (so far at least) other people misinterpret his detachment as apathy or arrogance. However, he's no pushover. He rises to the occasion when it's required. I look forward to finishing the book and seeing his other adventures.

Violet, however, is another story. She is a woman he saves from a villain in a castle. She may strike some readers as insufferable, but Hayden handles her well (he seems to be fond of female characters like this if you read his other stuff).

The only book I can think to compare it to is "The Princess Bride," but more for its tone, offbeat humor, and similar characters. It's certainly not the same kind of story (so far--like I said, I haven't finished the book yet).

Nick Hayden is a talented writer everyone should read, especially if you love fantasy!

One person found this helpful

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Melissa Hess

The Unremarkable Squire

Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2014

Wonderfully written adventure story in a land of squires, kings and servants. Obed follows along his calling in life and although its not always easy, there is purpose. You will easily lose yourself in this book and enjoying the journey with the characters.

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Debra Longardner

A upcoming author to keep an eye on!

Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2013

Nick Hayden's latest novel is the story of any man and every man. Obed Kainos is a simple peasant boy who against his will finds himself in the middle of an epic stuggle between good and evil. The story follows his adventures as he becomes a squire to a famous and pompous knight. Along the way Obed deals with mages, thieves, lovely maidens, and dragons. All the while he faces the challenges with quiet resolve and determination. Nick Hayden's dry humor is infused in all of the characters, making the journey of Obed into a whimsical, yet captivating tale of how one man can make a difference. A simple, yet immensely important story of human character and how we can all be more than we thought we would be when, in the words of Obed, " This is not what I expected when I got up this morning." An excelllent and uplifting read!

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