Men of Iron

Posted by Rebekah
Categories: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Incredibook!, Older Readers, Review
Tags: Animals, Horses, Howard Pyle

Our rating:

This is the story of Myles Falworth, son of Lord Falworth, and how he rose from obscurity to high favor with the King. When Myles was eight years old, Lord Falworth gave aid to a knight who had been part of a plot to overthrow King Henry the IV. The King discovered this and confiscated Lord Falworth’s lands, reducing him to near-poverty, and, moreover, decreed him a traitor. Lord Falworth was forced to go into hiding, taking with him his wife and young son. The family found succor with a priest and remained in a small house in England. When Myles reached sixteen years old, his father decided to send him to Lord Mackworth (an old friend of Lord Falworth’s) with the request that he take Myles into his service as a squire. Lord Mackworth complied, at considerable danger to himself, and Myles came to live in Mackworth’s great castle. Years passed and Myles grew from a boy to a man and discovered that he was destined to play a high part in the politics of merry England. Soon King Henry himself knights Myles, and begins a chain of events that will effect many, many people.

Now, I put this in as older readers, but really it’s good for people as young as twelve. It’s written in the Old English style, which makes it a little difficult, but I love this book. There is so much action in it! My review sounds very dry and stuffy. From the first, Myles takes a stand for right and defends it with all his heart. Whether it’s challenging the right of a squire to order other squires about, or taking to the lists in a great tournament to redeem his father’s good name, you’re rooting for Myles all the way.