Reviewed by Cheryl

TITLE: Knight Moves

SERIES: When We Were Young

AUTHOR: Maggie Blackbird

PUBLISHER: eXtasy

LENGTH: 238 pages

RELEASE DATE: April 23 2021

BLURB:

After receiving his grade twelve diploma and marking his eighteenth birthday, René Oshawee cannot fight the temptation seventeen-year-old high school junior Billy Redsky blatantly offers now that what they share has become taboo.

When their secret romance is blown into the open, Billy’s foster parents send René to Toronto to complete the last of his schooling under the supervision of a family friend, leaving Billy behind at their Ojibway community.

Now Billy and René must make the biggest decision of their lives—fight for the true love they know they’ll never find with anyone else or go their separate ways.

REVIEW:

Yet again we are faced with the I know what’s best for you problem in full force.
Both Billy and Rene make decisions based on what they think is best for the other and not for themselves. This leads to painful twists and turns and a real fear that this time is the last time. Even though we have to trust the author to give us a happy ending, sometimes it seems too far out of reach.

I have to keep reminding myself that the two boys are very young and make bad decisions based on their limited experience. I can’t help but lay some blame at the feet of Rene’s parents here, as they allow those decisions to be made when they are in their best interest.

My favourite parts of all three books have been the glimpses they give us into Ojibway culture and beliefs, and this book gave us even more of a treat in that department. As usual it came mostly from Ned, the best uncle imaginable. I often wish that Billy might have stayed with him. For all that Oshawee family can provide for Billy’s physical wellbeing, Ned would have been better by far at providing for his mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

When Rene and Billy were caught red handed, as it were, things could have gone a lot worse than they did, at least on the face of it. It would appear, however, that the relationship is facing a slow demise rather than a quick ending, which would, I believe, be so much worse. Hopefully, Billy and Rene will embrace the separation and grow, apart, to enable them to eventually come together, complete.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of this series and this might be my favourite. I have invested in Billy and Rene. Their story might not be the most unique but the setting makes it so. I adore the peeps into the Ojibway society and I will always carry that knowledge with me. I am following these boys closely on their various adventures, and I loved Keith, although he proved to be flawed. Billy and Rene are lucky to have such colourful, strong characters at their backs and I hope that will be enough to take them to the end.

I’m glad this isn’t the last book

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

eXtasy

Amazon