Knight’s Dawn (The Red Pavillions: Book 1) by Kim Hunter
01/03/2002 . Source: Laura Kayne 
pub: Orbit. 374 page paperback. Price: £6.99 (UK). ISBN: 1-84149-090-3. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. Soldier is a stranger in a strange land.
After awakening from what he believes was a great battle he has no
knowledge of himself, where he came from or the land in which he now
finds himself.
He only knows that he is different, marked an outsider
by his unique blue eyes. The only clue to his past identity is that
he has fighting skills and is dressed as a warrior. So he becomes
known as ‘Soldier’.
 In
the city of Zamerkand, he attempts to begin a new life. The people
of the city distrust strangers and he is pitted against foes, both
man-made and natural, at every turn. Driven by a need to find the
answers about himself, he struggles for survival and for power in
a bizarre and power-hungry world, ruled by a half-mad queen and
corrupt government officials.
Slowly, he begins to become familiar with his new
home, rising from mistrusted outlander to a member of the Red Pavilion
mercenary army to a lieutenant within that same army. When he falls
in love with the Queen's sister, also cursed with madness, he finally
feels that his luck has changed.
She saves his life but sadly this just creates more
problems. Forever trying to prove himself, Soldier then begins a
quest to find the find a cure for the Princess's madness, and to
find the truth about his past.
'Knight's Dawn' is the first in Hunter's 'The Red
Pavilions' series. An introduction to the city of Zamerkand and
to Soldier, told from his point of view. Full of sorcery and magic,
it paints a vivid picture of a complex land and people. While the
action appears a little slow at times, the description is rich and
we learn about the city and it's inhabitants and rules as Soldier
does.
This is sometimes frustrating - there is much he does
not know but does help to build the tension. Soon I began to feel
sympathy for Soldier and he serves to capture the imagination enough
for the reader to want to learn the truth about his past life. Unfortunately,
very little is learnt, and I can only assume that more is to be
found in the next in the series.
The only problem I personally found with 'Knights
Dawn' was its somewhat slow pace. However, if a gentler pace, at
least in places, does not bother you, then you will find this a
worthwhile and absorbing read.
Laura Kayne
Check out website: www.orbitbooks.co.uk
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