Knights and Bikes was a 2019 videogame, developed by Foam Sword and published by Double Fine. I played the game near release time and loved the picture book aesthetic and the compelling story of adventure on the tiny island of Penfurzy had me gripped from the start. I played the game to completion and loved the world created and thought at the time that there was a whole world of potential storylines.
For the uninitiated, on the peaceful island of Penfurzy, Demelza Penrose, a young girl with a very active imagination, daydreams of grand adventures amongst the legends of yore that surround her on her island home. Living with her father, the owner of a dilapidated mini-golf course, she lives a boring life missing her mother who died in a tragic accident. One night, Nessa, a young runaway with tall tales of daring-do, enters her life and they become firm friends. Along the way, the pals halt the sale of the mini-gold land and destroy landmarks following clues contained in Demelza's mother's journal, the clues of which lead to the long lost castle and the treasure of the legendary Penfurzy Knights. Can the treasure offer Demelza a way to save her home?
The first book is very closely based off of the videogame and translates well to the written word. I got the audiobook so the West Country accents and the sound effects were especially wonderful to hear. The actors and actresses relished their roles and delivered the dialogue in suitably dramatic ways.
The second book, The Rebel Bicycle Club, is a new adventure and is more like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as it deals with a magic chalice, not belonging to Christ but rather King Pendragon of the Penfurzy Knights.
The third and final book, Wheels of Legend, revolves around a mysterious travelling fayre that seems to be searching for something in the local quarry. Joining Demelza and Nessa is Jack, a young boy from the fayre who seems to have something to hide. Throw in giants, mystery men and a mermaid's soporific tune and you've got a cracking adventure.
This series of books has it all- an intriguing land full of mystery, great characters that are thoughtfully written and a cohesive through-line that offers a world of possibility. The stories are presented in a humorous manner but they have a truth to them that contains heart. Central to it all is the relationship between lonely Demelza, dealing with her grief, and mythomaniac Nessa who struggles with change and building friendship. The stories show the growing bond between these two characters and how friendship is an important part of your youth where the Summers seemed to stretch on forever. The books are full of 1980s references including the Nintendo Power Glove, arcade machines, bikes, frisbees and many iconic films.
Knights and Bikes is a thoroughly creative series and one I would have loved to have read back in the day as a youth. As an early 40s adult, I loved it and appreciated it for what it was but I know my 7 and 4 year old daughters, the target demographic for these books, will appreciate it much more than I do.
Overall, the Knights and Bike book series is well worth a listen or read whilst the videogame is well worth a play.
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