#denizen hardwick

[squimbusfrommypolls]

Squimbus from my polls semi-finals: Shuu Iwamine (Hatoful Boyfriend) vs Denizen Hardwick (Knights of the Borrowed Dark)

Shuu Iwamine

Denizen Hardwick

Voting ended onApr 8, 2023

*Squimbus: character that never wins or makes it in poll competitions on Tumblr.com, typically from media that isn’t well known on tumblr but can just be a very obscure/unpopular character

[denizenhardwick]

The Part Where You Missed It: Chapter 4

Read on AO3 | Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3

Denizen Hardwick knows who he is now; for the first time in his life, he has a family and a real home. But, of course, nothing is that simple. Vivian still won’t open up to him, and feelings are so often a painful burden to carry. As Denizen begins his new life of Knighthood, he finds challenge and triumph lurking around every turn--both in the world and in himself.

Takes place in the six months between Knights of the Borrowed Dark and The Forever Court; massive spoilers for book one.

Simon soaked up sunlight like a plant. Sometimes, while walking through Dublin, he would suddenly stop and stare up at the sky. It reminded Denizen of when people saw the aurora borealis–not that he had seen it, but he’d seen pictures of people seeing it–and looked up in absolute wonder.

It was winter, though, and nice, sunny days growing scarcer and scarcer.

One such lucky day, Abigail pointed out at breakfast that the weather was pleasant and gave Denizen a not-so-subtle wink indicating this was the day, as if he’d forgotten somehow. He had to get Simon out of the house for a few hours to give the girls prep time.

So he invited Simon on a little walk.

Simon grabbed his scarf, and they were out. It was a crisp day, made chillier by the breeze, and the sun kept dipping behind clouds, but running into various shops managed to keep the shivering to a minimum.

Denizen supposed he could draw on his power to keep himself warm… no. Absolutely not.

They ended up standing side-by-side, watching the faint winter sunlight play across Dublin Bay.

“So… tell me about Grey?” Simon gripped his scarf closer to himself and looked up innocently.

Denizen went cold in a way that had nothing to do with the weather. “What?”

The other boy shrugged. “I dunno. It's okay if you don't want to talk–I get that–but I didn't get to meet him, and, well, you don't really let people get close to you. So I was wondering. What was he like?”

“I…” Words failed, and he trailed off.

Gazing out over the water, Denizen tried to think of something to say. “I don't think I really knew him that well.” If at all.

“Hmm. That's okay.” When Denizen remained silent for another minute, Simon sighed. “I shouldn't have brought it up. Sorry.”

“Ugh, no. Don't apologize. You told me what happened with you, which was infinitely worse than my month, and I still haven’t shared what happened with me… it's not fair.”

“I got the basics. Shadow monsters, magic, saving the world, your aunt actually being your mother. All that. I'm just curious at this point.”

Denizen laughed.

“Dublin’s nice,” Simon said, changing the subject. “We should go exploring sometime.”

“Oh, no, don't worry, you'll get to see plenty of the city when Abigail takes you running.”

The boys finished their walk, interspersing light conversation as they moseyed along the waterfront, and started heading home. Outside of the embassy building, Denizen abruptly stopped.

“Grey was a really easy person to be around.” Denizen threw thoughts regarding the later bit of the month in a mental box, took a breath, and continued. “He was chatty, and he'd tell jokes, and sometimes he'd do these really kind things and try to pass them off as jokes or something casual, but…”

A lump was building in Denizen’s throat, making it hard to speak, to breathe, and anger rolled fitfully in his chest.

He cleared his throat. “Also,” he said, pointedly louder, “Abigail and Darcie are waiting in the dining hall for us. Well, more specifically, you.”

Simon frowned. “Huh?”

Grinning, Denizen took his arm and escorted him inside. “You nearly died on your birthday, remember? I wanted to give you something nicer.”

“Happy birthday!”

Simon spun slowly, face breaking into a smile as he took in the decorations. It wasn’t much, but Denizen was proud–there was a banner hanging from the ceiling, a pretty cloth draped over one of the tables, and, on top of that, the cake that Darcie had made, which was probably more edible glitter than actual cake.

“Here,” Denizen said, gesturing to a bench. “Sit.”

Simon complied. “I cannot believe this.”

“It was going to be a surprise party, but we didn’t think you’d like that,” said Darcie.

“Yeah. Thank you.” His voice was awed. “Oh, so this is what all the winking this morning was about! Ha.”

Denizen flushed. They’d been planning this for a month, and it was a miracle they'd managed to keep it a secret.

With flourish, Abigail presented Simon’s birthday present. His jaw dropped.

“Guys…”

“It’s mostly from Denizen,” she said, “but he wanted us to present it as a kind of joint gift.” She took a seat, then so did Denizen, and Darcie cut them all cake slices–Simon’s being the biggest, of course.

The party lasted most of the afternoon, and Denizen wasn’t sure he saw the smile ever leave Simon’s face. It was contagious. By the end, Denizen’s cheeks hurt, and they got busted by a very angry Vivian for making a mess of the dining hall again, but…

But it was the happiest he’d seen Simon for months.

[purplelea]

If your protagonist:

Is a closed-off emo teenager who's scared of opening up to people because he might get hurt

Frowns and complains a lot

Starts opening up to someone and ends up getting shot by the same someone is a month or less

Doesn't let it stop him from opening up to others still

Then it's not your Neku Sakuraba, it's also Denizen Hardwick from the book the Knights of the Borrowed Dark. VOTE FOR HIM

[starship-bunny]

AYO WHY DOES RUSSIA HAVE JUST ONE GUY FIGHTING ALL OF ITS TENEBROUS????

[yourfaveinheroforge]

Denizen Hardwick from Knights of the Borrowed Dark by Dave Rudden has been Heroforged.

[kafkaandthesun]

Denizen Hardwick

[that-house]

You know what book series fucking slaps? Knights of the Borrowed Dark by Dave Rudden. That series was great, and it sadly has no online presence.

For those who know nothing of it (most people), it’s a YA urban fantasy trilogy about a secret order of magic knights beating up lovecraftian horrors. The descriptions are great, the humor is great, the characters are great, the magic system is great. It’s all great.

Plus the main character falls in love with the princess of the lovecraftian horrors, which is just delightful.

[cloudybookash-blog]

Book Review: Knights of the Borrowed Dark by Dave Rudden.

Genre: Middle-Grade; Fantasy.

Goodreads rating: ***** (5 stars).

Read: 17/01/2017 – 19/01/2017

The review:

Been pining for a new dark, fantastical middle-grade novel? Look no further! This book is awesome. With a low lit, foggy atmosphere and the promise of shadowy figures in the night – this book is the way you wish you’d handled your childhood nightmares.

This is the first book in a trilogy that I wish had come out when I was younger. Mainly because now I have to wait for the other two books to be written and released - I have no patience for new books.

Synopsis: Denizen is our cynical protagonist left in an orphanage to wonder about his past and future for nigh on 13 years. Then a mysterious aunt contacts him, asking Denizen to spend a couple of days with her. For what? Denizen wonders, probably to lift her feelings of guilt for never having taken him in all these years. Only Denizen, armed with all these must-answer questions about his past, is knocked so hard out of reality he barely has time to remember where the hell he’s come from. The only thing that remains in his head half the time is that the Knights of the Borrowed Dark will protect him.

Excuse the cliché of an orphan protagonist for a moment and appreciate with me his cynicism.

                                                                                          ‘Denizen Hardwick wasn’t the kind of person to believe in special circumstances – in distinguishing freckles or meaningful birthmarks or fortuitous aunts.

Denizen was a sceptic.’

He doesn’t believe in fairy tales and unlike the other kids in his orphanage he doesn’t fantasise of a rich family member coming to save him from his bleak circumstances. He’s incredibly realistic in his situation. Learning all he can in his studies so that he may have a better chance of higher education once he leaves at the age of 18. He’s not actually okay with his situation but he’s accepted it for what it is, inauspicious and lonely.

His side eye and frown game is strong. He keeps a constant level of scepticism throughout the book. As though he has yet to fully believe in this new found, monster filled world.

Malleus Vivian Hardwick is a 5000-piece puzzle. Foreboding and quiet. Her scarred and muscular physique towers everyone in Seraphim Row. But somehow everything she does is for not only the greater good but for her people – Grey, Darcie, Jack, D’Aubigny, and Abigail. She’s an armour clad protector of the world, and therefore a BAMF.

The storyline is simple and promising – an ordinary boy thrust into a world hidden to all but those vowing their lives to protect it. Its promise comes from the progression of not only the plot but the magic system within. New characters are brought in oozing with new abilities and knowledge.

Seriously, this is such an entertaining read and so easy to do so. Go get this goddamn book. 

Also, this cover is so beautiful, like UGH!