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** Because WarIsHell, most of the Knights had already gone through this before the story began, becoming "iron inside" [[{{TheStoic}} blatantly]] or [[{{StepfordSmiler}} beneath a mask.]] Grey is very much of that second variety, and gets [[{{TraumaCongaLine}} extra helpings of this trope]] over the course of the first book, until he ([[{{AmbiguousSituation}} possibly]]) crosses the DespairEventHorizon.
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** Because WarIsHell, most of the Knights had already gone through this before the story began, becoming "iron inside" [[{{TheStoic}} blatantly]] or [[{{StepfordSmiler}} beneath a mask.]] Grey in particular is very much of that second variety, and gets [[{{TraumaCongaLine}} extra helpings of this trope]] over the course of the first book, until book before he ([[{{AmbiguousSituation}} possibly]]) crosses the DespairEventHorizon.
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* BreakTheCutie: The author ''loves'' this trope, so everyone gets it to some degree.
--> '''Author Bio:''' Dave Rudden enjoys cats, adventure, and [[{{BreadEggsMilkSquick}} being cruel to fictional children.]]
** Because WarIsHell, most of the Knights had already gone through this before the story began, becoming "iron inside" [[{{TheStoic}} blatantly]] or [[{{StepfordSmiler}} beneath a mask.]] Grey is very much of that second variety, and gets [[{{TraumaCongaLine}} extra helpings of this trope]] over the course of the first book, until he ([[{{AmbiguousSituation}} possibly]]) crosses the DespairEventHorizon.
** Naturally, the kids aren't excused from this, either. [[{{GuiltComplex}} Darcie takes it hard whenever someone gets hurt.]] [[{{MuggleBestFriend}} Simon]] is stuck in an extremely traumatic RunOrDie situation at Crosscaper and Denizen gets to experience several near-death experiences, [[spoiler: betrayal by the second friend he's ever made, the death of someone he cared about, and witnesses [[{{BodyHorror}} other various]] [[{{HarmfulToMinors}} traumatic events,]] which send him into a mild HeroicSafeMode.]]
--> '''Author Bio:''' Dave Rudden enjoys cats, adventure, and [[{{BreadEggsMilkSquick}} being cruel to fictional children.]]
** Because WarIsHell, most of the Knights had already gone through this before the story began, becoming "iron inside" [[{{TheStoic}} blatantly]] or [[{{StepfordSmiler}} beneath a mask.]] Grey is very much of that second variety, and gets [[{{TraumaCongaLine}} extra helpings of this trope]] over the course of the first book, until he ([[{{AmbiguousSituation}} possibly]]) crosses the DespairEventHorizon.
** Naturally, the kids aren't excused from this, either. [[{{GuiltComplex}} Darcie takes it hard whenever someone gets hurt.]] [[{{MuggleBestFriend}} Simon]] is stuck in an extremely traumatic RunOrDie situation at Crosscaper and Denizen gets to experience several near-death experiences, [[spoiler: betrayal by the second friend he's ever made, the death of someone he cared about, and witnesses [[{{BodyHorror}} other various]] [[{{HarmfulToMinors}} traumatic events,]] which send him into a mild HeroicSafeMode.]]
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* DramaticIrony: Denizen and Simon's plotlines. Denizen is motivated by knowing that, even though he's in some very dangerous and unpleasant situations, Simon is safe; Simon, conversely, is able to keep going because Denizen is out there somewhere, away from Crosscaper, and [[{{ActionSurvivor}} Simon needs to be able to warn him when he gets back.]] In reality, ''neither'' of them are safe.
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* FreakOut: [[spoiler: When Grey remembers what the Clockwork Three did to him, he tries to shoot Vivian and Denizen.]]
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* FreakOut: [[spoiler: When Grey has one when remembers what the Clockwork Three did to him, him; he tries ends up ''trying to shoot shoot'' Vivian and Denizen.]]
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* LoopHoleAbuse: [[spoiler: The Clockwork Three aren't very specific in their orders for Grey, so he uses this to fight their control.]]
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* LoopHoleAbuse: [[spoiler: The Clockwork Three aren't very specific in their orders for Grey, [[{{ExactWords}} so he uses this to fight their control.]]]]]]
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* MentorOccupationalHazard: An interesting case with [[{{BigBrotherMentor}} Grey.]] While he doesn't actually ''die'', [[{{BreakTheCutie}} he is put through a lot of shit,]] and [[{{DespairEventHorizon}} breaks in a way]] that spurs on Denizen's character development similarly to what this trope invokes. The trope is, however, played straight with [[spoiler: D'Aubigny.]]
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* NeverFoundTheBody: Eleven years ago, [[spoiler: the Clockwork Three wiped out Vivian's cadre one by one... but they were taken alive, so no one was able to record even how they died.]] [[{{FridgeHorror}} Denizen figures out the reason for this later.]]
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* {{Allegory}}: For bullying. The Cost also represents scars from self-harm.
* AmbiguouslyEvil: [[spoiler:Grey. While most of what he does is because of [[{{ManchurianAgent}} thralldom]] and [[{{BrainwashedAndCrazy}} not free will,]] not all of his actions are so cut-and-dry. He shot Vivian in a [[{{MercyKill}} distorted attempt to help,]] stole her hammer despite having no orders to do so, and has [[{{MysteriousPast}} such unclear motives and backstory]] that [[{{AlternateCharacterInterpretation}} it's nearly impossible to say anything about him]] except that he's an extremely [[{{AccidentalPun}} grey character]]. [[{{AllThereInTheManual}} Word of God also says]] that his [[{{ConflictingLoyalty}} allegiance is divided]], and he's called a traitor multiple times.]]
* AmbiguouslyEvil: [[spoiler:Grey. While most of what he does is because of [[{{ManchurianAgent}} thralldom]] and [[{{BrainwashedAndCrazy}} not free will,]] not all of his actions are so cut-and-dry. He shot Vivian in a [[{{MercyKill}} distorted attempt to help,]] stole her hammer despite having no orders to do so, and has [[{{MysteriousPast}} such unclear motives and backstory]] that [[{{AlternateCharacterInterpretation}} it's nearly impossible to say anything about him]] except that he's an extremely [[{{AccidentalPun}} grey character]]. [[{{AllThereInTheManual}} Word of God also says]] that his [[{{ConflictingLoyalty}} allegiance is divided]], and he's called a traitor multiple times.]]
* ChangelingFantasy: Lovingly Deconstructed. [[{{Troperiffic}} Denizen is whisked away from the orphanage he's lived at since he was two to meet a long-lost aunt, discovers he has magic powers, and is introduced to an exciting secret world of adventure and monsters]]... except all that is ''definitely'' [[{{Deconstruction}} not as glamorous as it sounds.]]
** Denizen developed a skeptical view of life and some pretty severe trust issues because of his time at Crosscaper Orphanage ([[{{GenreSavvy}} and reading lots of novels with this trope]]), and his war-hardened aunt refuses to talk to him about his parents... [[{{TheReveal}} He eventually learns]] that [[spoiler: Vivian is his mother, who left him in an orphanage because her world got his father killed, and she wanted to keep him away from it. This only ends up sucking him further in, however.]]
** [[{{CrapsackWorld}} The life of the Knights isn't pretty either.]] Joining the Order is a lifetime contract, meaning he'd have to throw away any other future he wanted to become a Knight; he is technically given a choice about it, but there are so many moral strings attached that he feels guilty even ''thinking'' about choosing, and why would he want to return to Crosscaper anyway? The magic is dangerous and unpleasant, his Dawning leaves a permanent impact on his personality since his anger fuels it whether he wants it to or not, and [[{{PowerAtAPrice}} it comes with a Cost.]] The [[{{MagicalSociety}} secret society]] is made up of [[{{HopelessWar}} soldiers engaged in total warfare,]] which is [[{{WarIsHell}} extremely mentally scarring,]] and obviously has a [[{{AnyoneCanDie}} high mortality rate,]] not to mention the [[{{FateWorseThanDeath}} other unearthly horrors]] [[{{AndIMustScream}} that could happen]] due to the [[{{EldritchAbomination}} nature of the monsters they fight.]]
** Denizen developed a skeptical view of life and some pretty severe trust issues because of his time at Crosscaper Orphanage ([[{{GenreSavvy}} and reading lots of novels with this trope]]), and his war-hardened aunt refuses to talk to him about his parents... [[{{TheReveal}} He eventually learns]] that [[spoiler: Vivian is his mother, who left him in an orphanage because her world got his father killed, and she wanted to keep him away from it. This only ends up sucking him further in, however.]]
** [[{{CrapsackWorld}} The life of the Knights isn't pretty either.]] Joining the Order is a lifetime contract, meaning he'd have to throw away any other future he wanted to become a Knight; he is technically given a choice about it, but there are so many moral strings attached that he feels guilty even ''thinking'' about choosing, and why would he want to return to Crosscaper anyway? The magic is dangerous and unpleasant, his Dawning leaves a permanent impact on his personality since his anger fuels it whether he wants it to or not, and [[{{PowerAtAPrice}} it comes with a Cost.]] The [[{{MagicalSociety}} secret society]] is made up of [[{{HopelessWar}} soldiers engaged in total warfare,]] which is [[{{WarIsHell}} extremely mentally scarring,]] and obviously has a [[{{AnyoneCanDie}} high mortality rate,]] not to mention the [[{{FateWorseThanDeath}} other unearthly horrors]] [[{{AndIMustScream}} that could happen]] due to the [[{{EldritchAbomination}} nature of the monsters they fight.]]
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* HairFlip: Grey's {{character tic}}. Brutally Played for Drama when it's used to nail home [[spoiler: just what the Three have done to him.]]
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* HairFlip: Grey's {{character tic}}. Brutally Played for Drama when it's used to nail home [[spoiler: just what the Three have done to him.]]
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* ShoutOut: Vivian has fought a Tenebrous named [[{{Literature/RawheadRex}} Rawhead Rex.]]
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''Knights of the Borrowed Dark'' is a 2016 middle-grade fantasy novel written by Dave Rudden.
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''Knights of the Borrowed Dark'' is a 2016 middle-grade [[{{DarkFantasy}} fantasy novel novel]] written by Dave Rudden.
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[[caption-width-right:290:''I'm sorry, [[{{OneLiner}} did you not hear me the first time?]]'']]
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* ArcWords: The Hardwick family motto--"''Yield not to evil, but attack all the more boldly.''”
* {{Bookends}}: The prologue is called “Tick,” and chapter 31 is titled “Tock.”
** Simon's birthday also qualifies.
* CoolCar: The Jensen Interceptor.
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* HeartTrauma: The Endless King's heart was carved out.
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* HairFlip: Grey's {{character tic}}. Brutally Played for Drama when it's used to nail home [[spoiler: just what the Three have done to him.]]
* HeartTrauma: [[spoiler: The Endless King's heart was carved out.]]
* HeartTrauma: [[spoiler: The Endless King's heart was carved out.]]
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* OneLiner: Denizen drops one after using Sunrise on the Woman in White. He then Lampshades it and mocks himself for it.
--> '''Denizen:''' I'm sorry, did you not hear me the first time?
--> '''Denizen:''' I'm sorry, did you not hear me the first time?
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* RedOniBlueOni: Denizen and Simon, respectively. Denizen is skeptical, driven, and short-tempered, while Simon is more calm, controlled, and relaxed. This is further represented by their [[spoiler:Dawnings. Denizen's power [[{{BurningWithAnger}} manifested as raw and angry fire]]; Simon's was [[{{Invisibility}} bending light]], a difficult ability that requires a lot of patience and discipline.]]
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* BaitAndSwitchGunshot: [[spoiler: In chapter 25, Grey has a gun to Denizen's head, and Denizen thinks he's been shot when it goes off—but Grey moved it at the last second and fired toward Crosscaper instead.]]
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* BodyHorror: [[spoiler: ''Grey's hand''—already iron from the Cost, now misshapen and filled with clockwork that seems to be growing out of him. Made even more visceral when he rips a stray strip of his skin loose without even flinching.]]
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* BodyHorror: [[spoiler: ''Grey's hand''—already iron from the Cost, now misshapen and filled with clockwork that seems to be growing ''growing out of him.him''. Made even more visceral when he rips a stray strip of his skin loose without even flinching.]]
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* BreakTheCutie: Being the only person [[{{ForcedSleep}} awake]] in a Tenebrous-infested orphanage for nearly a month is [[{{Understatement}} rough]] on poor Simon.
* BurningWithAnger: Denizen, sometimes. He holds his power, or his [[{{GlowingEyes}} eyes start glowing]], or he [[{{PlayingWithFire}} catches on varying degrees of literal fire]]—he all but ''exploded'' during his Dawning.
* CruelMercy: [[spoiler: The Three letting Jack live.]]
* DramaticThunder: Frequent at Crosscaper, and often Lampshaded by Simon.
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* HeroesPreferSwords: {{Averted}}. All Mallei wield hammers.
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* HeroesPreferSwords: {{Averted}}.Averted. All Mallei wield hammers.
* HumanoidAbomination: The Clockwork Three, and apparently some other older Tenebrous.
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* MagicKnight: The Knights of the Borrowed Dark, obviously. They have powers that can be used to defeat the Tenebrous, but also train extensively at hand-to-hand combat so they [[{{PowerAtAPrice}} don't have to use their powers unless it's absolutely necessary.]]
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* MagicKnight: The Knights of the Borrowed Dark, obviously. They have powers that can be used to defeat the Tenebrous, but also [[{{FightsLikeANormal}} train extensively at hand-to-hand combat combat]] so they don't have to [[{{PowerAtAPrice}} don't have to use their powers powers]] unless it's absolutely necessary.necessary.
* MagicalSociety: The Order of the Borrowed Dark.
* ManchurianAgent: [[spoiler: Grey, the Clockwork Three's thrall.]]
* MagicalSociety: The Order of the Borrowed Dark.
* ManchurianAgent: [[spoiler: Grey, the Clockwork Three's thrall.]]
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* MercyKill: Invoked, Subverted, and further Played With. This is what [[spoiler: Grey thinks he's doing to Vivian and Denizen. He shoots Vivian, but she survives, and Denizen manages to get away.]]
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* MercyKill: Invoked, Subverted, and further just generally Played With. This is what [[spoiler: Grey thinks he's doing to Vivian and Denizen. He shoots Vivian, but she survives, and Denizen manages to get away.]]
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* NotQuiteDead: [[spoiler: Vivian comes back after being shot and laying in a pool of her own blood for who-knows-how-long.]]
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* PowerIncontinence: Zig Zagged. It ''is'' possible to control them, with [[{{TrainingTheGiftOfMagic}} extensive training]], but even then it's hard; [[{{WildMagic}} the power is triggered by strong emotions and needs to be tamped down.]] Most characters, especially the experienced Knights, are able to prevent any accidents from happening... but can still be seen holding their power when angry, and it leaks if used when they're emotionally unstable.
* PubertySuperpower: Connections to the Tenebrae Dawn when you turn thirteen.
* PunnyName: Downplayed, but still... [[spoiler: The [[{{ConflictingLoyalty}} conflicted]] character with [[{{AmbiguouslyEvil}} questionable motives]] and [[{{AlternateCharacterInterpretation}} ambiguous actions]] is [[{{MeaningfulName}} nicknamed]] ''[[{{GreyAndGrayMorality}} Grey]]'']]? Gee, [[{{SarcasmMode}} I wonder why.]]
* RageBreakingPoint: Interestingly, Denizen manages to reach this several times over the course of the book, probably because he never gets the answers he's looking for [[spoiler: until the last one.]]
* RunOrDie: ''Simon''. He's trapped alone in Crosscaper with the Clockwork Three, and [[{{MuggleBestFriend}} he has no powers,]] so all he can hope to do is avoid them—sneak, hide, run, and simply try to survive until... ''something'' happens.
* PubertySuperpower: Connections to the Tenebrae Dawn when you turn thirteen.
* PunnyName: Downplayed, but still... [[spoiler: The [[{{ConflictingLoyalty}} conflicted]] character with [[{{AmbiguouslyEvil}} questionable motives]] and [[{{AlternateCharacterInterpretation}} ambiguous actions]] is [[{{MeaningfulName}} nicknamed]] ''[[{{GreyAndGrayMorality}} Grey]]'']]? Gee, [[{{SarcasmMode}} I wonder why.]]
* RageBreakingPoint: Interestingly, Denizen manages to reach this several times over the course of the book, probably because he never gets the answers he's looking for [[spoiler: until the last one.]]
* RunOrDie: ''Simon''. He's trapped alone in Crosscaper with the Clockwork Three, and [[{{MuggleBestFriend}} he has no powers,]] so all he can hope to do is avoid them—sneak, hide, run, and simply try to survive until... ''something'' happens.
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* SurprisinglySuddenDeath: Subverted. [[spoiler: Vivian being shot in the back out of nowhere. [[{{NotQuiteDead}} She gets better]].]]
* SurvivalHorror: Simon is stuck in this.
* SurvivalHorror: Simon is stuck in this.
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* TrainingTheGiftOfMagic: The power is [[{{WildMagic}} hungry]] and [[{{PowerIncontinence}} dangerous]], and the Cants—the only moderately safe way to even use the magic—are potentially deadly without training, so this becomes necessary to everyone with a connection to the Tenebrae, whether they decide to join the Order or not.
* TrappedWithMonsterPlot: Simon's plotline.
* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler: By the end, the Clockwork Three are both metaphorically and literally falling apart.]]
* TrappedWithMonsterPlot: Simon's plotline.
* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler: By the end, the Clockwork Three are both metaphorically and literally falling apart.]]
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* WildMagic: The power of the Tenebrae just wants to be used... ''[[{{SelfDemonstratingArticle}} and really, just once wouldn't hurt, would it?]] Just let your anger out, [[{{PowerIncontinence}} it would be so easy to change the world, to burn the world,]] and come on, [[{{Understatement}} a hand isn't that big of]] [[{{EquivalentExchange}} a sacrifice for this kind of power!]]'' … Yeah, [[{{PowerAtAPrice}} that's why there's a Cost.]]
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** Graham means “grey home” and [=McCarron=] means “little dark one.” According to the teacher's resource packet, his nickname Grey [[spoiler: references his PTSD and how he's [[{{ConflictingLoyalty}} stuck between light and dark]].]]
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** Graham means “grey home” and [=McCarron=] means “little dark one.” According to the teacher's resource packet, his His nickname Grey [[spoiler: references his PTSD and how he's [[{{ConflictingLoyalty}} stuck between light and dark]].]]
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* AnimalisticAbomination: Some of the Tenebrous take forms that look vaguely like animals. Pick-Up-the-Pieces, for example, looked like a cat.
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* BigEater: Grey has a whole pot of coffee, three sausage rolls, and two bags of chips in under half an hour in the cafe with Denizen.
* BloodFromEveryOrifice: After [[spoiler: Denizen messes up the Higher Cant,]] his nose, eyes, and hands are bleeding.
* BloodFromEveryOrifice: After [[spoiler: Denizen messes up the Higher Cant,]] his nose, eyes, and hands are bleeding.
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* BigEater: Grey has a whole pot of coffee, three sausage rolls, BigBadEnsemble: The Endless King and two bags of chips in under half an hour in the cafe with Denizen.
* BloodFromEveryOrifice: After [[spoiler: Denizen messes up the Higher Cant,]] his nose, eyes, and hands are bleeding.Clockwork Three.
* BloodFromEveryOrifice: After [[spoiler: Denizen messes up the Higher Cant,]] his nose, eyes, and hands are bleeding.
* BodyMotifs: Hands.
* BrokenTears: The Opening Boy and [[spoiler: Grey]].
* CallingTheOldManOut: When Denizen ''finally'' does this to Vivian, it's one of the most satisfying moments of the book.
* CapturedSuperEntity: [[spoiler: Mercy. Just being in the real world was enough to subdue her long enough for a cage to be built to keep her in.]]
* ChangeTheUncomfortableSubject: Whenever Denizen asks about his parents around Vivian, or Vivian around the other Knights, they'll try to do this.
* CallingTheOldManOut: When Denizen ''finally'' does this to Vivian, it's one of the most satisfying moments of the book.
* CapturedSuperEntity: [[spoiler: Mercy. Just being in the real world was enough to subdue her long enough for a cage to be built to keep her in.]]
* ChangeTheUncomfortableSubject: Whenever Denizen asks about his parents around Vivian, or Vivian around the other Knights, they'll try to do this.
* ConvenientlyInterruptedDocument: Page 136 of the Book of Rust has been torn out.
* CreatureHunterOrganization: Deconstructed. The Knights' work is [[{{WarIsHell}} total warfare]], and extremely taxing, physically and mentally. It's a massive responsibility, for them to risk their lives, fight, and die for a whole world of people who will hopefully never even know about what they do.
* CueTheSun: The ending of the first book.
* CreatureHunterOrganization: Deconstructed. The Knights' work is [[{{WarIsHell}} total warfare]], and extremely taxing, physically and mentally. It's a massive responsibility, for them to risk their lives, fight, and die for a whole world of people who will hopefully never even know about what they do.
* CueTheSun: The ending of the first book.
--> '''Grey:''' We die alone, or we die in twos or threes, but we always, ''always'', die in shadow.
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* EvilIsPetty: The Clockwork Three destroy everything for literally no reason.
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* EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: If the Endless King Breaches.
* EveryScarHasAStory: Vivian shares some of hers near the beginning.
* EvilIsPetty: The Clockwork Three destroyeverything for literally no reason.meaninglessly.
* EveryScarHasAStory: Vivian shares some of hers near the beginning.
* EvilIsPetty: The Clockwork Three destroy
* FightsLikeANormal: All the Knights, as a way of minimizing the Cost.
* GlowingEyes: Knights' eyes glow when they call on their powers.
* GreyEyes: The Hardwicks both have grey eyes, described as “the color and softness of a nail.”
* HeartTrauma: The Endless King's heart was carved out.
* GreyEyes: The Hardwicks both have grey eyes, described as “the color and softness of a nail.”
* HeartTrauma: The Endless King's heart was carved out.
* InnateNightVision: The ''Intueor Lucidum''.
* LanguageOfMagic: Kind of. The Cants are in a magic language, but it isn't exactly language; it's elemental, like speaking with the senses of nature.
* LastNameBasis: Everyone with D'Aubigny and Jack. Denizen also called Grey “[=McCarron=]” for a little while.
* LastNameBasis: Everyone with D'Aubigny and Jack. Denizen also called Grey “[=McCarron=]” for a little while.
* MasterSwordsman: D'Aubigny and Grey.
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** Graham means “grey home” and [=McCarron=] means “little dark one.” According to the teacher's resource packet, his nickname Grey [[spoiler: references his PTSD and how he's stuck between light and dark.]]
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** Graham means “grey home” and [=McCarron=] means “little dark one.” According to the teacher's resource packet, his nickname Grey [[spoiler: references his PTSD and how he's [[{{ConflictingLoyalty}} stuck between light and dark.dark]].]]
* MetallicMotifs: Lots. Iron, gold, bronze...
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* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Someone seriously calls Grey "Graham" a grand total of once.
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* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Someone seriously calls Grey "Graham" a grand total TheOrder
* PoorCommunicationKills: [[spoiler: Eleven years ago, Vivian's entire cadre was wiped out by the Clockwork Three; when she learns that they've returned, rather than stay with her current cadre and at least warn them ofonce.the possible danger, she leaves. If she had communicated with them, maybe D'Aubigny could have lived, and at least something could have been done about Grey.]]
* PoorCommunicationKills: [[spoiler: Eleven years ago, Vivian's entire cadre was wiped out by the Clockwork Three; when she learns that they've returned, rather than stay with her current cadre and at least warn them of
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* TattooAsCharacterType: D'Aubigny has two tattoos: a colorful dominant one across her shoulders, and a black rose on her stomach (although the meaning of that one doesn't fit). Grey has a bird on his shoulder blade. Both characters do have supernatural powers, although neither has actually ever even mentioned their tattoos.
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->''"A hundred tongues, a hundred mouths, one iron voice."''
-->--Motto of the Order of the Borrowed Dark
-->--Motto of the Order of the Borrowed Dark
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Shadows are doors, he soon learns, that creatures called the Tenebrous tear into our world through. And his aunt is part of an ancient order of [[{{MagicKnight}} Knights]] who fight to beat them back. Not only that, but Denizen has fire in his own bloodstream, giving him the potential to join their fight... and possibly [[{{ParentalAbandonment}} finally get answers about his parents as well.]]
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* InsistentTerminology: Every Knight has their own, much to Denizen's confusion: Vivian hates the word "magic," D'Aubigny insists that their fight against the Tenebrous is pest control and not "war," and Grey says Tenebrous aren't [[{{NotUsingTheZWord}} monsters]].
* LockedOutOfTheLoop: Denizen feels like the other Knights are hiding something from him throughout most of the book, both about Knighthood in general and about his parents.
* LockedOutOfTheLoop: Denizen feels like the other Knights are hiding something from him throughout most of the book, both about Knighthood in general and about his parents.
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[[quoteright:290:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/knights_of_the_borrowed_dark_0.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:290:''I'm sorry, [[{{OneLiner}} did you not hear me the first time?]]'']]
[[caption-width-right:290:''I'm sorry, [[{{OneLiner}} did you not hear me the first time?]]'']]
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It's the first book in a trilogy. Book two, ''The Forever Court'', comes out in April, 2017.
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** "I told you not to overthink stuff."
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* BloodFromEveryOrifice: AFter [[spoiler: Denizen messes up the Higher Cant,]] his nose, eyes, and hands are bleeding.
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* BloodFromEveryOrifice: AFter After [[spoiler: Denizen messes up the Higher Cant,]] his nose, eyes, and hands are bleeding.
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* BloodFromEveryOrifice: AFter [[spoiler: Denizen messes up the Higher Cant,]] his nose, eyes, and hands are bleeding.
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* BreakTheCutie: Being the only person awake in a Tenebrous-infested orphanage for nearly a month is rough on poor Simon.
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* BreakTheCutie: Being the only person awake [[{{ForcedSleep}} awake]] in a Tenebrous-infested orphanage for nearly a month is rough [[{{Understatement}} rough]] on poor Simon.
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* MagicKnight: The Knights of the Borrowed Dark, obviously. They have powers that can be used to defeat the Tenebrous, but also train extensively at hand-to-hand combat so they [[{{PowerAtAPrice}} don't have to use their powers unless it's absolutely necessary.]]
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Denizen Hardwick is an orphan. And he has been for eleven of his thirteen years of life—that is, until he's contacted by an aunt he's never heard of before and sees her colleague destroy a reality-defying shadow monster with spoken sunrise.
Shadows are doors, he soon learns, that creatures called the Tenebrous tear into our world through. And his aunt is part of an ancient order of Knights who fight to beat them back. Not only that, but Denizen has fire in his own bloodstream, giving him the potential to join their fight... and possibly finally get answers about his parents as well.
Shadows are doors, he soon learns, that creatures called the Tenebrous tear into our world through. And his aunt is part of an ancient order of Knights who fight to beat them back. Not only that, but Denizen has fire in his own bloodstream, giving him the potential to join their fight... and possibly finally get answers about his parents as well.
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[[{{MeaningfulName}} Denizen Hardwick Hardwick]] is an orphan. And he has been for eleven of his thirteen years of life—that is, until he's contacted by [[{{LongLostRelative}} an aunt he's never heard of before before]] and sees her colleague destroy a [[{{EldritchAbomination}} reality-defying shadow monster monster]] with spoken sunrise.
Shadows are doors, he soon learns, that creatures called the Tenebrous tear into our world through. And his aunt is part of an ancient order ofKnights [[{{MagicKnight}} Knights]] who fight to beat them back. Not only that, but Denizen has fire in his own bloodstream, giving him the potential to join their fight... and possibly [[{{ParentalAbandonment}} finally get answers about his parents as well.]]
Shadows are doors, he soon learns, that creatures called the Tenebrous tear into our world through. And his aunt is part of an ancient order of
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* NothingIsScarier: The Tenebrae, the world where the Tenebrous live, is an dark, endless expanse of... ''nothingness''.
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* WallOfWeapons: The [[{{ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin}} Room of Swords.]]
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* ConvenientlyAnOrphan: Lampshaded multiple times. Denizen, Simon, and Grey are all orphans.
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* GoodIsNotNice: She may be protecting the world from shadow monsters, but Vivian still acts very rude to Denizen, refusing to speak to him and criticizing almost everything he does.
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* BackToBackBadasses: D'Aubigny and Grey fight Pick-Up-the-Pieces in this manner.
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* {{Determinator}}: ''Vivian.'' She's been a Knight for nearly two decades and has risen to the position of Malleus, which in and of itself implies this, but she also [[spoiler: gets shot in the back at nearly point-blank range, ''survives it'', gets up, and prepares to go back into battle only a few hours later.]]
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* {{Determinator}}: ''Vivian.'' She's been a Knight for nearly two decades and has risen to the position of Malleus, which in and of itself implies this, but she also [[spoiler: gets shot in {{in the back back}} at nearly point-blank range, ''survives it'', gets up, and prepares to go back into battle only a few hours later.]]
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* ChildhoodFriends: Simon and Denizen have known each other since they were both three years old, and their friendship is a main motivator for both of them.
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* {{Determinator}}: ''Vivian.'' [[spoiler: You can't just shoot Vivian Hardwick and expect her to die.]]
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* {{Determinator}}: ''Vivian.'' She's been a Knight for nearly two decades and has risen to the position of Malleus, which in and of itself implies this, but she also [[spoiler: You can't just shoot Vivian Hardwick gets shot in the back at nearly point-blank range, ''survives it'', gets up, and expect her prepares to die.go back into battle only a few hours later.]]
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* BodyHorror: [[spoiler: Grey's hand—already iron from the Cost, now misshapen and filled with clockwork that seems to be growing out of him. Made even more visceral when he rips a stray strip of his skin loose without even flinching.]]
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* BodyHorror: [[spoiler: Grey's hand—already ''Grey's hand''—already iron from the Cost, now misshapen and filled with clockwork that seems to be growing out of him. Made even more visceral when he rips a stray strip of his skin loose without even flinching.]]
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* UncannyValley: Ancient Tenebrous that try to disguise as human slip into this. Specifically, the Clockwork Three.
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''Knights of the Borrowed Dark'' is a 2016 middle-grade fantasy novel written by Dave Rudden.
Denizen Hardwick is an orphan. And he has been for eleven of his thirteen years of life—that is, until he's contacted by an aunt he's never heard of before and sees her colleague destroy a reality-defying shadow monster with spoken sunrise.
Shadows are doors, he soon learns, that creatures called the Tenebrous tear into our world through. And his aunt is part of an ancient order of Knights who fight to beat them back. Not only that, but Denizen has fire in his own bloodstream, giving him the potential to join their fight... and possibly finally get answers about his parents as well.
----
!!''Knights of the Borrowed Dark'' contains examples of
*BigEater: Grey has a whole pot of coffee, three sausage rolls, and two bags of chips in under half an hour in the cafe with Denizen.
*BodyHorror: [[spoiler: Grey's hand—already iron from the Cost, now misshapen and filled with clockwork that seems to be growing out of him. Made even more visceral when he rips a stray strip of his skin loose without even flinching.]]
*BreakTheCutie: Being the only person awake in a Tenebrous-infested orphanage for nearly a month is rough on poor Simon.
*{{Chekhovs Gun}}: Hey, remember the Malleus's hammer in the Emissary's chest? [[spoiler: Yeah, Vivian goes to get that after Grey steals hers.]]
*{{Curb Stomp Battle}}: Vivian beats [[spoiler:Grey]] in a matter of ''seconds''.
*DangerousForbiddenTechnique: The Higher Cants, which take a large Cost and are very difficult to control, to the point where they can be deadly to the user.
*DeathGlare: Vivian Hardwick has a very distinctive one.
*{{Determinator}}: ''Vivian.'' [[spoiler: You can't just shoot Vivian Hardwick and expect her to die.]]
*DyingAlone: A Knight's ultimate fate.
*EldritchAbomination: The Tenebrous don't obey the laws of our world and look and feel wrong and alien.
*EvilIsPetty: The Clockwork Three destroy everything for literally no reason.
*FateWorseThanDeath: The consequences of messing up a Higher Cant. You could burn your mind out, or blow up, or create another Breach.
*FreakOut: [[spoiler: When Grey remembers what the Clockwork Three did to him, he tries to shoot Vivian and Denizen.]]
*GenreSavvy: Denizen grew up reading fantasy books, and is able to lampshade a lot of tropes. Simon, too, to a lesser extent.
*TheGlassesComeOff: Darcie takes off her tinted glasses when explaining to Denizen her job as a Lux Precognitae.
*HeroesPreferSwords: {{Averted}}. All Mallei wield hammers.
*HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: D'Aubigny and Jack fighting the Clockwork Three so Darcie and Abigail could get away. Jack survives but is left severely wounded, and D'Aubigny dies.]]
*HopelessWar: The Knights are engaged in one with the Tenebrous.
*LoopHoleAbuse: [[spoiler: The Clockwork Three aren't very specific in their orders for Grey, so he uses this to fight their control.]]
*LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler: Vivian is Denizen's mother.]]
*MeaningfulName: ''Everything''.
**Tenebrae means “darkness” in Latin, and it's also the name of a candle-extinguishing festival.
**Seraphim are a type of angel associated with fire.
**Malleus means hammer.
**A denizen is an inhabitant of a certain place.
**Vivian means alive; [[spoiler: she's Denizen's mother, who he previously thought was dead.]]
**Simon means “listening” or “he has heard” and Hayes means “descendant of Aodh,” who is a fire god.
**Graham means “grey home” and [=McCarron=] means “little dark one.” According to the teacher's resource packet, his nickname Grey [[spoiler: references his PTSD and how he's stuck between light and dark.]]
**A fuller is a part of a sword.
**Corinne means “beautiful maiden” and her last name references Julie D'Aubigny.
**Darcie means “of the darkness” and wright is a name for a craftsman.
**A falx is a type of sickle, and Abigail means “my father is joy.”
*MeaningfulEcho: “Well, you know what they say about plans.”
*MercyKill: Invoked, Subverted, and further Played With. This is what [[spoiler: Grey thinks he's doing to Vivian and Denizen. He shoots Vivian, but she survives, and Denizen manages to get away.]]
*NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: The Endless King
*OhCrap: [[spoiler: The Man in the Waistcoat]] has one when he learns that [[spoiler: Denizen has freed Mercy.]]
*OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Someone seriously calls Grey "Graham" a grand total of once.
*PowerAtAPrice: The Cost, which turns Knights' skin to iron.
*PowerGlows: Justified, as the Knights are fighting darkness, and their powers manifest as fire.
*SanitySlippage: [[spoiler: Grey has one nearing the end of the book.]]
*ThemeNaming: A lot of the names in the book have to do with darkness.
*UncannyValley: Ancient Tenebrous that try to disguise as human slip into this. Specifically, the Clockwork Three.
*WarIsHell: This is iterated and reiterated to Denizen frequently.
*WhamEpisode: Chapter 25. [[spoiler: Vivian gets shot and we learn that Grey is a thrall for the Clockwork Three,]] to name just a few things that happen.
*WhamLine: [[spoiler: “Denizen... I'm not your aunt. I'm your mother.”]]
----
Denizen Hardwick is an orphan. And he has been for eleven of his thirteen years of life—that is, until he's contacted by an aunt he's never heard of before and sees her colleague destroy a reality-defying shadow monster with spoken sunrise.
Shadows are doors, he soon learns, that creatures called the Tenebrous tear into our world through. And his aunt is part of an ancient order of Knights who fight to beat them back. Not only that, but Denizen has fire in his own bloodstream, giving him the potential to join their fight... and possibly finally get answers about his parents as well.
----
!!''Knights of the Borrowed Dark'' contains examples of
*BigEater: Grey has a whole pot of coffee, three sausage rolls, and two bags of chips in under half an hour in the cafe with Denizen.
*BodyHorror: [[spoiler: Grey's hand—already iron from the Cost, now misshapen and filled with clockwork that seems to be growing out of him. Made even more visceral when he rips a stray strip of his skin loose without even flinching.]]
*BreakTheCutie: Being the only person awake in a Tenebrous-infested orphanage for nearly a month is rough on poor Simon.
*{{Chekhovs Gun}}: Hey, remember the Malleus's hammer in the Emissary's chest? [[spoiler: Yeah, Vivian goes to get that after Grey steals hers.]]
*{{Curb Stomp Battle}}: Vivian beats [[spoiler:Grey]] in a matter of ''seconds''.
*DangerousForbiddenTechnique: The Higher Cants, which take a large Cost and are very difficult to control, to the point where they can be deadly to the user.
*DeathGlare: Vivian Hardwick has a very distinctive one.
*{{Determinator}}: ''Vivian.'' [[spoiler: You can't just shoot Vivian Hardwick and expect her to die.]]
*DyingAlone: A Knight's ultimate fate.
*EldritchAbomination: The Tenebrous don't obey the laws of our world and look and feel wrong and alien.
*EvilIsPetty: The Clockwork Three destroy everything for literally no reason.
*FateWorseThanDeath: The consequences of messing up a Higher Cant. You could burn your mind out, or blow up, or create another Breach.
*FreakOut: [[spoiler: When Grey remembers what the Clockwork Three did to him, he tries to shoot Vivian and Denizen.]]
*GenreSavvy: Denizen grew up reading fantasy books, and is able to lampshade a lot of tropes. Simon, too, to a lesser extent.
*TheGlassesComeOff: Darcie takes off her tinted glasses when explaining to Denizen her job as a Lux Precognitae.
*HeroesPreferSwords: {{Averted}}. All Mallei wield hammers.
*HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: D'Aubigny and Jack fighting the Clockwork Three so Darcie and Abigail could get away. Jack survives but is left severely wounded, and D'Aubigny dies.]]
*HopelessWar: The Knights are engaged in one with the Tenebrous.
*LoopHoleAbuse: [[spoiler: The Clockwork Three aren't very specific in their orders for Grey, so he uses this to fight their control.]]
*LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler: Vivian is Denizen's mother.]]
*MeaningfulName: ''Everything''.
**Tenebrae means “darkness” in Latin, and it's also the name of a candle-extinguishing festival.
**Seraphim are a type of angel associated with fire.
**Malleus means hammer.
**A denizen is an inhabitant of a certain place.
**Vivian means alive; [[spoiler: she's Denizen's mother, who he previously thought was dead.]]
**Simon means “listening” or “he has heard” and Hayes means “descendant of Aodh,” who is a fire god.
**Graham means “grey home” and [=McCarron=] means “little dark one.” According to the teacher's resource packet, his nickname Grey [[spoiler: references his PTSD and how he's stuck between light and dark.]]
**A fuller is a part of a sword.
**Corinne means “beautiful maiden” and her last name references Julie D'Aubigny.
**Darcie means “of the darkness” and wright is a name for a craftsman.
**A falx is a type of sickle, and Abigail means “my father is joy.”
*MeaningfulEcho: “Well, you know what they say about plans.”
*MercyKill: Invoked, Subverted, and further Played With. This is what [[spoiler: Grey thinks he's doing to Vivian and Denizen. He shoots Vivian, but she survives, and Denizen manages to get away.]]
*NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: The Endless King
*OhCrap: [[spoiler: The Man in the Waistcoat]] has one when he learns that [[spoiler: Denizen has freed Mercy.]]
*OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Someone seriously calls Grey "Graham" a grand total of once.
*PowerAtAPrice: The Cost, which turns Knights' skin to iron.
*PowerGlows: Justified, as the Knights are fighting darkness, and their powers manifest as fire.
*SanitySlippage: [[spoiler: Grey has one nearing the end of the book.]]
*ThemeNaming: A lot of the names in the book have to do with darkness.
*UncannyValley: Ancient Tenebrous that try to disguise as human slip into this. Specifically, the Clockwork Three.
*WarIsHell: This is iterated and reiterated to Denizen frequently.
*WhamEpisode: Chapter 25. [[spoiler: Vivian gets shot and we learn that Grey is a thrall for the Clockwork Three,]] to name just a few things that happen.
*WhamLine: [[spoiler: “Denizen... I'm not your aunt. I'm your mother.”]]
----
