This was a book given to me by a friend who said I'd enjoy it. I read the first book in this series nearly three years ago in preparation to read this book. Obviously, it took a while to get back to the series though I'm glad I did.The main thing I was left with at the end of this book was the sensation that I don't know nearly enough about the history of the Middle East. It seems that the region has been involved in warfare for centuries all in the name of God and religion. The main players may have changed over time, but the region remains tense and disputed whether actively through warfare or politically through maneuverings.The backdrop of the story is the Temple Knights and their society. Once an organization of deep religious values and strict monkish observances who happened to be knights, they seem to have evolved away from the spirit of their religion into a private army of the Church, absolved of their sins in the name of their religion. Their actions and culture reflects this move away from their founding values and creates a tension among different factions and rulers which threatens to destabilize their resistance to the Arabs.With this as the background, I couldn't help but feel an affinity for the central characters of the story and their struggles with "honor." Though far from perfect, they at least acknowledge the humanity of their enemies and refuse to be caught up in the blood lust of the broader population. There is plenty of discussion and time for reflection on the theme of honor without feeling subjected to a lecture from the author. In the end, I felt like I understood honor better through the juxtaposition not only of actions, but also in the way they discussed and treated one another. It was enlightening and enjoyable at the same time.As a side note, I'm really sad I didn't read this book sooner as the person who recommended I read it has since passed away. I always enjoyed comparing notes on books with him. He was a good man whose life was shaped by deeply held principles.
I can't believe I have finally finished this book! It took me four months to read, probably the longest it has ever taken me to read a book. Some of it was due to the fact that I have been very busy these last couple of months, but some of it has to do with the fact that this book is very long and I often found it plodding and meandering all over the place. It certainly didn't move as fast as the first book in the series. I guess if I had really been into this book I would have finished it much sooner than I did. The second book in the Templar trilogy picks up years and years later after all of the events of the first book. There are a whole new group of characters to meet and follow. It begins in the Middle East and then switches gears to France. Over the next 500 pages or so, the author goes into palace intrigue, secret socities, scheming men and women, the necessary routines to get an army ready for battle and moved to a new area, and lots more. Lots and lots more. I really think this book could have used some editing of side plots because there are many of them. Only the last 200 pages or so have the Templars back in the Middle East. There's a great of detail and description which I guess is good in its way, but after awhile it gets tedious reading about weapons and formations and clothing. I just wanted to plot to move in a streamlined fashion. Characters come and go as do side jaunts for the author. I wanted to like this book more than I did. It certainly hasn't whetted my appetite for the final book in the series. I think I'm going take a breather from Jack Whyte and explore other books that I have put off for far too long while trying to finish this book.
This is the second book in the Templar trilogy and I enjoyed it very much. It's a funny sort of book; lots of travelling, from France to the Holy Land and things that happen throughout the journey, but most of the action is talked about after the fact, at least so it seems to me. No romance or sex; this story is about honour. It flowed nicely for all its length, an easy pace. The history is very interesting, that of the 2nd Crusade. Much politics, and plotting. I wasn't sure I wanted to get the third book in the trilogy, but Whyte seems to have found his story and his writing style and turned the story into a more comfortable read. Well worth trying.
—Bill
The end of the 12th century and the start of the Third Crusade are the backdrop of this well-written middle entry to the author's Templar Trilogy. Richard is not yet the Lionheart and Saladin is pushing the Christians out of the Holy Land. Political intrigue between kings and popes abounds. Young knight Andre St. Clair is swept into the surge of events that eventually leads him and his close family members into battles both military and personal. A good read and alot of details about the preparation for going on crusade.
—Sandy
What is honor? Can it be measured, and if so, can it be measured by anyone other than the individual to which it applies? This book will cause one to take a hard look at what honor is, how it is measured, and whether or not one has this thing called "honor." I would be tempted to say that honor is confirmed when one can look at one's actions and his or her conscience says, "it is good." However, I know there are many in our society today that have no conscience, or if they do, they choose to completely ignore it, which would render that definition invalid. I do not know what it is, other than it is an individual thing. This book, while tracing the path of one young Templar Kinght and member of the secret order behind the TK's, reveals his search for, and development of honor. Great book, full of action, intrigue, and history. It continues the story begun in Knights of the Black and White.
—Art
