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wyvernfriend's review against another edition
3.0
This is the story of Will Campbell a reluctant Knight Templar, his friendship and love and his growth from a boy to a man. Will is a Templar because his father decided he should be, he lives with the guilt of having accidentally killed his sister and that his father didn't speak to him for years.
It's also the story of Baybars and his fight to rise his life from Malmuk slave to ruler. Ruthless he pursues the expulsion of Christians from the lands he regards as his with ruthlessness.
It's interesting, could possibly have done with some quite severe editing to cut out some of the info-dumping but still once I got over the first 100 pages it moved quite quickly. Nothing spectacularly new in the genre but interesting all the same.
It's also the story of Baybars and his fight to rise his life from Malmuk slave to ruler. Ruthless he pursues the expulsion of Christians from the lands he regards as his with ruthlessness.
It's interesting, could possibly have done with some quite severe editing to cut out some of the info-dumping but still once I got over the first 100 pages it moved quite quickly. Nothing spectacularly new in the genre but interesting all the same.
wyvernfriend's review against another edition
3.0
Will Campbell is a Templar Knight trying to keep a balance between his life as a templar and the love of his life. He's also a man sworn to promote peace in a war-torn world.
To be brutally honest I found myself occasionally wondering why I was bothering and why the characters were bothering. Several of them blurred together in my mind and I really couldn't care less occasionally if they lived or died. I have no real urge to read book 3.
To be brutally honest I found myself occasionally wondering why I was bothering and why the characters were bothering. Several of them blurred together in my mind and I really couldn't care less occasionally if they lived or died. I have no real urge to read book 3.
psoglav's review against another edition
3.0
UKUPNA OCENA (overall rating) - 3
Radnja (story) - 3.5
Likovi (characters) - 3
Pripovedanje (writing style) - 3
Okruženje (setting) - 3.5
Radnja (story) - 3.5
Likovi (characters) - 3
Pripovedanje (writing style) - 3
Okruženje (setting) - 3.5
dawn_marie's review against another edition
3.0
The first book in a planed trilogy follows William Campbell of the Templar Knights as he searches for a missing book. The most interesting aspect of the book is the fact that the author uses two distinct voices to tell the story; eastern and western.
dawn_marie's review against another edition
3.0
The second of a planned trilogy continues to follow the life of William Campbell, a member of the Knights Templar who is now stationed in Outremer.
lmmountford's review against another edition
4.0
I have never really been interested in reading Robyn Young's work, but then I just picked this up in the charity shop the other day and thought why not. And on whole, I'm going to give this read a 3.5 star rating.
This is not a quick read. It has a very slow beginning that can really test you. Ok, it opens up with an epic battle, but after that it sort of just goes into a slow burn, but things begin to pick up again in book 2 and then continues throughout with a steady pace.
Also battles and death are clearly not Robyn Young's strong point. All the battles and fights that take place are so quick then tension barely has a chance to build and are over before you realise what's going on. Finally, though a lot of exotic lands are mentioned, little time is spent on showing us forgotten world. I know a lot of readers say they want fewer details and more pace so their imaginations fill in the gaps, i want details. I want to envision the middle ages and be taken back there. This just proves you can't please everyone.
On the other hand, the strength of this book is it's characters. More than anything else, the character's in this book make you want to read on to see what happens. So think of this as a medieval soap opera.
This is not a quick read. It has a very slow beginning that can really test you. Ok, it opens up with an epic battle, but after that it sort of just goes into a slow burn, but things begin to pick up again in book 2 and then continues throughout with a steady pace.
Also battles and death are clearly not Robyn Young's strong point. All the battles and fights that take place are so quick then tension barely has a chance to build and are over before you realise what's going on. Finally, though a lot of exotic lands are mentioned, little time is spent on showing us forgotten world. I know a lot of readers say they want fewer details and more pace so their imaginations fill in the gaps, i want details. I want to envision the middle ages and be taken back there. This just proves you can't please everyone.
On the other hand, the strength of this book is it's characters. More than anything else, the character's in this book make you want to read on to see what happens. So think of this as a medieval soap opera.
mslourens's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
rebelbelle13's review against another edition
2.0
DNF @ 65%. The first third was fascinating and I found myself really getting invested in this epic, but after that it slowed to a slog and I just wasn't interested anymore. Instead of focusing on the time period and the inner workings of the Knights Templar, we got a story about a scribe sergeant, an aging priest, a blood-thirsty sultan and a pathetic king. There are some good moments, but they are mired down by politics, dirty deals and the addition of unimportant characters. For some reason, even though this should have been exciting and interesting, it just wasn't. I found myself dreading returning to this doorstop and I just couldn't bring myself to do it one more time. This might be a grand adventure for some, but it wasn't for me, sadly.
jellybe4n's review against another edition
2.0
The writing made it a challenge to keep reading. The overuse of -ly words became rather grating. Complex and detailed descriptions poorly placed between short lines of conversation meant constantly having to turn back to remind myself of what was said immediately before the next line. I don't recall noticing either of these issues with the first book.
The story itself was interesting, though a little predictable (historic events aside). Just a shame about the choice of words and placement of descriptions.
The story itself was interesting, though a little predictable (historic events aside). Just a shame about the choice of words and placement of descriptions.