The Crusader : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Slimy Yet Satisfying
Review: The Crusader is an excellent book- the characters are very well developed, their motives are human, and it is historically accurate. I enjoyed the internal conflict of Brother Lucas, as well as Isabel's ideas. The battles are extensively described (sometimes very graphically), and the plot is interesting but not too complex. I would reccomend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction as well as someone who is looking for something interesting to read.

Rating:
Summary: Readable, Interesting Novel
Review: THE CRUSADER is the story of a deeply tormented Spanish knight whose trauma is revealed through confessions to an ambitious churchman and former friend.

I found THE CRUSADER to be a fairly well-written novel that had some moments of true brilliance, such as the romantic scenes. The plot was easily discerned, the history adequately done, and the characters nicely sketched out. Personally, I found the narrator annoying, but not to the extent that it spoiled the book for me. My big complaint with the book was that the ending sizzled out. It almost felt as if the author got tired of writing it and decided just to report on important happenings instead of fleshing them out. If you are a fan of the Crusades, however, you will undoubtedly find this an entertaining, though not astounding, book.

Rating:
Summary: Killing for God
Review: This is a wonderful book. Once I started reading it, I was hooked. It is the story of a young crusader, Francisco de Montcada, who returns from the experience so shattered that he cannot speak. It is told through the mouth of a monk named Lucas, which adds an intriguing level of complexity and texture to the narrative, as Lucas has his own conflicts and his own agenda.

The Crusader works not only as an engaging story, but also as a meditation on the role of belief and the power of dialogue. This book would be a fantastic read any time, but it is particularly timely today: Francisco was one of the original crusaders against the unworthy "infidels" (back then Muslims in the Holy Land, today Americans). His leaders talked of glorious battles against unbelief, but he has his own complex reasons for fighting that have as much to do with his dead brother as with his religious convictions. The result is a richly drawn portrait of a young man caught up in an earlier movement that we might call fanatical.

The pacing is perfect, the plot is powerful, and the characters fascinating. All this, and it succeeds on a deeper level, too. This truly is the thinking person's adventure story.