Rating: 
Summary: Lawhead Masters History and Story-Weaving
Review: After ordering The Black Rood last fall, I was thrilled to see my copy had arrived while I was on vacation. I read it in the space of two days. The research Lawhead must have undertaken to craft this continuing saga is almost mind-boggling. The main character is easy to "get into" although I did have to go back and review the first book in the series to refresh my memory. It would've been nice, considering the span of time between books, if Lawhead had backtracked just a wee bit and reminded us of what had taken place previously in the first Crusade. Having an interest in all things Scottish, it does ring true that the very north of Scotland was more Norse than Celtic at the time this story takes place. Most of the tale does flow well and is an enjoyable read. There were a couple of items I would've liked to have seen treated differently. One of them being Duncan's relationship with Sydoni which unfolds rather unevenly. At one point she says that she wouldn't want to live in Scotland because they rarely see the sun, yet at the end of the book . . . well, I don't want to give it away! Let's just say that Lawhead could've done a better job of building their relationship. The core of the story is the Black Rood and when Duncan does find a portion of the cross the description of the vision he has while in the Arab treasure tent has no equal. Lawhead's writing here is focused and inspiring. This section alone is worth the price of the book and hopefully will be read aloud by families, small groups, book club meetings, and Bible studies.
Rating: 
Summary: Slightly Disappointing
Review: After reading the Iron Lance, I must say I couldn't wait to read the next book in the series. After giving it a good read, though, I am somewhat disappointed.I was looking forward to more of the same from the first book: bloody battles in the conquest for the Holy Land and well-written characters, neither of which I found. I thought the battles were a large part of the first book, and part of what made that book so good. In this book, however, there was but one major battle, and the rest described only briefly by other characters. I don't mean to sound like a violence-lover, but I do think the battles add a great amount of excitement, and was disappointed with the lack of them here. Also, the novel is told in first-person from the vantage point of Duncan, Murdo's son. I think this unintentionally limited the characterization of the other players. Also, the story didn't shift to parallel plotlines around the world like the Iron Lance, and at times I found it rather dull. Though I do plan to read the third book of this series, I don't look forward to it with as much anticipation as I did the second book.
Rating:
Summary: A worthy sequel
Review: Although, in my opinion, not quite up to par with 'The Iron Lance,' the first of this trilogy, 'The Black Rood' still provides an entertaining continuation of the story. The biggest problem I probably had was that I just couldn't find Duncan as intruging a character as his father, Murdo. Murdo goes into the Holy Land to reclaim his family's land, while Duncan seems to have something to prove, and his character was far less appealing to me.
Rating:
Summary: Iron Lance is better, but this is still very good
Review: As I mention in the title I enjoyed the Iron Lance a little more than this. It's a subjective thing - the Iron Lance just grabbed me a little more than this one. Howver, this is still a pretty decent book, worth reading. The lead character is Duncan Murdosson, son of Murdo Ranulfson from the Iron Lance. Duncan's uncle, Murdo's brother, has come home from the Holy Land where he stayed after the Great Pilgrimage. He has harrowing tales of life in the Holy Land, but also plants in Duncan the seed of knowledge of the existence of the the Black Rood, a piece of the cross of Christ. After enduring a great tragedy, and against the will of his father, Duncan goes on a quest for the Black Rood. This quest will take him on a long journey through many lands and adventures and much intrigue. Along the way he will find the object of his quest, as well as love and restoration to the True Path. This book is written in an interesting style. Most of it is written in first person narrative with Duncan as the narrator, writing a story of his travels while in prison awaiting execution as the hands of Muslims. He is writing this for the sake of his daughter, whom he expects never to see again. One of the high spots of the book is the tale of his deliverance from prison. So, for a fun read I recommend this. It's not the greatest book you will ever read, but it enjoyable nonetheless.
Rating:
Summary: Iron Lance is better, but this is still very good
Review: As I mention in the title I enjoyed the Iron Lance a little more than this. It's a subjective thing - the Iron Lance just grabbed me a little more than this one. Howver, this is still a pretty decent book, worth reading. The lead character is Duncan Murdosson, son of Murdo Ranulfson from the Iron Lance. Duncan's uncle, Murdo's brother, has come home from the Holy Land where he stayed after the Great Pilgrimage. He has harrowing tales of life in the Holy Land, but also plants in Duncan the seed of knowledge of the existence of the the Black Rood, a piece of the cross of Christ. After enduring a great tragedy, and against the will of his father, Duncan goes on a quest for the Black Rood. This quest will take him on a long journey through many lands and adventures and much intrigue. Along the way he will find the object of his quest, as well as love and restoration to the True Path. This book is written in an interesting style. Most of it is written in first person narrative with Duncan as the narrator, writing a story of his travels while in prison awaiting execution as the hands of Muslims. He is writing this for the sake of his daughter, whom he expects never to see again. One of the high spots of the book is the tale of his deliverance from prison. So, for a fun read I recommend this. It's not the greatest book you will ever read, but it enjoyable nonetheless.
Rating: 
Summary: Another Gem!
Review: As with all of Lawhead's previous releases, this book is fantastic! His descriptions of settings, characters, and their emotions are astounding. I anxiously await the third and final book in this series!
Rating:
Summary: GOOD - BUT NOT GREAT
Review: Having read and completely enjoyed Book 1, I was hoping against hope that the reviews written here were too critical (probably written by non-fans or....). Alas, they are right. This book is strictly a 3-star event - possibly less if the bench mark is Book 1. The idea is good. Duncan, son of Murdo, trekks off back to the holy land in search of his destiny, which is The Black Rood - a piece of the true Holy Cross.
The main problem is that there is endless, mindless moving from one place to the next followed by page after page of conversation and feast after feast...all this sprinkled with moments of the brilliance that Lawhead is capable of.
I'm hoping that the review for Book 3 are wrong, cause I'm gonna read it!!!! (Byzantium is BRILLIANT!!!)
Rating:
Summary: A trifle disappointing
Review: I am not a lover of books written in first-person, because they center too much in the main character, who is not always the most interesting, and limits the actions of other players in the story. This is such a case.
From the beginning, Duncan proves to be much less interesting than his father, Murdo, and his adventures are not as thrilling. He is indeed helped by "Fortuna", for whatever he is seeking appears exactly where he is looking. Too fortuitous for my taste.
I always look forward to sequels, but not always do you find a worthy one. Again, this is such a case.
The Black Rood is much less interesting than its predecesor. Even the story inside the story is less appealing in this book than it was in the first one.
Rating: 
Summary: Lawhead must have got so bored - he killed the book
Review: I have read the other reviews and can't believe I read the same book - I won't give away the ending - I can't - there wasn't one - you are left at the end, after jumping from location to location like someone surfing the internet instead of traveling in the middle ages, with just that, a very abrupt end - the 20th century narrator looks off in the distance and understands it all - but I wish he had explained to me - After the Iron Lance, which was okay, I was hoping for more but suddenly its some 40 years later and I cannot believe that Lawhead has any real interest in this series and cobbles stuff together to get the thing done - And how many times does the narrator have to say 'oh woe is me, had I but known . . . ' but that phrase has become a greek chorus throughout lawhead from Arthur to the Silver Hand and Byzamtium - I wish that Lawhead had some of the power of Cornwall's Lord Derfel but then he wouldn't be Lawhead - If you read the 1st one, you'll have to read this one and the next but I'm not waiting for it with much anticipation -
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly absorbing
Review: In 1132, Torf-Einar returns to his home in the Northlands. Years ago, Torf joined the Christian armies fighting in the Great Crusade. He remained in the Holy Land for years following that debacle. When his brother Murdo asks Torf why, the older man states he has come to die and rather be buried in a pigsty here than in that accursed place where he saw so many die. However, he does claim knowledge of THE BLACK ROOD, a piece of the True Cross that led the faithful to victory after victory until it vanished and the tide changed. To his shock, Duncan's wife Rhona dies in childbirth along with the infant. A grieving Duncan cannot abide his home due to the memories. Like his father Murdo did in search of THE IRON LANCE, Duncan decides to look for the powerful Christian relic, THE BLACK ROOD. His adventures are just beginning. THE BLACK ROOD, the second book in the "Celtic Crusades", is an exciting work of historical fiction that brings to life a bygone era. The historical feel to the tale is a two edged sword. On the one hand, it brings a sharp interesting focus to the plot, but on the other hand the amount of authentic tidbits sometimes slows down the action. Duncan is a fine reluctant hero who not only contends with his grief, but the various "allies" who, at the least, interfere with his quest or, at the most, want him dead. Stephen R. Lawhead provides genre fans with an enticing tale that makes the twelfth century throughout Europe and the Holy Land seem real in an entertaining adventure novel. Harriet Klausner
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