Byzantium

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Summary: HUH?
Review: Okay, I've read Stephen Lawhead's books before. I've liked them, even. That's why I got Byzantium. While reading it, I thought it was pretty good, if somewhat slow. As I neared the ending, I was wondering, "How is he going to finish this up? There's not enough room!" I was right. The book wasn't too bad, but it seems Lawhead realized his deadline was the next day and just threw something down to finish it at eleven that night.

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Summary: Wonderful, sweeping story... Highly recommend!
Review: Having read the Pendragon series from Lawhead, and having enjoyed them, I thought that Byzantium would be equally as entertaining... I was wrong! This book was better in every way than the books of the Pendragon series. Byzantium is to historical fiction, what the Hobbit was to fantasy. Lawhead really shows a lot in this novel. He never slows the action, or stops developing the characters... 880 pages, and I couldn't wait to read each and every one!

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Summary: Buy it.
Review: Excellent, believable narative. Great story

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Summary: The best historical/ fictional book I have ever come across.
Review: This book, a thoughtful, and white knuckle ride, never fails to keep the reader enchanted. I personally read it in four days, as I could not put it down. Deserves to be ranked among the very top as one of the best fictional books ever written. I cannot praise this book enough. Six stars! Buy it and read it and you will be a Stephen Lawhead fan for life!

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Summary: This book is probably the best book ive ever read.
Review: the book is one of the best books i have ever read. it has such great plot and storyline; it completely amazed me.

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Summary: exciting story with a successful message
Review: Lawhead's narrative has always impressed me. Contrary to what has been written here, at no point did the writing seem jerky; in fact, events flow very smoothly from one to the next, with Lawhead striking precisely the right balance between telegraphed, satisfying events and surprising plot twists. The ending is not too abrupt, for it attacks the reader as suddenly as the light of truth which dawns on Aidan. Very effective. My only concern was that some of the characters were undeveloped, especially the Arab princess; she entered the story too late and was quite unlikeable compared with the familiar and pleasant-natured Vikings. Still, another triumph for SRL.

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Summary: Awesome details
Review: Very interesting, Gives you a real look into the past.

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Summary: Byzatium and hard faith
Review: Byzantium is an excellent story of a man of faith who loses his faith through test after test. Aidan blames God for the hardships he has to face. Sound depressing? The novel has an awesome ending that will encourage any person to persevere whatever struggle that may come. You see, in the end... just kidding! It's a long book but it never let's you down. If you get mad (like I did) while reading the first half, good! That reaction will make the superb ending all the better. We can all associate with the main character. But enough of my babbling, just read it!

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Summary: A good read, but a bit jerky at times
Review: You've gotta love those Vikings, eh? Lawhead takes us through some of the most fascinating places of a fascinating time and there are long stretches that flow with intrigue/fun/adventure/whatever. However, when he needs to make a developmental step forward, the story leaps or "jerks" onto a whole new premise. Things start to get a bit sluggish, then WHAM! something happens or someone's attitude changes inexplicably. The central tangle, Aidan's faith and sudden bitterness towards God, took me by surprise, and not pleasantly. I was perplexed as to his sudden change of heart with subsequent bile, and this was never explained... I enjoyed the places Lawhead took me, but he needed to work more on the transitions, not to mention the ending. Most of them seemed too-sudden.

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Summary: Philosophical questions are best left unanswered
Review: I have found the reading of this book at the same time gripping, instructive about the past and about the topic of faith. Lawhead uses his storytelling skills to ask deep philosophical questions, about faith, the presence of evil in the world, and the part God has to play in our lives. The devout faith of the Irish monks contrasts with the childlike life of the Norsemen and the legalistic life of the Arabs, as well as with the corruption that accompanies positions of power in the Roman empire. However, I find his judgments quick and his conclusion so below the level of the book that it left a sour note. It looks like he didn't know where he was going with the book, following wonderfully his inspiration and talent, but it went wrong when he realized he had to end the book. I would have preferred an aporetical end to this easy dismissal.