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Summary: A faith builder
Review: Having read all of Lawhead's books, I thoroughly enjoyed Byzantium. Though not a fast read, it has all the elements that makes Lawhead's works brilliant - superb writing, adventure, and a spiritual message. Byzantium's story line takes you just about everywhere. And what I enjoyed most about the book was how I was able to relate with Aidan (though I've never faced the trials he had to endure!). Byzantium is a faith builder for the believer.
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Summary: If you love adventure and other cultures, read it.
Review: Byzantium is a great book to read. It has non-stop adventure, as a monk from a monestary in England embarks on a journey to Byzantium (now called Istanbul) with a secret quest. Along the way, however, he is separated from his friends and captured by Sea Wolves (Vikings). He spends many years as a personal slave to many Sea Wolves, and eventually moves up in the ranks. He begins to lose his trust in God, thinking God forgot him. He eventually makes it to Byzantium, however, because the Sea Wolves want to capture it for its riches. However, they soon begin to realize that it is impossible to overtake such a large and defended city. The monk is eventually reunited with his friends, but is caught by a traitor and sent to a prison camp where he sees some of his friends die. He is released by a Muslim Prince, who begins to like him. His daughter is liked by this monk, and he decides to give up his faith in Christ to marry the Prince's daughter. However, at the end everything is worked out, he trusts in God again, and brings the whole Sea Wolf fleet to Christ. It is an incredible book with great detail and interesting situations that could only occur ion these unique cultures. It also shows that God will never forsake you, even if you forsake him.
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Summary: Not much as hist. fiction; okay for the true believer!
Review: My earlier review of this book seems to have dropped off this page -- perhaps because it was one of the first & lots of folk have now weighed in w/their own comments. Seeing as the views of these others seem to be so uniform, I felt obliged to return & add my comments one more time so there would @ least be some variety here. By the way, let me just say that I respect the many below who have been moved by the religious message the author has apparently intended to convey through his book & in no way mean to comment negatively on those opinions here. Although I must admit the allegedly spiritual experience our young monk, Aiden, supposedly experiences through his journeys never really hits home for me. There's lots of talk about what he realizes & experiences but you don't "see" or feel it -- which is what a work of fiction is supposed to provide us with, isn't it? The book as a novel regrettably leaves much to be desired. No sense recounting the events of the plot since they are adequately summarized by the other entries elsewhere on this page. Suffice it to say, however, that this tale, while nicely told in places, particularly in its presentation of those almost loveable rogues, the vikings, is largely unsuccessful in its efforts to construct a believable & compelling tale. The vikings are actually too humanized -- you almost gotta love these guys sitting around the campfire barbecuing & drinking beer as they dispute events from the latest battle, plan for the next & struggle w/the metaphysical notions of God & eternity. At the same time, the city of Byzantium, the heart of this tale, is rather flatly realized (barely more than a Potemkin village, unfortunately) and the Arabs are too good & evil by turns. Even the monks are too simple to be believed. In the end, the story, for all its attempts at adventure & "byzantine" intrigue, doesn't resonate unless you are here for the message, in which case who cares how fully realized the character! s are? Or convincing the action? This is a book well-suited for those already predisposed to it. But it's not particularly good for a work out there in the wider world of literature. (For a really compelling tale of Christian men & women in the Middle Ages I'd recommend The Golden Warrior by Hope Muntz, recounting the epic struggle between two Christian princes, Harold Godwinson & William the Bastard of Normandy, for the throne of England in 1066. Next to Muntz' work this, and most other historical fiction, pales by comparison.)
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Summary: Lawhead's Magnum Opus
Review: This is a great book. Only Lawhead could produce such a great story, with a real person as the main character. This is really one of the best books I have ever read - definitely Lawhead's best. There is really nothing else to say.
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Summary: Very good story, acceptable for teenage readers, ends well.
Review: The first time I read this author. It was a very slow start for about 70 pages, sort of stilted style, but then it took off and became downright intriguing, capturing my attention. Very good book. I gave it a 9 because the author's writing style seemed to lack expression in the beginning.
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Summary: Is it Fact or Fiction? An amazing adventure of faith!
Review: Take a fascinating journey back in time and learn how the faith was saved in the Dark Ages by those 'on the fringe of Christendom' Young Aidan starts on a pilgramage that takes a lifetime to complete, yet at every turn his faith is challenged and ultimately strengthened. Ultimately, his salvation comes from those to whom he brought his simple faith. Truly a fascinating book full of rich images and history, wound around enough fiction to make the read hard to put down.
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Summary: Epic Tale
Review: Great portrait of life a millenium ago.
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Summary: Great Read!!! Gave about 10 copies away for Christmas
Review: What a great read! First 50 pages are slow, but as soon as the VIKINGs come in it takes off. The story is as amazing as anything you'd find in a sci fi/fantasy novel, but set in real-history.
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Summary: This book helped redefine my understanding of faith.
Review: I picked this book up expecting the type of literary adventure I had discovered in other works of Lawhead's. What I found, however, was so much more. Lawhead, once again, does a wonderful job of working so many facts of history (as well as quite a few suppositions) into a story with so much impact. But this time, he went beyond the action and drama of his previous works. He takes his protagonist through a journey (though sometimes far mor fanciful than historical, it seems) that causes the reader to question the meaning of so many issues of faith. The characters, the action, the places, the tensions, all work together to shape a narrative that not only entertains--it raises fundamental questions for those who really want to know about the relationship between an man and his God.
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Summary: Historical fiction and adventure at its best
Review: This was not a fast read but so satisfying. When you reflect on all the adventures Aidan experienced you are tempted to say "how incredulous". Who cares, its exciting and great entertainment. However what makes it really good is the discussion of Aidan's spiritual journey. It's timely and appropriate. Loved it.
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