Review - The Templars by Dan Jones

 

The Templars 

By Dan Jones

 

The Knights Templar were the wealthiest, most powerful – and most secretive – of the military orders that flourished in the crusading era.

Their story – encompassing as it does the greatest international conflict of the Middle Ages, a network of international finance, a swift rise in wealth and influence followed by a bloody and humiliating fall – has left a comet's tail of mystery that continues to fascinate and inspire historians, novelists and conspiracy theorists. 

 

 

 

Review: 

So, obviously, after reading Daughter of War (The Knights Templar Book 1) by S.J.A. Turney, I needed to find out more about The Knight’s Templars and I figured the best way of doing this was to either a watch a documentary or read a book - I did both!

I am always slightly concerned about reading a non-fiction book because I guess; I fear that I am not going to be able to understand it. That the author will use terms that I am not familiar with. But thankfully, Jones uses language that is very accessible. And although this book does spend more time talking about the Crusades than the Templers, I did find it a very informative read.

 

 

 

 

Review - Daughter of War (The Knights Templar Book 1) by S.J.A. Turney

 

Daughter of War 

(The Knights Templar Book 1) 

By S.J.A. Turney

 

Europe is aflame. On the Iberian Peninsula the wars of the Reconquista rage across Aragon and Castile. Once again, the Moors are gaining the upper hand. Christendom is divided.

Amidst the chaos is a young knight: Arnau of Vallbona. After his Lord is killed in an act of treachery, Arnau pledges to look after his daughter, whose life is now at risk. But in protecting her Arnau will face terrible challenges, and enter a world of Templars, steely knights and visceral combat he could never have imagined.

She in turn will find a new destiny with the Knights as a daughter of war… Can she survive? And can Arnau find his destiny?

Review:

I was really looking forward to reading this book. Hands up, I know very little about The Knight’s Templar, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to find out something, anything, about it. I am a firm believer in the power of historical fiction and therefore I allowed myself to be taken back in time and swept away to a foreign world where the rules were very different to what we know today.

Instead of being set in the Holy Land, this novel is set in Spain during the wars of reconquest. Berenguer of Santa Coloma is killed on the battlefield, leaving behind his daughter, Titborga - his heir. This story was really wonderful plotted, and it instantly drew me in. Although I may be ignorant of the era, this did not prove to be a problem for Turney is a master storyteller and I was swept along by his majestic writing. 

This novel captured my attention and complete me to read on. This is the first novel I have read by Turney, but it will certainly not be the last.

 

 

 

 

And so it begins

 

"....immense whirlwinds, flashes of lightning and fiery dragons were seen flying in the air..."

 

It was pretty obviously something awful was about to happen. And happen it did, in the year 793.

This was not the first time the Vikings had landed on the shores on England, but it was certainly the most memorable because by attacking the priory at Lindsfarne they were attacking the very centre of “the very place where the Christian religion began in our nation”. Cuthbert had been the Bishop of Lindsfarne, and he was now considered a Saint. Lindsfarne was the most sacred place in England. So for God to allow such an attack to occur obviously meant that the nation, as a whole, had done something very disagreeable. 

A vengeful God may sound a little far-fetched in this day and age, but this was an era of superstition and religious fever. For the Vikings, however, it was nothing but an opportunity - all that wealth guarded by a few holy men. It was like taking candy from a baby. But the attack at Lindsfarne was just the beginning.

I visited Lindsfarne a few years ago. It is a very peaceful place, with a tranquil feel to it. But seeing where it was, and how it was positioned, I am amazed that it lasted as long as it did without some opportunist raider taking advantage. And I could imagine how those who witnessed and lived through the attack would think that this was some kind of Armageddon. Unfortunately, this was not an act of a vengeful God, it was something much worse!!