I have to confess that I though there would be less religious stuff and more historical fiction stuff. I realize that Templars are connected to church but yeah I’m stupid.

King Richard sends Fitz Alan to get Spear of Longinus, it’s believed to have pierced Christ on the cross, because he believes that it will turn the war on his side. But after Saladin hears about this quest he sends men to retrieve it too, so there’s a race against time to get hold of the spear.

The most interesting thing in the book was the protagonist Michael Fitz Alan. He used to be a knight in England but joined the Templars trying to find a life without murder, violence and other base impulses and temptations. There were hints about Fitz Alan’s past association with Richard and I was very curious to know what has happened because it certainly didn’t give good impressions to Fitz Alan about the king.

The book is action packed with lots of battle scenes but I though those were engaging. We get very realistic picture of Templars, Saracens and Crusaders. On all sides there is both good and bad people, genuinely devout and then those who are more political schemers.

While the religious aspect made me skip some parts, prayers and stuff, otherwise the book was gripping and well researched. ( )

An exciting quest to bring the Holy Spear [which pierced the side of Jesus during the Crucifixion] to King Richard by a group of Templars led by an English Templar, Michael Fitz Alan, and their auxiliaries. Supposedly it will bring victory to whoever possesses it. Other men loyal to Conrad of Montferrat, who wishes to become the King of Jerusalem, simultaneously pursue the same objective. The Muslim, Saladin, and his brother, wish to drive the Faranji [foreigners? Franks?] from their kingdom. There are many perils and skirmishes. Fighting was extremely disturbing and bloody and there was a horrible torture scene.

These Templars seemed the most authentic of any I've read about. As well as their devastating fighting ability, their calling as followers of doing all for Christ and the Church was brought out on nearly every page. I had never realized their battle hymn was "Non nobis Domine" which expressed this ideal: to the Lord's glory. I knew it from Branagh's Henry V but not in this Templar context. This Saladin aided by his brother, was an incompetent, ruthless foe: not the courteous, chivalrous Saladin we usually encounter from Sir Walter Scott's [book:The Talisman|59225] onwards. ( )