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As many of you know (or maybe you don't), I am a big fan of all things medieval. When I saw this novel about the First Crusade, I was pretty excited. I have also wanted to try this author out so it was a great excuse to dive write in.
The tale kicks off in 1095 with Pope Urban II's appeal to Christians across Europe for those willing to step forward and repel the Muslim "infidels" from the Holy Lands. Two of the men who step forward to answer the call are the Frankish knights Hugh de Payans and Godefroi of St. Omer. Historians will recognizes these names as being two of the founding members of the Knights Templar, and this series is supposed to tell the tale of that organization.
The story is actually told from the perspective of Hugh's sister Eleanor. They, along with an army of more than 70,000 set off for the Holy Land in 1096. Readers join her and the rest of the Crusaders as they drive across Europe, stopping at Constantinople, fighting major battles in Turkish strongholds such as Marrat and Antioch, and reaching Jerusalem itself. Along the way, they are confronted with traitors, famine, illness, and the harsh realities of the region's environment.
Eleanor also builds a strong friendship with a Jewess named Imogene and a servant named Simeon. She also finds love with Theodore, one of the nights serving in the Army of God with Hugh de Payans and Godefroi of St. Omer.
There is no question that Doherty has done an amazing job with research the people, locations, and events presented in the book. His Author's Note carefully details the primary documents he drew upon to place a sense of reality on the history he is writing about. These include documents, early histories, and chronicles/journals/diaries of some of the real life characters he is writing about.
This high level of research has helped him create an honest and realistic presentation of the true horrors of Medieval battles and the harsh and surprisingly un-religious behavior of many of the Crusaders. Lying, cheating, and murder were not rare among the faithful in the Army of God. In fact, often times, they treated Turks and others not of the Western Church's faith with disdain and even abuse or murder.
With all of these great historical characters and interesting storylines, one would expect the reader to be able to connect well with the primary personalities in the book, particularly with Eleanor. Unfortunately, that really doesn't happen. It may just be in the overwhelming level of description provided for just about everything. The battles are vividly drawn, but seemed rushed. The characters are given little opportunity to do anything other than react to what is going on around them with little consideration made to their past or what things might mean for the future.
Eleanor herself does find herself even questioning her faith because of the horrors she sees on the battlefield and among the ranks of the Army of God, but there does not really seem to be a full exploration of this. Similarly, her developing relationship with with Theodore is just there with the reader not really seeing them interact much other than in passing. It is really only in the relationship with Imogene that there is any real feeling evident, making the reader see the characters as more than historical figures presented on the page, but rather living, breathing, feeling human beings.
I will probably give the next book in the series a chance, though. I can't pass up a book about the time period. From what I hear, though, I might be better off to just look to Doherty's other books and series because they are supposedly much better.
I know what you mean! There is definitely no shortage of these kinds of books right now.
