Customer Reviews

Armor of Light

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Not only is the story's historical setting (after the medieval Crusades) accurately detailed but also the fleshing out of George Ascalon's character in speech and actions is dramatically real. Ekstrom's tale of this returning nobleman from the Crusades where he returns to a family dynamic and land issues is a page-turner, to say the least. In a larger sense, we learn history in the right way -- a story that pulls us in with concerns about the characters, their lives, and inner thoughts as well as their decisions that have repercussions. We become completely immersed in this seemingly distant period, feeling bound by its constraints. Much like seeing a play, the story comes alive and within its drama we experience history by understanding similarities with our modern lives including struggles with relationships.

I applaud the author's precise attention to detail and vivid description. More importantly I welcome her larger vision which is that whatever age we live in we all are a part of history.

This is a great book for any reader. I also think it should be considered a text in a medieval history course so that students who tend to dismiss the past can see and feel its exciting relevance. I could not put the book down. Even though I have studied medieval history, I found this tale exciting and new. It is not just a fantasy but a real and probable depiction of what this man at this time and those around him might have done in their lives so many centuries ago. And its themes resonate in our post-modern world.

This is a wonderful medieval tale with intriguing characters, lots of action and a perfect blend of magic and realism. I simply could not put it down and when I read the last sentence, wanted to start reading it all over again. You will find your knight in shining armor between these pages as well as a cast of strong determined women.

Mommy Bookworm's Thoughts: I honestly did not know what to expect from this book since I have not read anything else from this author before. However, the synopsis sounded intriguing (as many do to me), so I decided to try it. This was an awesome page-turner book for me! It is listed as Historical Fiction, but I would also put it in the Christian Fiction category simply because there are Christian/spiritual thoughts in the book too and I think it's important to classify that because I've read some people's reviews about other books (not this one) where they've mentioned they didn't like that they were mixes of genres that they weren't expecting.

In any case, I did not want to put my Nook Color down when I was reading this book! I ended up having insomnia last night and finished the book because it kept my attention so much! The ending was not what I expected, but I'll admit that most books end differently than I want them to end! However, it was a great adventure and I look forward to reading other books by Ellen Ekstrom in the future! This book reminded me why I like Historical Fiction . . . knights in shining armor, dragons, love, betrayal, heroes, strong and amazing women, and surprises around every corner . . . this book has it all!!

I read this in one sitting. Both the "good guys" and the "bad guys" are complex, multilayered and intriguing. And, just like in life, the paths of grace for these characters are sometimes hard to see and much harder to travel. The historical details were smooth and complete. Well worth your time!

While reading this I found myself thinking, "It's like 'Ivanhoe' crossed with George R.R. Martin"--but I promise it's a lot easier to get through than either of those. Blending medieval history with myth and legend, Ekstrom has created a bewitching fairy tale of sorts, a reworking of the tale of St. George and the dragon. In George, our hero, I expected to find a pious, middle-aged, well-behaved knight, much like those of Malory's Round Table. So imagine my delight to find a young, handsome, witty, callous womanizer (with a case of PTSD from the Crusades) instead! Naturally he changes for the good over the course of the novel, becoming nobler and more mature while never quite losing his rakish charm, and that transformation was beautifully shown. The ending had a surprise or two I didn't foresee. But the coolest part, I thought, was the magic--sorcery, shape-shifting, and of course a dragon! Also, the inclusion of Christian tradition and legends should especially appeal to those who liked similar themes in, say, Lewis' Narnia books.