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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing, July 13, 2009
This review is from: Crown of the World--Book 1: Knight of the Temple (Paperback)
The novel takes place in the time between the 2nd and 3rd Crusades in the Holy Lands and the lands around it. The story revolves around Godfrey de Monteferrat a young Templar Knight. Godfrey is as idealistic as they come wanting to become a great hero. He has grown up hearing the stories of the heroes in the Crusades along with the stories of the saints. He puts his idealism into practice, but the character is not drawn as a stereotype. This is a deeply layered person with his own struggles. Though he is also no dark hero or anti-hero which we get way too many of today in our fiction and our movies.
The characters around him including the historical figures are richly drawn and just about everything in the novel fascinates. Now I am certainly no Crusades scholar and my knowledge extends to what I have read in books such as the excellent ones by Thomas F. Madden. That being said I found nothing out of place in the novel historically which seems to get the era right. This is such an interesting time in history with all the political intrigues and the battles themselves. For the most part the Crusades were a history of inept leaders and betrayals and you certainly see that in the story.
In a novel involving the Knight Templars you would expect battle scenes and this book does not disappoint in the descriptions along with the strategy involved. Yet the book goes way beyond being just a military novel. There is a serious spiritual dimension to it that is not just knock-you-over-the-head piety. The author also gives you a good understanding of the times without lengthy character exposition explaining everything to you.
It is rather cliche to say you had a hard time putting a book down, but I guess I will cliche away and say just that. I read the near 300 page book over the weekend and certainly felt that bittersweet feeling you get when you reach the end -- which was certainly climatic. The last part of the book involves Godfrey's involvement protecting a very young Baldwin who later becomes Baldwin IV of Jerusalem. Since this book is the first book of a trilogy I really look forward for the next book - which can't come soon enough in my opinion.
One of the most surprising aspects of this book is that it was written by a nineteen year old who started working on it at 15 while being homeschooled. The novel has every mark as being written by a seasoned author and none of the marks as being written by a beginner. To put it simply this is one of the most enjoyable books I have read.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A tale of Christendom masterfully written - Extraordinary, September 23, 2009
This review is from: Crown of the World--Book 1: Knight of the Temple (Paperback)
The Knight of the Temple is the debut novel of The Crown of the World trilogy written by young author Nathan Sadasivan.
The book cover shows Christ's crown of thorns above a battle scene where the main character, Godfrey de Montferrat, a bold and brave Temple Knight, is engaged on a battle. The author takes the reader into a tale of Christendom with emphasis on Godfrey's dilemmas about faith, loyalty, love, war, and his purposes in life.
The book begins with Godfrey de Montferrat and his companion, Jacques de Maille, riding their horses through the desert of Egypt searching for a Frankish camp. Due to the intense heat of the sun, both horsemen are extremely tired, thirsty, and have had hardly any sleep. They find an oasis where they refresh themselves and their horses can drink water to replenish their energy. Not far from them, Yusef, an arab leader well-known for his battle and commanding skills, and his warriors discovered the hoofprints of the Temple Knight's horses. Yusef, allows Malik to go and investigate the matter and report back to him. Malik, a young warrior thirsty for Frankish's blood and with battle fever, reports his findings to Yusef and suggests a surprise attack on the knights. But things don't go as smooth as Malik expects. The knights fight back but get separated during the battle. This separation leaves Godfrey defending his life fiercely against Malik's violent attacks.
The outcome of his encounter with Malik marks the beginning of Godfrey's personal quest to find the answer to his many questions. The encounter with Yusef and his warriors at the desert is just the beginning of the many clashes between the Saracen (Muslims) and the Frankish Knights. The author will take the reader to a world of betrayal, espionage, love, prayer, and political power struggles, where the most ambitious and wicked one of them all will stop at nothing to reach his goal.
I admire the author's attention to details. With the skills of a masterful painter, he portrays the battle scenes and enfold the reader into a mystical tale of a world already forgotten, and a time where not everything is was what is seems to be.
At the end of the book Godfrey finds himself in front of the Tabernacle demanding to know:Why??? The answer to his question will open up the road of healing for his broken spirit and will leave the reader contemplating on its meaning, too.
I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy books about Christendom and are willing to follow Godfrey de Montferrat and his companions through this trilogy.
Reviewed by the author of The Window To My Soul : My Walk With Jesus
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome, January 2, 2011
This review is from: Crown of the World--Book 1: Knight of the Temple (Paperback)
I was always told by our secular society that the Crusades were wrong and undefendable; people mostly always spoke of them negatively. I was an aficionado of the Crusades. That being said I discovered God's Battalion, a book written by an agnostic that ardently defended them.
I have to say that I was extremely pleased to discover a historical novel that didn't portray the Crusades in a negative light. Don't get me wrong, the author doesn't glorify them either, he simply presents the historical background as it was, some might say it neutrally which is wise for a controversial topic.
The story takes place between the 2md and 3rd crusade in Outremer more commonly known as the Holy Lands. The main character, an idealistic fellow, Godfrey de Montferrat is a templar who always wanted to be a hero. I mean it when I say that in the novel, it doesn't sound so cheesy and that it is presented with depth.
Considering the historical background is the Crusades there is action, but the novel is so much more than that. Without being preachy, there is a tinge of spirituality.
Nathan Sadasivan is, indeed, an author to look out for.
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