The Last Troubadour: Song of Montsegur (Hardcover)

~ Derek Armstrong (Author)
Key Phrases: master executioner, master torturer, Sir Albaric, Cardinal Fiesco, The Jewel (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The 13th-century French inquisition that targeted the heretical Cathar sect provides the backdrop for Armstrong's action-packed second novel (after The Game), the first in a planned trilogy. Ramon, "last of the Occitan's famous heretical troubadours," and his motley band of allies take on the forces of evil as personified in the witch-hunter known as the Diableteur, whose scarred and burnt face strikes terror in those who behold him. The Diableteur was responsible for the burning at the stake of Ramon's mother decades earlier, and the minstrel's desire for revenge remains strong. Workmanlike prose and superficial characterization make this a less satisfying read than Zoe Oldenbourg's Destiny of Fire, which likewise centers on the Cathar heresy.
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From Booklist

In his follow-up to the excellent The Game (2007), Armstrong takes on a whole new set of challenges, with mixed results. The story (which is set in the mid-thirteenth century) is intriguing: a motley trio of heroes—a troubadour, a Templar, and a beautiful woman—must find the world's most important religious relic before the evil Diableteur, a disfigured witch hunter who is working for the pope, gets to it. At stake: the future of the Catholic Church. The characters are amusing but perhaps a little too cartoony to shoulder the burdens of the elaborate story. Likewise, the dialogue, while entertaining, crosses the line a few too many times between comic and comic book. But despite feeling slightly out of focus, the novel is thoroughly readable and has more than a few moments of near brilliance in which Armstrong blends comedy, parody, and adventure in genuinely innovative ways. A slight misstep, then, but an ambitious attempt all the same from a writer of abundant talent. Pitt, David

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Kunati Inc. (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601640102
• ISBN-13: 978-1601640109
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #549,261 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Major Arcana comes to life!, October 14, 2007

By	Katrina Black "aka Kat Black of Touchstone an... (Perth, Western Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A rollicking tale with fascinating characters, many based on the archetypes of the Tarot. I particularly loved the depth of the characters, how none were purely 'good' or 'bad', all were complex, flawed - but with some redeeming features, as though they could all be read 'dignified' or 'reversed' to use the tarot jargon :)

Look forward very much to the next books in the trilogy! best, kat =^..^=

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sensational Novel--With Tarot Cards!, September 10, 2007

By	R. Poole-Carter "Women of Magdalene" (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews

Like the Tarot deck whose imagery infuses THE LAST TROUBADOUR, author Derek Armstrong's new novel is open to interpretation: Is it historical fiction, thriller, epic, romance, adventure, biting satire? All of the above. By turns, comic, tragic, and satirical, the novel takes on an age of intolerance, religious fanaticism, misogyny, and warmongering. Armstrong not only opens a window through which we view the 13th century; he also holds a mirror up to the 21st.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "A heretic troubadour and an admitted magician. In a city that burns both for sport.", September 10, 2007

By	Karen Harrington "Author, Janeology" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

A fast-paced, historical quest for a prized holy relic set against the Inquisition, that also includes the very interesting aspect of the origin of Tarot cards and their meaning. Armstrong's latest tale (following the thriller, The Game) possesses his signature style of imparting all the colors of humanity into his characters, among them duty, compassion, and humor.