Customer Reviews

The Last Troubadour: Song of Montsegur

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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 =^..^=

"The Last Troubadour" is most definitely a character driven story, the first in a trilogy. Set in the 13th century, against the backdrop of the Inquisition, the Knights Templar, the Catholic Church, Knights and Kings, we visit the devastated city of Carcassonne, former home to Ramon Troubadour ... Fool incarnate. We join him in his quest to save the holy Dame of the Cathars from the fires of the Inquisition ... whether she wants to be saved or not!

We meet a one-eyed Knight, who rides with his men under no colors (rather ... his color is the color white); a giant of a man who may or may not be a Templar; a witch with the ability to see into the future, to heal, and to "trick" when the need arises (and who may have designed her own Tarot deck!); and a Dandy, who holds more secrets than one might think.

Each of the major characters are plotted as one of the archetypes from the Tarot. The power of the Tarot is in the story that it tells, and through these characters the story grows to mythical proportions!

The story is in and of its time ... bawdy, humorous, mysterious and mystical, all at the same time. As an aficionado of the Tarot, and someone with a keen interest in the Knights Templar and the actions of the Catholic Church during this time period, I found this book to be fast paced, never dropping my interest, and providing great insight into the people and the culture that it reflects.

I hope that Derek Armstrong and his publishers do as has been indicated here on [...], and issue a Tarot deck with the second book in this series that reflects the background of the book.

By the way ... have I mentioned the evil Diableteur? An archetypal Devil (complete with scyth), he is working with the Pope to find the world's most important religious relic - an act that is keeping the current Pope alive by dint of his will. In the shadows, two other men vie for the bounty ... and the Pope's office once he passes on!

For anyone who enjoys mysteries, the Tarot, and the background of the 13th century, this is a must have book ... and no doubt will be a must have series!

If you loved the outsized adventures of Gargantua and Pantagruel (Penguin Classics), you will surely be delighted by Armstrong's second novel, The Last Troubador: Song of Montsegur. Set in the turbulent, insecure 12th Century when Christendom set itself against Islam in the east and reforming elements at home, this book has the large stage in which to handle some universal themes.
What sets this apart from most historicals and calls Rabelais to mind is the author's tongue which is so firmly planted in his cheek that even when we are transported by the death-defying action, we're always aware of the multiple levels of meaning. Most historical novels are necessarily short-lived: their view of history is a product of their own moment and so they become dated. The Last Troubador will no doubt be around for a long time because the wink and the nod to the reader is truly timeless.

By the way, I found this book because I'd read Armstrong's The Game, a very different detective novel that shares the same dry inviting humor.

Lynn Hoffman, author of the semi-Rabelaisian bang BANG: A Novel

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.

I have just finished this book and have passed it on to a friend... I did not want it to end... I only wish that I had the triology in hand.. the suspense!! OY!

I wait with song in heart for chapter one .. book 2.. and yes the deck and movie..

The Tarot is often talked about as being a tool for creative writing. It certainly has inspired many writers in many ways, but I must start by saying I have never been so enlightened by a novel inspired by Tarot as The Last Troubadour - Song of the Montsegur by Derek Armstrong.

The Last Troubadour is set in 13th century Europe with the Inquisition is full swing. The southern city of Carcassone has fallen under the control of the crusading Christians and it is a dangerous time for anyone who does not subscribe to the doctrine of the Catholic Church. The cast of characters are based on the Major Arcana, which doesn't seem extraordinary at first, but it is the way Derek Armstrong builds the characters persona's around the archetypes which makes it unique.

I have a personal technique for reading books. I read a chapter or two so I can savor and contemplate the character and story line for a couple of days before moving forward. The primary characters of this book had me enchanted immediately and my imagination soaring between chapters. However, as I got closer to the end, I had grown so attached to some of the characters, I couldn't put it down.

The Fool, Ramon, is a jester by day and hero by night. He and his motley crew of talented friends, most of which he brings to Carcassone with him and a few he picks up along the way, set out to rescue The Priestess of the story, know as the Dame, during the annual Mayday festival. He uses his charm, whit, courage, and skills to weave a network of relationships and craft a plan to accomplish the impossible....steal back the most priced possession of the Cathar Christians.

This story is filled with passion, adeptness, intent, struggle, relationships challenges and pure, unconditional love. It draws on the basic meaning of the archetypes, but delves deeper to encourage the reader to view their attributes from different perspectives. Derek Armstrong finds a way to focus on the strengths, weakness, and sui generis of their personalities.

My favorite character of the book is Nevara, the albino pagan sorceress of the Baug Balar Circus. She is the Magician of the story who consults her self made Tarot cards for guidance and performs many tricks and spells to help Ramon carry out his heroic rescue.

The victorious, but turbulent and unsettling end to the story left me anxious to read the next books of the trilogy, The Last Quest and The Last Stand which is set to be published in 2008 and 2009. I am anxious to learn the fate of each character and see how they find their way out of the Phanton Wood. Will Nevara and Ramon become lovers? Will Perce remain loyal to Seigneur? Will Adelais find the adventure to be more than she is able to handle and return home to her father, the Viscount? What will become of Magba and the children of the Baug Balar? Will Ramon avenge his mother by putting a end to the existence of the cruel Diableteur? Will Nevara's magic stand up to the Diableteur again or was the first time pure luck? So many questions...too long to wait for the next installment of the story. :) AND, I simply cannot wait to see the Troubadour Tarot scheduled for release next year.

I recommend this book to all, especially anyone who seeks a unique way to understand the infrastructure of the Major Arcana. It's a excellent example of how the archetypes interface with each other. There is a limited amount of sexuality, but in my opinion not enough to keep it from being suitable for teen readers. However, parental discretion is advised. This story is classic struggle between good and evil, but untypical because the author has consciously and methodically used all 22 archetypes in a meaningful, viable role. Derek Armstrong has managed to weave the characters of the Major Arcana into an adventure for the mind, heart and soul. I loved it!

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.

Yummy characters. Doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement, but it is. Yummy, yummy. From the twisted and dark Diableteur to the golden-haired troubadour, there's isn't a character I didn't fall in love with. The Seigneur who redeems himself through love. The object of his love, the untouchable Dame of the Cathars. I even love the future pope (don't tell anyone!) Cardinal Sinibaldo Fiesco. This is a triumph, everything I love in a historical, from fighting, spunky ladies to romantic men with swords, and other weapons! I have to admit I was a little uncertain at first when the author made this tie-in from characters to Tarot cards. This was how I heard of the book, but I was all ready to hate the idea. I loved it. The Troubadour is the fool. The Magician is a woman, a snowy, white haired pagan sourceress. The Empress was the ever-pregnant mother of the travelling Baug Balar. And the Baug (it's like a circus, with trained horses, magic tricks, acrobats, really nice) is my favorite collection of images. The author throws in a nice dash of humor, but doesn't get carried away, shaking it up with some well-researched historical events and environment. I've been to Carcassonne, and it was so nice to see this beautiful place come to life. Over the top? Not really. Just so much to enjoy! The only thing I'm not happy about is the ending... it's fulfilling, with the main mission achieved, but as it turns out it's the beginning of an even greater quest. Which makes me very impatient for book 2, The Last Quest, which I'm definitely going to order. The Last Quest: Song of Montsegur

If I didn't know better, I'd say that Derek Armstrong wrote this delicious novel purely for my own amusement and pleasure. With wit, wisdom (and more than an occasional wink) he offers a work that panders to nearly every one of my cultural, spiritual, and historical prejudices. Set in thirteen century France - that hotbed heroes, heroines, and heresy - it's a wide-screen Technicolor adventure worthy of a full Errol Flynn treatment... an adventure for spiritual grownups that educates as much as it delights. I can't wait for the next in the series.

Lon Milo DuQuette - Author of Accidental Christ

Although I am completely unfamiliar with Tarot and normally I shy away from stuff like The Inquisition-- also because of my unfamiliarity with it and the history of the Catholic church, I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Troubador. I don't have any more understanding of Tarot than I did-- but I enjoyed the story so much that I suspect that's not a problem!

It was the RELATIONSHIPS that pulled me in-- and the characterizations. I loved Armstrong's visual style of writing. Ramon's courage was striking. Adelais' rebellion and self-determination... but the character who really got to me was Seigneur. The author masterfully transformed him from an icon of darkness to a symbol of hope-- and that's not an easy thing to do. I was cheering for his survival and anxious that he would die in the joust.

Courage, compassion, and justice-- those ideals resound through The Last Troubador. I can't wait for the next installment!