Customer Reviews

Lucifers Crown

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Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury did not die a martyr's death in 1170 as the history books proclaim. At the last minute, he decided to escape and an innocent monk named David willingly gave up his life for the cause. As his punishment for his overwhelming pride, Sir Becket was granted eternal life so he could atone for his sins.

In the present, he is living in Temple Manor in Glastonbury guarding one third of the Holy Grail. His path crosses that of Maggie Sinclair and Rose Kildaire who, along with Scotsman Mick Dewar, are the key to finding the stone, the second part of the grail. On the eve of the new millennium these four reluctant warriors are enjoined by the Lady to unite the book to the stone and the cup to ensure another millennium of life for humanity. Trying, to stop them is Robin Fitzroy, a being who long ago allied himself with the dark principalities. If Robin can stop them, the world will enter the End Times.

LUCIFER'S CROWN uses the archetypes from many different cultures, legends, and myth to create an original good vs. evil story line. The characters are what make this plot so unique because all the protagonists are fatally flawed yet reject evil again and again even when they are tempted beyond measure. Hearts will go out to Becket, a man who has lived eight centuries and never loses faith even though he has yet to find his own ease of heart.

Harriet Klausner

First Sentence: The gate stood open beneath its ancient stone arch.

Maggie Sinclair has brought a small group of history students from Southern Methodist University to visit Glastonbury Abbey in England. One of the students, Rose, comes across the body of a murdered woman and the group become embroiled in the police investigation. Maggie meets the interesting and intelligent caretaker at Glastonbury who turns out to be much more than he first appears as Thomas London is, in fact, an immortal man who was Thomas Becket. Having let another die in his place, he strives for redemption by bringing together the three elements of the Holy Grail in a battle against Robin Fitzroy, in all his guises, to prevent Armageddon at the turn of the 21st Century.

I started this book when it first came out and just couldn't get into
I didn't feel there was any real character development in the beginning of the story, so it was hard to feel any connection to the characters. But, as opposed to my usual move-on approach, and knowing I had enjoyed other books by Carl, I put it aside to try another time.

That time finally came and am I glad I tried again. I still felt the initial hesitation but kept on reading past my 50-page rule and, by the time Thomas is introduced into the story, I was well and truly hooked.

I loved this book, yet because there is so much going on, there were times I felt a bit overwhelmed by it. It sometimes felt like everything and the kitchen sink. It is fantasy, history, Celtic and Arthurian mythology, liturgy, religion, suspense and romance all in one. While I have a decent knowledge of those aspects, I kept stopping to look things up on the web. I wanted maps, pictures, drawings, and a musical soundtrack. Yet, I became absolutely immersed in the story. It was magical, moving and, due to the character of Maggie, who provided a bit of comic relief to make the book seem more "real," even funny at times.

Although there are strong elements of religion in the story, it is not a religious book supporting or denigrating any religion. It is a book about faith; of good versus evil. It's not an easy book to read, it stayed with me long after I finished it, and is one I'm certain to re-read.

Before I bought this book, I must have picked it up and put it back on the shelf at least on ten different occasions. I normally don't read contemporary fiction, let alone ones with a religious background. However, I'm glad that I gave it a try after all, because it was probably one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a while.

Stewart Carl's strongest point by far is her character creation and development. Thomas Beckett, the sinful saint who let someone else die in his place and has lived with this moral flaw for centuries, is simply fascinating. He is sinner and saint, scholar and warrior, human and angelic ... all in one. The author manages to combine all these traits into what has become one of my favorite fictional characters ever.

Her skills also become apparent in the rest of the cast. A middle-aged university instructor, who is deicated, smart, and witty, but who is also thoroughly disappointed with life and men. A young girl who embodies goodness and purity while still being human and likeable. And so son.

The plot is fascinating as well, a classical good vs. evil story set in modern-day Britain. The author manages to include enough new ideas, interpretations, and twist into this 'old' story that it is a joy to read it all over again. Every page is a pleasure to read, and I could not put the book down until I was done in one night.

Good versus evil would be the synopsis. Naturally Good wins. It is full of various legends and religions, which serve to mask the theological point that evil is something man gets involved in because of the free will God gave him, and Good, at its very lowest level is the struggle won by man against the temptations of being alive. Actually, the book seems to prove that the Father of Lies actually does take human form and creates absolute havoc. So, the good man, Thomas Becket, dies as a price for his sin and to help disperse some evil from the world, and the human form of the devil does a meltdown - very appropriate.
It is not an easy book, and one that I would not recommend to anyone who knows little about religions, signs and symbols, etc.
I am not sure Jean Anouilh would like it!
Linda Sheean