Order in Chaos (A Templar Novel) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jack Whyte (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 27, 2010 | Series: A Templar Novel

The new Templar novel from the USA Today bestselling author

On the morning of October 13, 1307, every Templar knight in France is arrested by the order of King Philip IV, who then seizes all the Order's assets and set the Inquisition against them. Warned of the plot, Sir William St. Clair flees from France with the Temple's treasure, several hundred knights, and the widow Lady Jessica Randolph to seek sanctuary in Scotland. There, with his men deprived of everything they valued and held dear at home, he will lead them into battle as Templar Knights one last time in defiant support of a king who is not their own, but who has earned their trust.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Whyte puts the Knights Templar to rest in the uninspired final volume of his Templar trilogy (after Knights of the Black and White and Standard of Honor), a lengthy and pedantic history of the Knights and their 200-year-old tradition of service to the pope and Christianity, loaded with historical detail, but offering little suspense and even less action. When the Knights are declared outlaws by King Philip IV of France in an effort to crush their influence and seize their treasure, the Knights are arrested and tortured or driven into hiding. Templar knight Sir William Sinclair leads the survivors to temporary sanctuary in Scotland, where they team up with Robert Bruce, king of the Scots, who is embroiled in civil war and war with the English. After a promising opening, the story downshifts into a narrative bog of plots, schemes, court intrigues and hand-wringing over the Templars' future, but very little actually happens. This tale has great potential for a rousing, sword-swinging adventure, but instead is just a plodding medieval history without any zip. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Jack Whyte was born and raised in Scotland, and educated in England and France. He migrated to Canada from the UK, in 1967, as a teacher of High School English, but he only taught for a year before starting to work as a professional singer, musician, actor and entertainer. In the early 1970s, Whyte researched, wrote, directed and appeared in a one man show based on the life and times of Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet. Whyte's interest in the history of Britain springs from his early Classical education in Scotland during the 1950s, and he has pursued his fascination with those times ever since. Whyte is married, with five adult children, and lives in British Columbia, Canada. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 928 pages
• Publisher: Jove; Reprint edition (July 27, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0515148261
• ISBN-13: 978-0515148268
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.3 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #490,904 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #61 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > British > Historical
  • #74 in Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > Scottish

More About the Author

Jack Whyte is an actor, orator, singer, and poet and the author of the critically acclaimed Dream of Eagles series. He lives in Kelowna, British Columbia.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fascinating final account, August 8, 2009

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Order in Chaos (Templar Trilogy) (Hardcover)

In 1307, King Philip IV of France declares all Knights of the Templar as outlaws. With the support of Pope Clement V, the monarch orders his armies to arrest all the knights and confiscate their treasure. They are to kill any who resist and torture those caught so reveal the hidden cache. The Pope directs the Holy Inquisition against the Templars.

The double prong assault leaves the Templars with little protection. Those still free are rodents hiding in holes. Warned by the Grand Master, Templar knight Sir William St. Clair leads some of his peers and Widow Lady Jessica Randolph to Scotland where King Robert Bruce offers them sanctuary in return for them joining his side against the English and rebels allied with their enemy. Knowing their time is over, William releases his men from their sacred vows and after the battle at Bannockburn pledges to find the mythical Merica.

The final tale of the Templar saga (see KNIGHTS OF THE BLACK AND WHITE and STANDARD OF HONOR) comes across more as a historical account rather than an action-packed medieval suspense thriller. Readers learn in great detail re what and why the Pope and the French king conspired to destroy the religious order. Still fans who relish deep doses of realism that feel as if you are there will enjoy Jack Whyte's fascinating final account that is filled with early fourteenth century betrayals, counterplots and little action as William and his followers discuss freedom more than fight for freedom.

Harriet Klausner

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, March 3, 2010

By 

John E. Mercurio "PoliSci Prof." (El Cajon, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Order in Chaos (Templar Trilogy) (Hardcover)

I have to agree with Visitante and JGC1010's reviews. I felt that the addition of both the American storyline and the Jessica storyline were distracting and took away from the overall quality of the book. I thought the first two books of the series were very well written and entertaining, and I was looking forward to more of this in the third book, but I was disappointed. When the story got off the two distracting storylines and focused on the Templar story elements, it was as good as before. Unfortunately, that was not often enough. If you are a fan of this trilogy and feel the need to buy this book, at least wait until it comes out in paperback so you do not feel as ripped off later. Or, check it out at your local library for free.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, September 4, 2009

By 

Visitante "Counselor" (Earth) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Order in Chaos (Templar Trilogy) (Hardcover)

The part about traveling to America distracts from the interesting historical fiction of the reasons for the assault on the Templar brotherhood and their legacy, whereas the insertion of the secret non-Christian Zion Brotherhood undermmines the historical believability of the Templar story.