Truth to be told, I was a bit skeptical when I picked this book up amongst the rack displaying all other established authors. Even the opening acknowledgement from the author is quite humbling in the sense that she thanked the reader before anyone else.
So, I decided to flip to the first few pages and immediately I was hooked to it. It was an abrupt but firm decision. I knew I had to have this book home with me ASAP.
As shown in the cover, this book is about the Knights of the Templar in the eve of the Last Crusade in which Western powers have secured their respective bastions in the Holy Land.
The novel is written from 2 fronts. Will Campbell from the Templar and Amir Baybars from Mamluk's side. Both written on equal footings and also on their trials and tribulations to achieve their goals.
Will trying to become a Templar Knight while trying to secure the code of Anima Templi which will bring down the Templar institution if fell to wrong hands.
On Baybars' side, he had to overpower the inept administration and also bring together his people to drive the European invaders out from the Holy Land.
This is supposed to be a trilogy but each novel can stand quite well on its own without much linkage to the former or latter novels.
Next novel is entitled "Crusade" followed by "Requiem".
Personal rating: 8 out of 10 (really well written for a new author)
Cons:
1) None that I could think of.
Pros:
1) Really good descriptions of the fragile situations during the Holy War
2) Linkage between the two opposing parties and also their in-fighting are strong and story is very well developed.
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