Customer Reviews
An interesting read - By: H. Megerisi, 24 Jul 2008 
This book was interesting from the depth of research about the period he was writing about would almost be a 5/5.
Unfortunately for me, the book was let down by its story line. The characters were poorly developed, at times aspect of the story line was fantastical, & bore minimal regard to realitiy & a lack of depth. A little staid the story is 3/5.
It didn't captivate. A shame, as it was setin an intersting time, with lots to play with :(
A border line 4/5 only for the historical aspects.
Patchy Characterisation - By: Mr. Warren M. Fisher, 24 May 2008 
A passable read, but less than compelling. The books biggest fault (aside from a penchant for Christian baiting & pro-Islam) is the lead characters. Young's villains & many supporting players are interestingly drawn (esp. Garin), but her hero & heroine are so sacharine & wholesome, I fell the urge to vomit just to purge myself.
The tale has its moments, but like the firstin the series, is deeply flawed.
Fantastic! - By: A. Harsono, 09 May 2008 
I have to say, this is much better than the first book. While the focus was more on the Christian sidein Brethren, Crusade was much more balanced on both sides. Readers (myself included) are taken into the political chaos that was the Temple & the inner circle of the Mamluk bigwigs. I am myself quite familiar historically with the fall of Acre & it was pleasant to see Robyn weaving fact & fiction beautifully such that the story plot flows without any problems. Bring on Requiem!
A strong novel bu rather long............ - By: Mr. Thomas Thatcher, 05 May 2008 For what it's worth, I thought that Brethren, the firstin this yet-to-be-completed trilogy, was very good - the characters had depth, the storyline had credibility, it was a page-turner (never a bad thing if one has had to endure the hideous gloom of Thomas Hardyin one's youth) & the lovely Miss Young writes excellent & well-constructed English. It was a fine effort from one so young & also showed evidence of a great deal of careful historical research to root the novelin a bed of basic fact.
Unusually for me, I actually sought out Crusade with real eagerness & settled down on a particularly wet & horrible weekend (which also featured much Gordon Brown on the tele - that's how bad a weekend it was) to enjoy it. Enjoy it I did, but with some reservations & it seems unkind to criticise adversely because Miss Young has achieved a great deal. Here, again for what it's worth, are some of my reservations:
1. The novel is about 150 pages too long. There is no doubt that the author wanted to cramin as much as possible & build the book up to a cracking ending - but there are long passages where not a lot happens, & more by circumstance than by style, they plod.
2. The characters have become a little formulaic. The Sultan's evil advisor never talks, he hisses. Will's girlfriend is such an unspeakable drip that one is surprised she hasn't dissolved by the 4th chapter. The wronged friend who betrays his old mate & yet comes good at the end is tiresome. Yet I have to say that once again Robyn's depiction of lifein Acre during the Crusades is good - hot, miserable, disease-ridden & run through with finance & the intrigues that always follow war & conflict. As J B Priestly said, "Sex, money & food cross all borders."
3. Robyn Young's writing is efficient but no so vibrant asin the first book.
All that said, I shall seek out the final chapter & no doubt read it with pleasure. Whenever I have tried to write a novel I have run out of ideas by page three so I have no right to judge Miss Young. I do hope, though, that she is economical with the story & with the various plots. She is a fascinating writer & I have no doubt at all that her books over the years will become more & more interesting. To her great credit, nowhere does she affect to be writing history & one is aware that this is a real novel.
A sensible & well-thought out novel, but not so available as Brethren. Nonetheless, far, far better than a holiday potboiler.
Excellent sequel - By: Dr. S. S. Kamal, 19 Mar 2008 This book even though historical off, It does well to paint the vivid dark history of the crusades. I like how the author shows how very hard peace is to maintain amidst the beast of human nature that craves greed , wealth & violence, not to mention politically corrupt. It can be reflectedin modern times, the same struggle, with the peace keepers losing. A repeating theme. This is better than brethren.
my critism was the black stone idea. good imaginative fiction yes, i would wonder what muslim hard-liners would take of it, I assume dismiss the notion as ridiculous.
Also the romance love triangle, Garin, Elwyn & Will. the book could have easily done without that, there was enough here without the "menage a trois".
I really liked this book, keep it up Robyn! More plot less love triangles.
