Brethren: An Epic Adventure of the Knights Templar

by Robyn Young

Book Overview

ON THE EVE OF THE LAST CRUSADE... One young knight, bound by faith, driven by valour, begins a quest to protect a secret that could change the course of history irrevocably. A richly detailed, epic historical adventure set in Paris, London, Egypt, and Palestine on the eve of the last Crusade, Brethrentells the story of a young knight?s search for a mysterious (and potentially deadly) book belonging to a secret organization within the Knights Templar...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0525949755
• ISBN13: 9780525949756
• Release Date: July 2006
• Publisher: Dutton Books
• Length: 483 Pages
• Weight: 1.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.4" x 9.5"
• Age Range: 14 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 9 and higher

Customer Reviews

Excellent Historical Fiction. I can't wait for the follow-up!

Robyn Young has shown true greatness in this, her first novel. The story, which surrounds the Crusades and all that relates; the Templar Knights (and their counterparts of the time; Hospitallers and Teutonics), the Mongols, the Sultan Baybars, Kings Richard the Lionheart & Henry III and Prince Edward of England, Louis IX of France. The story encompasses the crusades from the viewpoint of both the christians and the muslims and firmly gives understanding of both sides reasons for the wars. It also shows the dark side of man and the desire for power and profit. Following William Campbell from childhood as a sergeant in the Knights Templar to his succession to Knight, the story is engrossing with rich descriptions of locations and people. This is not just a novel, nor just the first part of a trilogy; it is the beginning of an epic adventure that ranks with the best historical fiction I have ever read. The history is intertwined perfectly with the fictional characters and the facts are very well based. Robyn Young is a gifted writer and I eagerly look forward to parts 2 and 3 of this trilogy as well as her future works. ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL HISTORICAL FICTION.

Absolutely Amazing

One of the best, if not the best, books that I have read in my life. I recommend to any reader wanting to explore the histories of the crusades through both fiction and fact. This book is incredible and anyone willing to disagree does not truly appreciate adventure and imagination.

Wonderful debut

I find it easy to spot debut books because they have a certain fragmented flow to them but this wonderful story of the Knights Templar from a new author has the style, grace, and flowing prose that you would only find with seasoned authors. This is a fabulous read, richly detailed with defined characters, and a flowing storyline that grabs you on page one and simply doesn't let you go. I eagerly wait book two in 2007 and I have no doubts that Robyn Young will write many more stories about this incredibly interesting history period.

A first-rate peice of historical fiction

Be warned. To open BRETHREN is to become trapped. From the beautiful excerpt of THE BOOK OF THE GRAIL in the Prologue, to the barbaric grandeur of the Mamluk-Mongol clash in Ayn Jalut in Chapter One, to the chase and murder in Saint-Martin's Gate of Paris in Chapter Two, Robyn Young's debut novel will ensnare you and will not let go until the final page is turned. As a work of historical fiction, it succeeds in being both an educational read and one that simply bears a very compelling story. Will Campbell is a young man who is sworn to the Temple and eagerly wants to be knighted. He and his friend, Garin, who tend to find themselves in more trouble than they should, each follow a rough path toward knighthood. Will's father has gone to the Holy Land and is raised and mastered by Owein, who is tough but fair. Garin is mastered by Jacques, who is tough and seems to hold to the belief that to spare the rod is to spoil the child. Jacques and Owein grow more concerned when they learn that the Book of the Grail has been stolen. Within that tome lies secrets that could unravel all that the Templars have worked for and expose something they've hidden that could change the world itself. Of equal concern is the movement of the Mamluk army of Kutuz, who has successfully defeated the Mongols and driven them back from the Holy Land. The need for a new Crusade is growing more obvious, yet the one thing standing in their way is dwindling coffers. King Henry III has been borrowing from the Templars but has yet to repay. Yet all of our concern is not for Will and the defenders of Christianity. Young deftly shifts the viewpoint to that of Baybars and the Mamluk army and gives us insight into their motion, their motives and their own problems. Baybars, a victorious general for Kutuz, is angered when he is denied a requested reward for his service. Paying off members of the army, Baybars assassinates Kutuz and proclaims himself Sultan. This done, he turns his attention toward the remaining Christian strongholds in the Holy Land and begins to undo years of tentative peace. That Young can so easily maneuver readers from one army and one view to the next without pulling them out of the story is a great testament to her ability as a storyteller. Her characters, those of historical fact and those of her own design, are so perfectly crafted and so unique in presentation that they seem to act out on the page instead of being mere words strung together. Following Will on his quest to achieve his knighthood --- including his failures, his anguish, and his friendships with Garin and Elwin --- is intensely personal, and being able to connect with him, which is vital, is an easy success. Baybars, as the enemy of the Christians and the murderer of his own Sultan, does not come across as a mere cookie-cutter villain. He is a fully developed character, and while we would love to hate him, we come to understand his views and his desire as the story is told from his side. While

terrific thirteenth century thriller

In 1260 two dedicated men, believers in the righteousness of their religious cause, join opposite sides in the Holy Land war. In the Kingdom of Jerusalem, Egyptian Sultan Baybars Bundukdari commands forces dedicated to the Prophet Mohamed with fervor to rid their homeland of the invading western infidels. In London, Knights Templar Sir William Campbell joins the western army crusading to take back the Holy Land from the Muslim horde. At the same time these two committed individuals begin the trek towards religious combat and more in the Holy Land, a theft in Paris of the Book of the Grail could prove even more confrontational and definitely impact the two adversaries. This tome describes the heretical plan to radically change the world in the image of the top secret Knights Templar sect the Brethren. Thus on 3 September 1260, three events in three different locations that tenuously tie together will impact religion and people, if successful, as much as Mohamed, Moses, and Jesus have. Above is the opening sequence to one of the best Templar tales on the market in recent years. Robin Young easily switches perspective predominantly between the two enemies so that readers fully understand the motivations of both sides. The story line is fast-paced filled with historical tidbits and the preparation for battle and the skirmishes, but also has a romantic sidebar between the idealistic Templar and the Sultan's niece and a mystery as William seeks to find the Book of the Grail. BRETHREN is more than just an epic adventure of the Knights Templar; it is a terrific thirteenth century thriller. Harriet Klausner