These are the kinds of historical fiction books I dream of. Richly detailed, well researched, a natural harmony between dialogue and non dialogue - never being too much of one or the other - a lesson in history and some engaging characters thrown in. Oh, and I am a little partial to journey stori... ...more
Colin Falconer has written a fabulous book. Not only is it exciting and very readable it is also hard to put down. I have wanted to read it for quite a while but unable financially until the price was lowered to 99 cents which enabled me to buy it. From the start, I was mesmerized by Josseran's t... ...more
I really like reading historical novels; and nonfiction. I'm in the midst of a book I'll review shortly when I'm done, about the frontier, when it was here, just on the other side of the Appalachians.
But this book is about a time much earlier. And set in another part of the world. So in a way, it... ...more
I am always surprised when an adventure story that travels so far can gain my attention. These are not often books I enjoy enough to give more than 2 stars though the chance of finding one such as this keeps me reading. It was fast, evocative and informative without being boring and I actually li... ...more
alternates between some truly awful prose and banal stereotype B-level action and some real exciting action (the Mongol/Crusade setting is a prop for a fairly modern action adventure story as the characters act like the caricature of the noble but flawed crusader, evil inquisitor etc etc); still... ...more
Josseran Sarrazini is a Christian Knight Templar who has a mission to guide a Dominican monk, William, to the far side of the world in what is present-day Beijing. It's the time of the Crusades in the 1200s and there is just as much in-fighting among the Christians as there is against the enemy M... ...more
I enjoyed this book. It appears to be well researched I liked the main character Josseran. He is pledged to take a very unlike able priest to see the Tatar Kahn of Kahns. They think it will be a month long journey. It takes them six months to get there and they find themselves in the center of a... ...more
I feel very satisfied about this book. A grand, rich look at a Westerner encountering the landscapes, people and cultures of the Far East. Historical fiction (1206) , and a great adventure story. Lots to think about -- people of very different cultures encounter each other with pre-formed ideas a... ...more
Un muy buen libro sobre la época de los cruzados hacia el año 1260 que narra la intención de los cristianos de aliarse con los mongoles, nueva potencia mundial, para derrotar y expulsar a los sarracenos de Tierra Santa. La misión de un embajador del Papa y una escolta asignada que debe atravesar c... ...more