- Paperback: 498 pages
- Publisher: Plume Books; Reprint edition (29 July 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0452289602
- ISBN-13: 978-0452289604
- Product Dimensions: 20.8 x 14 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,542,122 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Crusade: Brethren Trilogy
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
For what it's worth, I thought that Brethren, the first in 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 Hardy in one's youth) and the lovely Miss Young writes excellent and well-constructed English. It was a fine effort from one so young and also showed evidence of a great deal of careful historical research to root the novel in a bed of basic fact.
Unusually for me, I actually sought out Crusade with real eagerness and settled down on a particularly wet and 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 and 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 cram in as much as possible and build the book up to a cracking ending - but there are long passages where not a lot happens, and 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 and yet comes good at the end is tiresome. Yet I have to say that once again Robyn's depiction of life in Acre during the Crusades is good - hot, miserable, disease-ridden and run through with finance and the intrigues that always follow war and conflict. As J B Priestly said, "Sex, money and food cross all borders."
3. Robyn Young's writing is efficient but no so vibrant as in the first book.
All that said, I shall seek out the final chapter and 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 and with the various plots. She is a fascinating writer and I have no doubt at all that her books over the years will become more and more interesting. To her great credit, nowhere does she affect to be writing history and one is aware that this is a real novel.
A sensible and well-thought out novel, but not so available as Brethren. Nonetheless, far, far better than a holiday potboiler.
Unusually for me, I actually sought out Crusade with real eagerness and settled down on a particularly wet and 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 and 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 cram in as much as possible and build the book up to a cracking ending - but there are long passages where not a lot happens, and 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 and yet comes good at the end is tiresome. Yet I have to say that once again Robyn's depiction of life in Acre during the Crusades is good - hot, miserable, disease-ridden and run through with finance and the intrigues that always follow war and conflict. As J B Priestly said, "Sex, money and food cross all borders."
3. Robyn Young's writing is efficient but no so vibrant as in the first book.
All that said, I shall seek out the final chapter and 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 and with the various plots. She is a fascinating writer and I have no doubt at all that her books over the years will become more and more interesting. To her great credit, nowhere does she affect to be writing history and one is aware that this is a real novel.
A sensible and well-thought out novel, but not so available as Brethren. Nonetheless, far, far better than a holiday potboiler.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Crusade (Brethren Trilogy)
I was given the third book of the series as a Christmas present, so bought the first two myself. Brethren, the first of the trilogy, was probably a 4/5, but I found this book harder going as it kept referring back to things that had happened in Brethren. In my opinion, this made the book lose some of its fast moving action, all so that somebody can read the book as a stand alone novel - you wouldn't read 'Lord of the Rings - Two Towers' that way though! The other thing that I found quite strange was the huge leaps in time, years in some cases - what happened in that time?
I'll have to read the 3rd book now.
I was given the third book of the series as a Christmas present, so bought the first two myself. Brethren, the first of the trilogy, was probably a 4/5, but I found this book harder going as it kept referring back to things that had happened in Brethren. In my opinion, this made the book lose some of its fast moving action, all so that somebody can read the book as a stand alone novel - you wouldn't read 'Lord of the Rings - Two Towers' that way though! The other thing that I found quite strange was the huge leaps in time, years in some cases - what happened in that time?
I'll have to read the 3rd book now.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The first thing I have to say about this book is that it's too long, and that should have been dealt with by some decent editing. I love a bit of good descriptive writing, but sometimes one can have just too many adjectives, too carefully detailed a reaction, too much introspection and too deep an insight into characters' feelings. I suppose one of the biggest problems was feeling any real attachment to Will, and it's such a shame, because he's a brilliant idea for a character.
BUT, I think the setting and what Young does with it is excellent and most of the other characters are interesting and well-written. I like the way she juggles the action between locations and the way she describes the various fights and battles and I enjoyed the unfolding of events and development of (most of) the characters affected by them. I was a bit disappointed that we never really go to meet the Mongols, but apart from that, a pretty good read all in all, and I expect I'll read the final book; I see that it's about 100 pages shorter than this one, so let's hope that that's a reduction in the superfluous and not just a shortage of plot.
BUT, I think the setting and what Young does with it is excellent and most of the other characters are interesting and well-written. I like the way she juggles the action between locations and the way she describes the various fights and battles and I enjoyed the unfolding of events and development of (most of) the characters affected by them. I was a bit disappointed that we never really go to meet the Mongols, but apart from that, a pretty good read all in all, and I expect I'll read the final book; I see that it's about 100 pages shorter than this one, so let's hope that that's a reduction in the superfluous and not just a shortage of plot.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A wouldbe templar
Although it is difficult to appreciate the policies and mode of living as a templar, the Brethren Trilogy makes it easier to understand what is was like to "take up the cross". Read more
Published 1 month ago by CLCAULFIELD
Crusade (The second book of the Brethren Trilogy)
This second book of the Crusade trilogy carries on perfectly from the first book. As the first book, this one is very good - the characters have depth, the storyline has... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mr. O. F. Samaan
best book iv read in a long time
Having read the first book and loved it i had high expectations for this one and i was not disappointed and had it finished in 4 days, its just that good
The authors... Read more
The authors... Read more
Published 22 months ago by john
evocative crusade
while i was reading this magnificoent novel. the second part of the Brethren trilogy, i could not but dwell on other similar novels such as Jack whyte's templar trilogy or knights... Read more
Published on 23 Jan 2010 by Omar Farid
crusade
The stuffs good . A knight who struggles with chastity and growing up angst.
The superiority of the religious classes fighting for God.
Realising adults are vulnerable. Read more
The superiority of the religious classes fighting for God.
Realising adults are vulnerable. Read more
Published on 26 Sep 2009 by Gordon A. Campbell
great medeval adventure
Well written, gripping, and so descriptive of locations that your imagination will do the work of a fairly sizeable Hollywood special effects budget. Read more
Published on 16 Sep 2009 by K. Neale
Magnifient Crusade
wonderful ...i would recommend this to anyone!
Young writes a enthrilling tale which keeps you hooked right up to the last word. Read more
Young writes a enthrilling tale which keeps you hooked right up to the last word. Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2009 by Mrs. Pauline B. Oster
crusade book that is actually told from both points.
I got this book after reading the first one awhile ago and I got is cheap on Amazon and it did not disappoint. Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2009 by Gavin Linton
Lots of detail, but great read
Book 2 of Robyn Youngs crusade trilogy carries on perfectly from the first book. The same comments can be made as the first, a lot of time is covered and a lot of detail on the... Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2009 by chuckles
Excellent read!
As opposed to what others might have said, I think Robyn Young has not only managed to outshine her first book (the brethren - which I devoured in a few days only) but has been... Read more
Published on 18 Nov 2008 by Florian Drews
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