I don't usually get first editions books by this author but got this one because of his coauthor Andrew Gross, who is擅长 writing fictional stories within a historical fact event. In this book, we start out with a discovery in the current time. An enclosed sarcophagus is found during needed renovations in the area. What makes it even more exciting is that the sarcophagus contains a special relic. Carbon dating reveals that the relic is older than the place where it was found, dating back to around 33 AD.

The rest of the book unfolds the tale of how this relic ended up where it was found. It involves the story of an innkeeper named Hugo De Luc during the Crusade times. Hugo volunteers to join the Crusades, mainly hoping to gain some riches to improve his situation back home. In the medieval period, most people lived on land belonging to noble families and had to pay a tithe to work the land. They were not allowed to become independent of the nobility. In this story, the two noble families in charge of the area care little about the serfs and more about their personal satisfaction. One noble, Sir Stephen, is away at the Crusades, while Sir Barbain is not. When Hugo goes on the Crusade, he realizes how wrong he was and endures great disappointment and hardship. It is during the battle at Antioch that he decides to return home after surviving a deadly battle in a church where he picks up a staff and a small crucifix from the altar. Little does he know that the staff is the relic that the Black Cross soldiers have been looking for, and they remember his presence there. They go back before him, combing the area violently, killing and burning homes like savages. By the time Hugo returns to his inn, he finds it destroyed, his wife taken, and is informed that his barely one-year-old child has been killed. He sets out to find his wife, believing she is still alive, but gets injured fighting off a wild boar. He is rescued by Emilie, who we later find out is the youngest daughter of the King. She provides him with medical care and, after he recovers, gives him the means to gain entry to the place he thinks his wife is by training him to be a court Jester. In those days, Court Jesters had the freedom to roam anywhere in the homes of nobility. But he doesn't find his wife and escapes back to where Emilie is staying. He discovers that the Black Cross is responsible for all the looting and terrorizing. Emilie, in his absence, finds out that Anne, the wife of Sir Stephen, knows about this because she is under orders from her husband, whom she fears.

Hugo tells Emilie that he is going to return home to his town and rebuild his inn, taking his staff with him. Emilie finds out after Sir Stephen comes home that he plans to send the Black Cross to kill Hugo and take the staff. So, she comes to his village to warn him, and the whole town gets together to stop the group (only 20) from destroying the town. Hugo has to fight using the staff against one of them, and after they both realize that the staff is the relic, he wounds the attacker. It turns out the staff is the lancet used by the Roman soldier to pierce the breast of Jesus.

The rest of the story is about how Hugo manages to rally all the people of the towns to get the nobility to stop overtaxing them and allow them to own their own land. He places the lancet inside the sarcophagus for Sir Stephen, who is later killed by his wife, Anne, with the lancet. He wants to end the bloodshed.

It was an interesting read about life in medieval times.

The book was truly excellent.

I was really impressed by the way the battles were vividly written and the detailed descriptions within the book.

However, when Hugh and Emily, the wealthy girl, got together, it was rather cute and nice. But I couldn't help but wonder how astonishingly fast it was for Hugh to get over his deceased wife and move on to Emily.

It was also extremely sad when I learned that Phillipe, the baby, had died. Those soldiers were truly monsters.

Stephen, or whatever his name was (Anne's husband), was a complete jerk, and Anne was kind of one too. But I still felt sorry for her because of her abusive situation.

I wasn't really surprised when I found out that Hugh's wife was alive either.

The story had many twists and turns that kept me engaged from beginning to end.

While this was a lengthy read,

I found it VERY enjoyable. There wasn't a single chapter that I felt the book could have done without in order to shorten it. Each part seemed to contribute to the overall story in an important way.

I also like how the author leads you in the beginning to think the climax of the book will be one thing, and then you find out it is a total other thing. This element of surprise keeps the reader engaged and on their toes. The book isn't very predictable, which I love. It makes you constantly wonder what will happen next.

I took off a star, without giving spoilers, because there were a few unbelievable moments that had to do with wounds and how quickly they healed. Also, I felt there was an instance that the character would have NEVER healed from. However, these minor flaws didn't overshadow the many great aspects of the book.

Overall, it was a very good read, and I would 100% recommend it to the next guy. It's a book that will keep you entertained from start to finish.

Loosely based on The Crusades, this captivating medieval story delves into the themes of power, corruption, love, and loss. In eleventh-century France, freedom is a luxury reserved for the nobility and the King, leaving the serfs with no such privilege. The question of whether freedom is worth fighting and even dying for looms large, especially when faced with the absolute power of the royalty.

Hugh de Luc and his wife are innkeepers in a French village oppressed by the local nobleman, Baldwin. To gain his freedom, Hugh de Luc embarks on a two-year-long, torturous, and bloody march as part of the Crusades towards Jerusalem. However, upon realizing that his ideals differ from those of most and that he must protect his own, he deserts and returns to France. During his crusading days, he comes into possession of some seemingly insignificant "mementoes."

Arriving home disillusioned, Hugh de Luc discovers that his village has been ransacked, many of his friends and his own son have been killed, and his wife has been abducted. The story vividly portrays the unspeakable acts of war and destruction, with no other motive than to prove power. There is no honor or chivalry in the actions of the so-called "crusaders." When they pass through the village again, this time masked for secrecy, they search for Hugh and a relic he may possess that holds great power.

Hugh once more leaves the village, this time taking on the role of a jester in an attempt to find favor at the enemy's castle where he believes his wife is being held captive, if she is still alive. He manages to succeed, but tragedy awaits. Returning to his village yet again, Hugh persuades his townspeople and then the surrounding towns to rise up in revolt against the corrupt nobleman and his henchmen, fighting for their freedom from tyranny.

This is an easy read filled with well-researched details of the times. The writers do an excellent job of keeping the story orderly and moving forward, despite the multiple storylines being told simultaneously.

I initially thought I would truly love this book as I have a penchant for various types of books. However, while I didn't detest it, it was just mediocre for me.

This is a tale of an innkeeper named Hugh. He has a wife and resides in the lands ruled by a tyrant who treats his subjects poorly. When a crusader passes through gathering people to fight, Hugh decides to stay home. But after a while, he realizes he can no longer remain idle and must find a way to liberate his village from the tyranny and oppression they are currently suffering. He departs and is gone for two long years. Upon his return, he discovers his village has been savaged in his absence. Determined, he sets off on a quest, armed only with a staff that he carries with him, a memento of his days fighting in the crusades.

Along the way, he gets injured and is taken in, and his wounds are tended to. He is permitted to stay and learn a trade, that of a jester, which might assist him in his quest. He then sets out again, and numerous events occur, with peril lurking around every corner.

I could continue elaborating, but it would consume too much time. It is a fast-paced read. This is partly because there is constantly some action unfolding and partly because Patterson's books are renowned for having extremely short chapters, some only a page long. This truly makes the books seem much shorter than they appear when sitting on a shelf.

In any event, this book will likely appeal to many who enjoy a touch of historical romance with the formulaic outline typical of that particular genre, rather than the mystery genre. I found some of the convenient plot devices to be overdone. This character was both the luckiest and one of the most unfortunate men alive.

I would say that for die-hard Patterson fans, this book might be acceptable when there is nothing seemingly better available. And for those who are unfamiliar with Gross or Patterson but like historical romance, I believe many of them will enjoy it to a greater extent than those who are accustomed to Patterson's mystery/suspense/thriller type of books.

Christine

A novel that is somewhat similar to "Pillar's of the Earth" tells the story of a French inn keeper. He is caught up in the Crusades and when he finally returns home, he discovers the destruction of his family. Under the guise of being a "court jester", he plots to take revenge on those in the nobility who caused harm to his loved ones.

The story has its decent moments, but it fails to reach the heights of a Ken Follett masterpiece. The characters are not as fully developed, and the plot lacks the complexity and depth that Follett is known for.

However, it still manages to hold the reader's attention with its action-packed scenes and the inn keeper's determination to seek justice. Overall, it is an enjoyable read, but not one that will leave a lasting impression like the works of Ken Follett.

Personally, I have never held an overly intense interest or been completely enthralled by the crusades or that particular period in history. After reading approximately forty pages, I was on the verge of giving up and calling it a day.

However, being a dedicated fan of Patterson, I made the decision to persevere and march on. And I am extremely glad that I did.

Soon after, in Patterson's typical style of writing, which is characterized by quick, explosive, simple, and powerful bursts, my mind was suddenly captivated by a world that I had previously had no inclination to explore.

This story was truly one of the most beautiful love stories I have ever had the pleasure of reading. While some may have anticipated the ending, I certainly did not, and this unexpected twist only served to enhance my admiration for the story even further. This was truly my favorite Patterson story, and it is important not to forget that Andrew Gross also deserves credit for his contribution to this wonderful work.

A thrilling adventure awaits, filled with numerous twists and turns. The plot unfolds at a rapid pace, keeping you on the edge of your seat.

Every moment is filled with excitement and anticipation as the story takes unexpected detours. The characters find themselves in one challenging situation after another, forced to adapt and make quick decisions.

The intense action and constantly changing circumstances make this a truly captivating read. You'll be drawn into the story from the very beginning and won't be able to put it down until the very end.

It is truly a great pleasure to read the books written by James Patterson.

Often, I can almost instinctively tell that it is his work even without initially knowing the author. His books always have a wonderful plot twist that keeps the readers on the edge of their seats and are extremely intense.

Although they may contain mature themes and strong language, Patterson does an excellent job of describing the characters. In this particular book, he perfectly depicts Hugh's persistence and bravery.

What makes this book unique is that Hugh faces more than one ordeal, which is different from the typical Hero's Journey pattern. Additionally, some of the strategies mentioned in the book can still be relevant and useful today.

I have always loved reading Patterson's books, and this one is no exception. His writing style and storytelling ability continue to captivate me, and I look forward to reading more of his works in the future.

A satirical and cheeky book that mocks the follies of religion and the Crusades. It's incredibly adventurous, and I would say it has a likable and very lucky protagonist.

This book takes readers on a wild ride through a world filled with absurdities and humorous situations. The author uses wit and humor to critique the excesses and contradictions of religious beliefs and the Crusades.

The protagonist's adventures are both entertaining and thought-provoking, as he navigates through a landscape of religious fanaticism and political intrigue. Despite the many challenges he faces, he always seems to come out on top, thanks to his charm and good fortune.

Overall, this is a pleasant read that will appeal to anyone who enjoys satire and adventure. It offers a unique perspective on history and religion, and is sure to leave readers with a smile on their faces.

This is the second time I’ve delved into this book, and unfortunately, I have to admit that I had a greater affinity for it during my initial read. While it may not be entirely accurate from a historical perspective, I can understand the creative liberties that the author has taken. I’m not one to be overly nitpicky about such details, so I tend to give the author the benefit of the doubt. Overall, I still think it’s a decent choice, although I do have a few reservations.

The parallels drawn between the love interests left a rather unpleasant aftertaste in my mouth, especially considering the tragic circumstances of the novel. I found the romance aspect of this novel to be the least engaging part, which is a sentiment I often have when reading mysteries or thrillers.

I have a major issue with the ending, which is quite disappointing for a long book. I felt that the conclusion of the main villain’s arc was not particularly satisfying as it lacked a significant element of surprise. Additionally, I believe that the final twist regarding Emilie was completely unnecessary, superficial, and far too neatly tied up. It seemed like a good book with a great premise and several interesting moments, but the author wrapped it up in a rather ordinary way, which was a bit of a letdown.

Nevertheless, despite having some predictable moments, the plot managed to keep me intrigued throughout. There were indeed layers of mystery that prevented it from being entirely foreseeable. My favorite aspect of this book is the author’s use of quick humor, witty one-liners, and unique insults. The pacing is brisk, and I did enjoy the reading experience.

However, I must deduct many points for the excessive references to the main character’s “fire colored” (ginger) hair. I simply refused to picture him as a ginger, which is admittedly a personal quirk on my part, even though it is a key plot point. Oh well!

My favorite book of all time! It was an amazing random find of goodwill. Lol. This book is truly action packed, filled with thrilling scenes that keep you on the edge of your seat. But it's not just all action. It also has a great sense of humor that will make you laugh out loud at times. The author has done a wonderful job of infusing the story with plenty of emotions as well. You'll find yourself experiencing a range of feelings, from excitement to sadness to joy. It's a book that has something for everyone. Whether you're a fan of action, humor, or emotional stories, this book is sure to please. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great read.