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35th out of 230 books
—
97 voters
Test of Faith
by
Aleksandr Voinov (Goodreads Author),
Raev Gray
July, 1187: Saladin has defeated the Crusader army at The Horns of Hattin. While hundreds of his comrades have perished in the battle, Thierry de la Tour Rouge, a Frank and Templar Knight, has survived only to be taken prisoner by the Saracens. Stripped to his woolen leggings and linen shirt covering and tied like an animal to the pole of a tent, Thierry fears torture in t...more
Paperback, 132 pages
Published
February 3rd 2010
by 44 Raccoons Press
(first published November 30th 2009)
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Test of Faith by Aleksandr Voinov and Raev Gray is an extremely well-written and emotionally charged novella that leaves the reader breathless.
The story is set against the backdrop of one of the most infamous and bloodiest battles of the interval period between the Second and Third Crusades – the Battle of Hattin – which took place near the city of Tiberius on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. During the Battle the army of Saladin decimated some 20,000 Crusading foot soldiers and 1,000 Te...more
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Note: I have to -just have to- write a more cohesive review for this, but right now I'm drawing a blank and I can't think of anything beautiful or smart.
Random thoughts:
I'm torn between a 4 and a 5 star rating.
The good: great writing, a story that gave us both the historical background about a battle of faiths as well as the battles between the characters and -more importantly- within the characters.
The depth of the characters (especially Abdul) is amazing, considering the length of the stor...more
Random thoughts:
I'm torn between a 4 and a 5 star rating.
The good: great writing, a story that gave us both the historical background about a battle of faiths as well as the battles between the characters and -more importantly- within the characters.
The depth of the characters (especially Abdul) is amazing, considering the length of the stor...more
No words. Simply Beautiful!
The story of Thierry, a Templar Knight, and Abdul, a to Islam converted French, touched me from the first word to the last. Thierry, captured by the Saracens and now owned by Abdul, fears for his life and Abdul is looking for someone to fulfill a desire. When you read this book, you feel how the relationship of the characters change from sworn enemies into two men who respect and honor each other and in other circumstances could have loved each other.
This is a real heartbreaking story with inte...more
This is a real heartbreaking story with inte...more
This story was a victim of its two authors. Head hopping was rampant.
I don't mind head-hopping too much, generally. I expect it to a certain extent when there are two authors and I just hope the book doesn't read as a rough Role-Playing Game. But this one was bad with it, having the POV switch with almost every paragraph, with no line break or anything to indicate the POV was switching. When the only two characters in the book are both "he" this got to be a horrible chore to read. I had to keep...more
I don't mind head-hopping too much, generally. I expect it to a certain extent when there are two authors and I just hope the book doesn't read as a rough Role-Playing Game. But this one was bad with it, having the POV switch with almost every paragraph, with no line break or anything to indicate the POV was switching. When the only two characters in the book are both "he" this got to be a horrible chore to read. I had to keep...more
I'm surprised there aren't more m/m books set in the crusades. It would seem to be fertile ground. "Test of Faith" was quite a refreshing change from the Regency/Victorian setting of most historical romances these days. It doesn't have a happily ever after ending, which is disappointing but true to the characters. There are a couple of reasons I didn't give it four stars:
The point of view flip-flops between the two protagonists - Abdul and Thierry. This is hard to pull off, although I'd say it w...more
The point of view flip-flops between the two protagonists - Abdul and Thierry. This is hard to pull off, although I'd say it w...more
Apr 18, 2010
Elisa Ramblings
added it
Test of Faith is only a short story but it’s clear that behind there is a lot of research work done; a work that the reader itself can redo thanks to the appendixes, a useful walkthrough among the early Middle Age custom and religious beliefs, both from the Christian than Muslim point of view. And here is the strength of this story, that the truth doesn’t lie in one or the other side, both of them have reason and ideals.
Thierry is a Templar warrior and monk, who is chosen, after the defeat, as...more
Thierry is a Templar warrior and monk, who is chosen, after the defeat, as...more
Wow. All I can say right now is wow. I am speechless. I have no idea how to review this book. I'm going to have to ... I don't even know.
I'm just stuck at WOW. My brain is just skipping, trying to find some words, but there's nothing.
Yeah, hopefully - review to follow, although I have no idea where I'm going to find the words.
I'm just stuck at WOW. My brain is just skipping, trying to find some words, but there's nothing.
Yeah, hopefully - review to follow, although I have no idea where I'm going to find the words.
Oooh... F****!! I loved, loved, loved!!
Where to begin? Knights + crusades + Aleksandr Voinov (Raev Gray, pleased to meet you!): I was eager to read "Test of Faith".
I expected the meeting of two human beings above the clash of beliefs, I hoped for multidimensional characters, love, twists in the story. I got all that and the beginning was very satisfying, and then... BAM!!!
THE story I hadn't seen coming appears and I'm turned upside down because it is such an intensely, painfully beautiful one!
(...more
Where to begin? Knights + crusades + Aleksandr Voinov (Raev Gray, pleased to meet you!): I was eager to read "Test of Faith".
I expected the meeting of two human beings above the clash of beliefs, I hoped for multidimensional characters, love, twists in the story. I got all that and the beginning was very satisfying, and then... BAM!!!
THE story I hadn't seen coming appears and I'm turned upside down because it is such an intensely, painfully beautiful one!
(...more
Set in Palestine during the crusades, Test of Faith follows two men who on the surface seem very different. Thierry is a French Templar knight who has been captured on the battlefield and sent to the tent of a man who has paid silver for him. That man is Abdul, a Muslim convert who has bought Thierry in order to rape and humiliate him. Things are not as they seem between the men though, as Abdul gains respect for the knight who refuses to cower in terror before him, and Thierry learns that even...more
Test of Faith is a beautiful, captivating and emotional short story. I finished reading it, and all I could think was WOW!
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This story gripped me from the start, I felt immediately drawn into Thierry's pain of capture. But I can't expect less from Aleksandr Voinov's writing. From the moment I opened the box to view the rich warmth of colors on the cover to when I closed the book I was happy. Test of Faith is such a great title as it clearly defines what you are about to experience. I loved it. The only complaint is that it was too short. I hold back a star for leaving me underfed - I am waiting for that full meal tha...more
Exceptional.
"...a great secret that only his flesh knew..."
This quote, and the surrounding words, stood out as one of the most perfect descriptions of sex I've ever read.
I won't spend time talking about the high quality of Aleksandr Voiniv's writing. I will only say that his ability to write emotions and internal conflict grabs me in the gut in a way that makes me both awestruck and uncomfortable. I am very much an 'in the head' person. Most authors tell us how a character is feeling. Aleksandr helps us lis...more
This quote, and the surrounding words, stood out as one of the most perfect descriptions of sex I've ever read.
I won't spend time talking about the high quality of Aleksandr Voiniv's writing. I will only say that his ability to write emotions and internal conflict grabs me in the gut in a way that makes me both awestruck and uncomfortable. I am very much an 'in the head' person. Most authors tell us how a character is feeling. Aleksandr helps us lis...more
May 15, 2011
Emanuela ~plastic duck~
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Emanuela ~plastic duck~ by:
L.C. Lavado
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Ooh, I loved. I so wish it was longer and happier but that would have been a different story. For THIS story, this really worked...even the ending. I took it as it was - a snapshot into the grim reality of war. Loved the strength of the characters, their passion, honor, conviction in each of their faiths. Definitely one I will read again.
Kindle formatting sucks though. Took away from the joy of reading it.
Kindle formatting sucks though. Took away from the joy of reading it.
A compelling, moody read. I was literally holding my breath at the tense initial encounter between Thierry, the captured Templar Knight and his keeper, Abdul, one of his sworn enemy. The dynamics between these two complex characters is played out in a beautiful, heart-breaking story.
I also really enjoyed reading the essays on the Crusades and other topics related to the story (and the map, love maps!) at the end of the book.
I also really enjoyed reading the essays on the Crusades and other topics related to the story (and the map, love maps!) at the end of the book.
Jun 06, 2010
Brita
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
m/m fans, Aleksander Voinov fans, Raev Gray fans
First, I don't know why there aren't ten stars to rate this book! Absolutely fantastic, riveting, mind-blowing. A moving experience to read such genius. This is one book that will stay with me for a long time to come. Totally amazing in its depth, the subtle life lessons and the story of two men who come to care deeply for each other.
Test of Faith is a must have. You won't be sorry. WOW!!!!!
Test of Faith is a must have. You won't be sorry. WOW!!!!!
Stories can serve more than one purpose. Can soothe or inflame; can sink you down into the deeps, or snap sails taut and jerk you up into the stratosphere. This one... this one hurts. If I were wise, I wouldn't review it until I'd had time to calm down.
But I don't want to feel this way any longer than I have to. I'm in a fury.
Read this. It's beautiful.
Then go stroke a kitten. You'll need it.
But I don't want to feel this way any longer than I have to. I'm in a fury.
Read this. It's beautiful.
Then go stroke a kitten. You'll need it.
I have a love/hate relationship with this story. I loved the debates and musings on faith, and the juggling of ideologies between the two characters. But being the optimistic that I am, I had hoped for a different ending. Alas, it was not to be, but I still recommend it.
There were a couple rough moments at the beginning where it felt that the voices blended together too much. After those it was as if the picture suddenly came into sharp focus and remained there through the end. Moving story. My heart wept.
A very intense, but also very short story of two men and enemies finding each other in the middle of an epic battle.
The beginning was so intense and captivating, that the relentless end came a bit too soon. It almost felt like an excerpt from a larger work.
The beginning was so intense and captivating, that the relentless end came a bit too soon. It almost felt like an excerpt from a larger work.
The blurb perfectly summarizes the tale as do the dozens of posted reviews. I only write this as a note to remind myself to re-read this story again. And again.
Okay, I like the writing and the characters were interesting but it was just not my cup of tea. I didn't care for the ending at all which lost it a star.
Good book, but I did not connect to the characters and their story. 2 stars is for how much I liked the book, not for the quality of the work, which is good.
What seems to be a simple love story among enemies quickly twists into a story of honor. The ending may not be to everyone's taste but it was definitely the one this story needed.
I only give this four stars because I think those who go in to this expecting a romance that follows romance conventions are in for a nasty shock.
I love the writing. Aleksandr and Raev have very compatible styles, and it read as seamlessly as the work of a single mind.
I love the writing. Aleksandr and Raev have very compatible styles, and it read as seamlessly as the work of a single mind.
Beware - absolute tear jerker. NO HEA!!!
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