The Religion: A Novel
by Tim Willocks
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Read in December, 2007
I brought this book to Rangeley, Maine for the Christmas holiday. It was the perfect read for long winter afternoons in front of the fire with a drink. It traveled with me to the ski lodge and got picked up while I rested my aching feet and legs (skiing's hard when you haven't done it in 10 years!). It sang me to sleep every night and despite its gory and intense battle scenes, didn't give me nightmares.
Set in 1565, The Religion follows Mattias Tannhauser, a Saxon who as a young boy...more
Set in 1565, The Religion follows Mattias Tannhauser, a Saxon who as a young boy...more
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I was really disappointed with this book. It's essentially a Harlequin romance with a heavy dose of graphic violence. Willocks is clearly a very bright man, but his writing is schmaltzy, to say the least. Try this on for size:
>>>>
[Tannhauser compliments Carla]
Carla felt her cheeks burn. She felt inadequate to the compliment and to acknowledge it seemed improper. A sense of sin clenched inside her. Such fears and doubts had hedged her life for as long as she could rememb...more
>>>>
[Tannhauser compliments Carla]
Carla felt her cheeks burn. She felt inadequate to the compliment and to acknowledge it seemed improper. A sense of sin clenched inside her. Such fears and doubts had hedged her life for as long as she could rememb...more
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Easily the best historical fiction novel I've ever read, Tim Willocks does a superb job describing in accuracy the often grisly details of the Great Siege of Malta by the Ottoman Turks in the mid-sixteenth century and their attempt to wipe out the Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, otherwise popularly known as the Knights Hospitaller. "The Religion" is the first book of The Tannhauser Trilogy, which follows the adventures of Mattias Tannhauser, a German man a...more
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Read in January, 2007
Violent, tragic, funny, with tons of sex and drugs - is this a country western song, or a great historical novel? 'Tis the latter, and one of the best I have read. It's long but reads briskly. The characters are well-wrought and the plot easy to follow. It's a battle royale between the forces of Christianity and Islam, and it's not crystal clear which are the good guys and which are the bad guys. What we do know is that our hero, the gallant Captain Mattias Tannhauser, will stop at nothing ...more
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Read in February, 2008
I had looked forward to reading this book as a swashbuckling/intrigue/romance in the style of Dumas, but with more historical detail. I think it fulfilled those requirements, but, on the whole, I was disappointed. There was far too much description of battlefields and people covered in vomit, excrement and maggots. I'm not squeamish, but I got tired of the repetitious description of these scenes. War is hell, I think we get it. I also began to get a strange inkling that the author imagined himse...more
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Read in July, 2007
I finished this book yesterday and I've raved about it to nearly everyone I've talked to since.
The writing is so vivid it really does feel like you are living through the seige--you feel the stench, the violence, and the filth. Nothing is glossed over for the modern eye. The characters are compelling and consistant through out the book. Despite the length, it never drags.
One connection I made through the book was that people who enjoyed War is a Force that Give Us Meaning may f...more
The writing is so vivid it really does feel like you are living through the seige--you feel the stench, the violence, and the filth. Nothing is glossed over for the modern eye. The characters are compelling and consistant through out the book. Despite the length, it never drags.
One connection I made through the book was that people who enjoyed War is a Force that Give Us Meaning may f...more
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
Anyone who loves epic adventures
One of the most enjoyable books I've ever read. Set during the siege of Malta by the Ottomans during the crusades, and featuring a cast of characters who blow away the cliches of good and evil, this story has it all; sword fights, sweeping battles, sex, love, intrigue, passion, betrayal, and more sex and swords. Written with a level of detail that had me smelling, tasting and seeing all the rich details of the period, it was a page turner that I couldn't put down. It was vividly alive. Oh, and l...more
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Read in July, 2007
This book was sooo good. Very captivating with the vivid descriptions of the battle scenes, the history of the Turks and the Crusaders. It showed both a woman and a man's perspective, without making it seem like a chick lit or a macho man's book about conquering women, getting them in bed all the time. But rather it brought the characters to life, giving them souls in unexpected places and moments. I was surprised to find the plots as twisted and demented as it was, yet it perfectly fit the book...more
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Read in July, 2007
I am, for some reason, a fan of these early Christian/Medieval era epics, and it might have to do with the twisting of historical events and the abstract ways authors find to tell the stories themselves. This was a page turner for me, but it's almost a bit on the Danielle Steel line of story telling as far as the book's romances are told. Most were fairly explicit and almost made me look around to make sure no one was reading what I was reading, or I would have probably blushed, and this is co...more
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Read in May, 2008
I chose this after seeing it recommended on the BookSense list and I wanted some good fiction, and historical fiction is slightly out of my 'normal' so I though it'd be a fun change. A change it was, and for the most part it was fun. Other reviewers are right: it's overdone, too graphically disgusting at times, and there the gratuitous sex, violence, and drugs gets a little old. On the other hand, I found it a convincing portrayal of a brutal event in history, and was definitely swept up in ...more
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
historical novel junkies
This one is a bit too long but to tell you the truth I could not put it down. An ex-Janissary and adventurer takes up the challenge of finding a beautiful Maltese countess's illegitimate son on Malta just as the Ottomans begin their legendary siege of the Mediterranean island and commence a titanic struggle with the ruthless Knights of St. John. The battle scenes are so sickening that they must be true to life, and the intrigues involving the inquisitions, the Ottomans, the knights of St. John a...more
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Read in January, 2008
This is a sprawling and bloodthirsty tale set around the siege of Malta in 1565. I really enjoyed it. Matthias Tannhauser, with his seemingly suprahuman powers and all too human weaknesses appealed to me enormously.
Yes, the book would have benefitted from tighter editing but if you become as caught up in the story as I was, then these become minor niggles. I believe that this is to be the first of a trilogy, and I'll be looking out for book two.
Yes, the book would have benefitted from tighter editing but if you become as caught up in the story as I was, then these become minor niggles. I believe that this is to be the first of a trilogy, and I'll be looking out for book two.
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Read in April, 2008
An excellent page turner of a historical novel - there is lots of action, as well as several scenes that might give Mattias Tannhauser a special place in the thoughts of female readers. However, given that the central event is the 1565 Siege of Malta, this book is not for the squeamish. I thought that Willocks also drew good portraits of his main characters, so it is also interesting to see their interactions and how they resolve various issues.
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Read in December, 2007
While it was reasonably historically accurate (I think; at least the setting and battle descriptions seemed right), it was at heart a totally cheeseball bodice-ripper. I mean, I kept reading it and all, waiting for the tacky romantic ending, but then he copped out by killing off nearly all the supporting characters? C'mon!
Anyway -- since I've totally given up on George R.R. Martin for this kind of stuff, it was an adequate substitute.
Anyway -- since I've totally given up on George R.R. Martin for this kind of stuff, it was an adequate substitute.
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Read in February, 2008
I made it almost halfway through before I had to return it to the library. This is quite a different read from Willock's Green River Rising, one of my favorite books, but I have enjoyed it so far. It's an odd combination of graphic violence and old-timey bodice-ripping, but it works somehow. I plan on checking it out again in order to finish it.
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Read in September, 2007
Every once in a while, I read a book that reminds me that most of what I am reading is crap. This is that book. An excellent yarn, woven together with such beauty, heartache, passion and horror that you can't help but drink in every word. I hate this book for how poorly it makes everything else I read this year look in comparison.
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Read in November, 2007
great adventure yarn encompassing the "Maltese Iliad"
of the Knights of St. John vs the Ottoman Turks at Malta in 1565. The Inquisition,Janissaries, corrupt Popes, and a Saxon adventurer named Matthias Tanhauser (who has a foot in both camps)are featured in this well researched novel. Can't wait for the 2 sequels.
of the Knights of St. John vs the Ottoman Turks at Malta in 1565. The Inquisition,Janissaries, corrupt Popes, and a Saxon adventurer named Matthias Tanhauser (who has a foot in both camps)are featured in this well researched novel. Can't wait for the 2 sequels.
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Author deftly paints word-images of the 1500s battle between Christianity & Islam in Malta. I've checked out the audio 2Xs, but have returned it before I'm done, due to the graphic sexual [and violent war] scenes. Even a bit graphic for my husband. However, captivating enough for us to want to know how it ends.
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Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
history buffs, medieval
This amazing book *covers* the siege of Malta by Sulieman (the Magnificent) in 1545. I simply couldn't put it down and found no faults, no flaws. Willocks' writing flows from poetic to grimy in its realism. I understand this is his first historical novel, but I'll read *anything* this man writes.
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Read in July, 2007
Very disappointing. Riddled with cliches, gratuitous, over the top violence, and formulaic romance novel sex (all from a limited male perspective). Ugh. It's a shame. The history was fascinating...if only the author could have toned down the bodice ripping and the gore, it could have been fun.
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