Cindy Vallar's Blog - Posts Tagged "crusades"

Assassins of Alamut by James Boschert

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


During an attack on a caravan, Frankish soldiers are drawn into battle with the Turks. At the same time, a second, smaller group of interlopers snatches fourteen-year-old Talon de Gilles and the priest Jean de Loche and whisks them away from Palestine. Not once during the long journey to Persia is Talon permitted a chance to escape, and he soon learns that a silent captive suffers fewer beatings.

There is little Sir Huges de Gilles can do to rescue his son. The only ones who might have a chance are the Templars, but their network of intelligence doesn’t extend into the mountainous regions of Persia where Talon has been taken. He may never see his son again, because the Saracen sect that has taken him works for the Master and are called “Assassins.” They wage a silent, murderous war on Christians and Muslims alike. They are feared by everyone, but fear no one. Once an Assassin slays his target, he expects to die and go to Paradise.

In the castle of Samiran, Talon is kept alone in a room without windows. All he has known has been taken from him, and he expects death to be his future. But the Master has other plans for this noble boy. He is of an age where he can be trained and molded to do the Master’s bidding, and one day in the future, Talon will infiltrate a royal court and murder an infidel king. The priest is of lesser worth, but his knowledge of Latin and the ways of Christians will help other boys learn to be invisible when their chance for Paradise comes.

Taken from his solitary prison, Talon is taught all the necessary skills of an assassin and the ways of the Ismaili. His partner in training is Reza, and because he accepts Talon, both boys are never fully trusted by the others. As time passes they become experts in archery, fighting with blades, wielding all manner of weapons, and the art of stealth. Talon also learns about Persia’s history and people. His first real test comes not in training exercises or demonstrations, but on the hunt when he and another boy are tracking a lion. After the other boy is badly wounded, Talon risks his own life to save the other boy. The wounds he suffers nearly kill Talon, but his slaying of the beast gain him stature and respect among the Ismaili at the castle.

While convalescing, Talon meets the beautiful Rav’an, the thirteen-year-old sister of the Master. A friendship is kindled in the garden, but such contact is dangerous for both of them. Rav’an understands what awaits Talon and that there can be no future for them together, but still she savors each rendezvous. She comes to trust him and knows he will protect her no matter what. When her brother sends her to Alamut while he travels to Syria, she asks that Talon and Reza be named as her protectors. Rather than be parted from his friend, Talon asks Rav’an to seek permission for Father John to accompany them as well.

Rav’an’s faith in her protectors is well placed, for they keep her alive when an enemy band attacks their party on the way to Alamut. She has always liked this castle where she was raised, but even before they enter its gates, she notices changes. The people are fearful and a sense of foreboding permeates the fortress high in the mountains. She soon discovers the reason why – her uncle and cousin rule through fear. Uncle Arash has the eyes of a cobra and his network of spies throughout the Middle East makes him a powerful and devious man. Cousin Ahmad is overly protective and always telling her what to do. The more she is around them, the more she begins to fear she may never see her brother again. She enlists Talon’s help and he soon discovers her fears are well founded.

Rather than allow the treachery of Arash and Ahmad to succeed, she and her protectors, with the aid of Father John and her maid, plan their escape. Timing will be crucial. They must leave just as the first snow falls and before the mountain passes are sealed shut for the winter. But two will have to sacrifice themselves to succeed in this venture. Even after they reach their first safe haven, there are many more dangers to face before they can find and warn the Master. Even then, they may not be safe.

Assassins of Alamut takes place during the Crusades and is the first book in the Talon series. Boschert includes maps and a glossary of Persian words to help readers unfamiliar with this culture. This epic adventure in exotic locales is reminiscent of the historical sagas popular in the 1970s and 1980s. From first page to last you are whisked back in time, yet although set in the past, this story is relevant to what happens in the world today – children stolen from their parents and trained to fight, religious fanaticism, and senseless killing to further one’s goals. Hope, love, and loyalty are intertwined with hatred, jealousy, and betrayal. You shiver from the cold. You smile as love unfolds. You hold your breath as each new danger appears. Whether the well-drawn characters warm your heart or creep you out, this haunting and captivating story spins a spidery web around you so that when the last page is turned, you are compelled to read the next book to learn what becomes of Talon and Rav’an.




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Storms of Retribution by James Boschert

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


All is right in Talon de Gilles’s world. He, his family, friends, and retainers live at Kantara, a fortified castle perched atop a Cyprus mountain. Until the day a messenger delivers a reminder of a long-ago pledge. The request to visit Count Raymond reintroduces chaos into Talon’s life and the lives of those he holds dear. No matter his personal inclination, honor demands fulfillment and he and Reza, his best friend, set sail for Tripoli.

The initial crack quickly widens into a chasm when pirates attack Talon’s ships. But he and his men are not the easy targets the sea raiders expect. Talon’s acumen, coupled with his men’s skill and a surprise weapon, wins the day and he acquires two valuable hostages with ties to Sultan Salah Ed Din. Still, one pirate vessel escapes the conflagration, earning Talon an acrimonious enemy.

Although glad to see his old friend, Talon is disquieted by the events Count Raymond relates. The boy who ruled Jerusalem has died and two factions arose to vie for the throne. The new king is weak and easily led by others, especially two men who see Talon as an enemy: the Grand Master of the Templars and Reynald de Châtillon. The former has no tolerance for Arabs and their world; he is there to make certain the Holy Lands remain under Christian dominance no matter the consequences. De Châtillon, a greedy and violent marauder, commits an egregious act that tears asunder the fragile peace between Arab and Latin forces. Now, Salah Ed Din is intent of taking Jerusalem from the infidels and punishing them.

What Talon expects to be a short visit turns into a much lengthier time away from Cyprus where evil forces are stirring. The catalyst that sets them in motion is the Byzantine emperor’s ambassador, whose covert mission is to track down the gold that mysteriously went missing from the royal treasury. One man who suspects the ambassador is Zenos, the Chief Information Gatherer of the island, who craves even more wealth and power than he currently has. Although a mutual agreement is reached between the two men, each has his own agenda and goal. To achieve success, Zenos enlists two potent allies who have their own reasons for participating. Their objective? Kantara, and those within have no idea what forces have been unleashed or that each has a deadly goal that will forever alter the lives of those inside Kantara.

Storms of Retribution is the eighth book in the Talon series. It takes readers to a variety of locales during the year 1187 – a time that proves catastrophic for the Christian cause. Boschert weaves a complex story that mesmerizes readers, yet unfolds in a way that allows them to clearly keep track of who’s who and what’s what. Each side has its own agenda, which creates dire consequences for more than one character at a time, each seeming to be more insurmountable than the previous episode. This tale incorporates a lot of backstabbing, revenge, land and sea battles, sieges, spies, and assassins; it is also spiced with tidbits of humor, the return of old friends and enemies, and the introduction of new ones.

The title, Storms of Retribution, perfectly encapsulates what this story is about. These may involve individuals or be set on a much grander scale, but Boschert ably demonstrates the wisdom of learning cultures foreign to one’s one and the devastating folly of individuals who think their way is the only way –topics that are relevant even today. The narrative could use a bit more proofreading, as there are a number of misspellings and extra words or letters scattered throughout the book. That said, this is a masterful retelling of the battles for the Springs of Cresson and the Horns of Hattin, as well as the Siege of Tyre – events that most readers won’t be familiar with, but that are important for knowing what happened in this region of the world during the Crusades. Not only does Boschert ground the reader in time and place, but he also transports readers there, allowing them to experience firsthand the sounds, smells, horrors, and futility of war.




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