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Curse of the Templar Seal by C. Wayne Dawson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In 1291, Mamluks slaughter many of the Templar knights defending the Acre Fortress in Palestine. One of those who escapes is Gilen Elissalde, who is tasked with guarding the Templar Seal. As he departs by sea, he vows, “The man who inherits this seal will avenge the evil you have done to the Templars and bring ruin to your kingdom. You will reap what you have sown.” (19)

More than two centuries pass before Duarte Elissalde is old enough to learn the truth about what happened that fateful day and begin his journey along the path that will lead him to fulfill that prophecy. Several steps are required first, one of which is to select a future wife. This he does, but he and his uncle soon find themselves involved in a wager that could result in a total loss of honor and fortune for the Elissaldes when his bullying cousin also seeks the same girl’s hand.

Another step for Duarte to accomplish is to become a squire and a member of the Order of Christ, one of the successors of the Knights Templar in Portugal. (His cousin, of course, is to join the Order of Santiago, and neither can be trusted because of the rivalry and animosity that exists between the two orders and the two cousins.) Before either can be accomplished, Venetian thieves steal the Templar Seal. They are in the employ of a Mamluk known as the Cheetah. Duarte also discovers that betrayal lies at the heart of the theft, but pursuit of the thieves and recovery of the seal, as well as restoration of family honor, must wait.

A secret and lengthy mission demand that Duarte put aside his desires of vengeance and marriage in favor of joining a special voyage at the behest of the Portuguese king. Captain-Major Pedro Cabral leads a second expedition to India to establish a pepper trade agreement that removes the Mamluks from the equation. Although the way to India involves sailing south and east, Cabral sails west and Duarte’s curiosity is aroused. The voyage that follows is one rife with danger and intrigue, as well as opening his eyes to new worlds and cultures. It is a journey that will take years to accomplish and the risks are great, for even before they are halfway to their destination, five ships are lost. Nor do the dangers and problems go away upon reaching Calicut; instead, the stakes become greater and it isn’t long before murder and abandonment, as well as survival, play greater roles in shaping Duarte into the man he will become.

Curse of the Templar Seal is a well-researched, absorbing tale of treachery, jealousy, politics, religion, empire-building, superstition, sacrifice, and murder. The characters are well-drawn and their adventures span four years. A fair portion of the story takes place on land, but several pivotal parts involve ships and oceans. Navigation is also key as the route Cabral follows leads to the discovery of the Southern Cross, and the connection between tides and moon plays a strategic role in the Siege of Cochin. This culminating event in this first book of the series pits Duarte and 8,000 soldiers and sailors against a bloodthirsty, no-holds-barred army of 80,000, as well as the deadly Cheetah. Fans of Emilio Salgari should enjoy this historical novel.


(This review first appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adult-hist...)



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