Alamut

Alamut #1

by Judith Tarr

A knight from across the sea, a beleaguered kingdom, a spirit of fire with a deadly secret.

For close to a hundred years the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem has stood with its thin line of fortresses against the combined power of the world of Islam. Now the Sultan Saladin has declared war against the young Leper King.

Not all the inhabitants of this embattled country are firmly established on one side or the other. One such family, half Frank, half Saracen, stands on the boundary between the two worlds and faiths.

Into that family comes Prince Aidan, son of a mortal king and an immortal enchantress. He journeys into the East for love of a kinsman and the lure of adventure, and stays for grief and mortal vengeance.

Morgiana is neither human nor mortal. She is the Slave of Alamut: the Master of the Assassins’ most deadly weapon. She knows little of gentleness and nothing of love—until she meets the prince from across the sea. But he has sworn to destroy her.

Set in the world of the award-winning series, The Hound and the Falcon.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Historical, Historical Fantasy, Fiction, Romance, Alternate History

470 pages, Paperback

First published November 20, 1989

About the author

AKA Caitlin Brennan, Kathleen Bryan.

Judith Tarr (born 1955) is an American author, best known for her fantasy books. She received her B.A. in Latin and English from Mount Holyoke College in 1976, and has an M.A. in Classics from Cambridge University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Medieval Studies from Yale University. She taught Latin and writing at Wesleyan University from 1988-1992, and taught at the Clarion science-fiction-writing workshops in 1996 and 1999.

She raises and trains Lipizzan horses at Dancing Horse Farm, her home in Vail, Arizona. The romantic fantasies that she writes under the name Caitlin Brennan feature dancing horses modeled on those that she raises.

Reviews

[Rachel Aranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Donna Tarr’s “Alamut” is an alternative history of the Christian Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem during the reign of Baldwin IV, aka The Leper King, and several years prior to Saladin's defeat of the Crusaders (sometime between the Second and Third Crusades). This story follows Prince Aidan who is a celebrated Christian knight who loves his equally magical twin King brother and human sister and their families. He arrives in Jerusalem to learn his nephew (human sister’s son) has been slain by an Assassin while he slept with his wife. He vows to find and kill the Assassin and his master, the Old Man of the Mountain. Along the way he travels to Damascus and Aleppo and learns more about Muslim culture and traditions and even manages to meet Saladin. He also meets the Assassin who, much to his surprise, is a woman. What adds a different twist to the tale is that both Aiden and Morgiana, the Assassin, are faerie folk or ifrits (as they are called in Islamic areas). They are immortal (or close to it) and are very attracted to each other.

I really tried to get into this book but had the hardest time. There were so many times I DNFed this book but I couldn’t get the praise that others have written out of my head. “Alamut” was released in 1989 and was considered a spectacular book that fit into multiple genres (fantasy, historical fiction, science fiction, and romance). I should have loved this book as it has assassins, murders, sex, fights for power, and strategy for all kinds of things. All things an action, fantasy, historical fiction book should have, but I found the story longwinded. It was impossible to get fully into the first half of the book. Honestly, if it wasn't for the narration I would have DNFed this book early on at least around the 37% mark as I felt the story wasn't going anywhere. Mr. Cronin's voice was nice to listen to so I kept listening and it ended up paying off since the latter half was where I finally found a way to get into the action.

Even though I was able to like the book it still was a bit ridiculous. Aidan’s boy army are alive, but I have no idea how they could possibly be alive. Somehow, they ended up lost in the dessert, fighting off wolves and bad guys controlled by an immortal assassin, go back to where they were given to a man, then go with the guy's lady love to a certain city ONLY to go back to where they were given to the guy to wait for him... I understand that these are the times of Templars with knights, kings, and princes, but this just seems like complete nonsense that they would have let their master out of their sight when they adore him and cuddle with him at sleep and not even look for him.

The romance was the best part of this book, in my opinion. There was a love rectangle and it was decently executed as one of the sides was set aside, so I guess it was more of a love triangle. The sex scenes were nicely done; not smutty but enough to get the feelings of love and underlying ones the characters had. The outcome of everything wrapped up tidily and a part of it bothers me. It was too simple of a solution and I find it hard that nobody would figure things out with all the smart people around in their family. It’s like saying “if I will it to happen then I can not only be around my child but no one will find out that it’s not supposed to be mine” and it will because you’re good looking and charming to women, teens, and children. This book made me feel like I was losing my mind since things seemed nonsensical yet interesting at other times.

“Alamut” is my definition of a mixed bag as I both dislike and like aspects of it. The action is there but could have been better since it was boring about 55% of the time. The romance was the best part, but it seemed clipped near the end as the author seemed to feel it was time to wrap up her own story. Honestly, I’m not sure if this book needed to be longer or shorter to be a more complete book but it missed the mark for me. I’m giving this book a soft 3 star rating but can see myself changing it to a 2.75 in the future. I won’t be continuing this duology and am glad I can return this book as I don’t want it in my collection.

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was there nothing in this world that was either clean or simple?

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed a book with a Fae protagonist for reading bingo, and this was recommended to me. Which I appreciate, because this was beautiful and I can't imagine how I might have found it otherwise.

So this tells the story of a half-Fae prince from a Frankish kingdom far to the west, come to the Kingdom of Jerusalem during the reign of the Leper King, Baldwin IV. And it tells the story of an Ifrit woman enslaved to serve the Assassins (the actual historical Islamic sect).

This was almost a checklist of things I love in a book. Character-driven. A slow burn. An interesting setting. Inspired by a time/place/culture with which I'm unfamiliar (in this case the Crusader states). No clear good guy or bad guy.

It's not going to be for everyone - many people will find it dull, I'm sure. And it took me most of a month to get through it, because it took a while to really catch me. But once it did it didn't let go at all.

[Harper Kingsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book to an alarming degree. Though it's kind of a riff on elven kind in real life, it's also a pretty solid piece of crusade history. A bit of the supernatural added to a real piece of history.

Alamut was so engaging--with swords and assassins and bold power plays--but what really drew me in was the real history part. The whole Baldwin thing fascinated me so much that after I finished reading this book, I went and got some history books on the crusades and Jerusalem. The magic just emphasized my brain's interest on absorbing the real history stuff.

A supernatural romance, solid historical settings, and a hunt for an unstoppable assassin. Very much thumbs up.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

First in a duology (followed by The Dagger and the Cross) that's a sort of prequel to Tarr's The Hound and the Falcon trilogy.

In the Hound & the Falcon books, mostly hovering in the background were Aidan, brother to Gwydion (elf-king of Rhiyana) and his wife Morgiana, whom he'd brought back from the east. This is their story.

Alamut begins in the late 12th Century with Aidan arriving in Jerusalem to visit his newly-wedded nephew, only to find that the nephew, Gereint, has already been visited by one of the Old Man of the Mountain's assassins -- long story short, Selim (the aforementioned Old Man) wants to marry into Gereint's widow Margaret's family (a celebrated merchant dynasty) and so has decided to ... persuade her to accede to his wishes.

And Aidan, of course, will have no truck with this, so sets out to investigate and avenge only to discover that the assassin in question is, like him, an immortal of elven blood (named Morgiana), bound by oath to serve the Master of Alamut for some generations.

And matters will only be complicated when, while escorting Margaret's (very much married) daughter Joanna to safety, Aidan discovers he has Feelings towards her, feelings which are not entirely unreciprocated ... And Morgiana, in the meantime, is starting to discover that she has some Feelings of her own ...

Another excellent not-quite-historical novel set in a fascinating historical milieu with compelling characters and graceful prose.

And this book holds a special place in my heart because the Author's Note at the end of the book was my first introduction to the notion of early (medieval and Renaissance) music -- at the start of the book, Aidan is singing a song that can be found right here on the album Music of the Crusades by David Munrow and the Early Music Consort of London and did I buy that album almost as soon as I read the Author's Note? Reader, I did.

[Jacqueline J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book. Sort of a magical telling of the time of the crusades. With the original assassins and genies thrown in. Good jumping off point for learning about history. I looked a lot of stuff up after I read it to find out the real story.

The best part of this story however is the language. Reading this book is like reading poetry. Judith Tarr presents the English language in all its beauty without beating you over the head with how clever she is. You can tell a story or you can tell a story with words that evoke images as brilliant as a stained glass window.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This took me forever to get into - a very slow start, so I read several other books in between. But definitely worth the read, and the last half went quickly. Perhaps I was just not in the mood for this book earlier. I plan to read the sequel.

[Surreysmum · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the time of the Crusades, a half-human Christian knight named Aidan travels to the Holy Land to see his nephew; his nephew, more mortal, has just been killed in his sleep by a female Assassin named Morgiana. She, it turns out, is also more than human, and eventually the two are fated (as Cole Porter would put it) to be mated. In the meantime, though, Aidan has a brief affair with Joanna, step-daughter to his late nephew and a married woman. By the end of the book, Joanna is bearing his child, but has returned to her husband. (We are clearly being set up for a sequel here). Aidan, meanwhile, has been kidnapped by Morgiana, and has made a bargain with her: he will "satisfy" her if in turn she helps him take revenge on her former master, who ordered the killing of his nephew (and his nephew's son). Naturally, in Morgiana's view, it takes more than one night, however swoony, to satisfy, and she turns up very publicly just as Aidan is swearing his oath of allegiance to the (Christian) King of Jerusalem, and claims him in marriage. All this is wrapped up in some rather good story-telling and some rather impressive local historical detail; half fantasy/half historical, and rather fun. In contrast to the only other Tarr I've read (A Fall of Princes), there's relatively little in the way of homoerotic overtones in this book. [These notes were made in 1991:].

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A historical fantasy set in the Crusader days of the Assassins and of the Leper King of Jerusalem. An Ifrit [spirit of fire], Prince Aidan, from what sounds like a fictional Wales or Ireland, visits his human relatives in Jerusalem. His nephew has been killed. The boy Thibault, Aidan's grand-nephew is murdered after he attaches himself to Aidan as a "squire. Aidan meets the Leper King and promises to declare fealty to him once he has taken vengeance on the Assassins. Saladin gives him a group of mamluks who follow him implicitly. A harrowing journey with obstacles set in his way, from Jerusalem, Damascus, Aleppo, to the stronghold, Alamut, follows. After attempted murder of Aidan's ladylove, he realizes he is up against another immortal power, such as himself, the ifritah, Morgiana.

In the first half, the history seemed pretty solid; in the last half, the fantasy took over. The book was enjoyable, but the copious amount of romance--between Aidan and Thibault's sister, the human Joanna--was cloying and to me, TOO descriptive. I was uncomfortable, in any case. That aspect could have been cut way down. I'm not sure if I'll read the sequel or not although it's on my list--not a priority. I think the story could have ended right here well enough.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a different, detailed, rich setting (Outremer) and history (the Crusader kingdoms during the 2nd and 3rd Crusades). Unfortunately relatively light on characterization and Alamut/Hashishins (i.e. = assassins) portion of the story. Not much in the "fantasy" portion of the story - other than being part of the identity of the lead characters - more of a historical fiction novel w/ a fantasy element than a fantasy novel partially based on history.

[Lisa Whitaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is this a historical book with fantasy elements or a fantasy book with historical elements? Or is it a Romance? A little of all three, I guess. Regardless, this book, and its sequel, The Dagger and the Cross, are a facinating look into the Middle East during the period of the Crusades.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't beat Judith Tarr for Middle Eastern fantastical alt-history.

[Richard Balmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best fantasy novels I've read in the past five years, up there with Nicola Griffith's Spear and Bernard Cornwell's Winter King. Like those two novels, Alamut adds the apparent presence of magic to a historical setting, lending weight to the former and glamour to the latter. Like Spear it presents magic as a kind of total informational awareness - of and from nature in Spear, of and from human thought and emotion in Alamut.

While Alamut revolves around a quest for vengeance across medieval Syria (against no less a historical enemy than Rashid ad-Din al-Sinan, the Old Man of the Mountain, master of Assassins), this is not a tale of rootless adventurers. Social, religious and personal obligations define and rule each characters, who personalities reveal themselves in their conversations with others. I've rarely been invested so much in fictional friendships. All these fragile, powerful and constrained interpersonal ties (and the fear that they might be torn asunder by the escalating plot) lent a real pace and tension to the novel.

The medieval world of Damascus and Jerusalem is vividly described, both the historical elements and the more supernatural ones. This is the best novel about genies I've read since Tim Powers' Declare, and their strange and ensorcelling charisma drives much of the novel. The relationship between fey glamour, medieval oath-swearing, and mortal consent is an alien and discomforting one.

I'm looking forward to reading the sequel! While this novel has a largely self contained story, there are enough dangling threads to carry on with. I can't imagine the new status quo established in the finale will be very stable!

[Spencer Ellsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really immersive if not super-compelling read, Alamut puts you so deep into the medieval era, especially the mindset of both Franks and Syrians in the era before the Third Crusade, that you may find yourself pledging to your liege and venturing off to the Levant.

Aidan is a half-human, half-Fae knight, and gets about as much hype as Lancelot or Galahad for his looks, his virtue, and his quest to avenge the death of a child murdered by one of the Assassins. He takes a tour of all the various power-play strongholds in this era, meeting with both Baldwin IV, the Leper King, and Saladin, the general who would retake Jerusalem in 1187 with a much more merciful policy than the first Crusaders had.

I love this era, and I've researched the demons-eat-your-sphincter-medieval Hell out of it, but even I learned a few things from the amazing research here. The conflict is a slow burner, and the book was a bit put-downable, but the language and worldbuilding are so rich that you will be drawn in.

[Kimberly Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems lately that I have been reading a lot of books set in the time period of Second Crusades or thereabouts. This is an alternative history during the reign of Baldwin IV, the leper king, but with Ifrit. The main character is actually a half-Ifrit, half-mortal Christian prince in Persia. I had a hard time getting into the story, but once I did, I really enjoyed it. I was actually really surprised at how much actual history there was in this fantasy story. Some of it I knew from recent reading and some I looked up. I definitely have not been searching out books in this setting but I'm glad this one found its way into my reading pile.

[Mei · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this years ago as a teen and remember enjoying it, both the setting and the characters. Wasn't super fond of the ending though I preferred Aidan staying with his mortal lover rather than falling for Morgiana, it fel jarring to me that he fell so easily out of love with his first love interest and fell for Morgiana just because they were the same species.

No idea how the book and its sequels hold up if I read them as a much pickier adult fantasy lover, but I still remember the series better than most of my teen reads.

[Ken Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Big story that reflects a great deal of historical research and imagination. While great care was taken with the characterizations, the story does not hold up for such a lengthy novel. I found a great deal of the time was spent on the fairly trivial and the story just moved too slowly. Great effort, but for me it just comes up a bit short. Worth reading for the history and the geographical detail, but the story felt a bit thin in the end.

[Dantegideon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit mournful for me.

[Eugene Krashtan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Шикарно. Однозначно рекомендую к прочтению

[Lizzy Pitch · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. was interested as it was apparently the inspiration for assassins creed but was pretty boring

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gave this five stars, because of the quality of writing, along with attention to characterization and setting, making it read like a contemporary version of *The Arabian Nights*. In fact there are references and themes that run throughout the book.

I suppose I enjoyed this because it is a fantasy written by a historian. On that note, it at times it felt like an YA title, perhaps because this a first book, in that there is a second title, so maybe book two will be better? Being more than thirty years, I don't know if I could find it.

Good, enjoyable summer read.

[Nancy Kendall]

Audible exclusive (17 hrs)

[LOL_BOOKS]

I'M READING ALAMUT BY JUDITH TARR. IT'S PRETTY GOOD SO FAR AND HAS SHIPS MEMERS WOULD PROBABLY LIKE.

[Cabbie Glass · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of Ms. Tarr's books are wonderfully original, and highly readable. Her wit and intelligence shine through her characters, each of whom exemplifies her own fiercely independent spirit. Always fascinating, at times deeply moving, her stories draw the reader into realms steeped in rich, historical detail as well as the best of High Fantasy. Her scholarship, as well as her vast knowledge of medieval history is legendary, but it is her uncanny, almost psychic, understanding of the consciousness of horses that defies ordinary human experience and sets her firmly in the realm of the mystics and saints.

[Maureen E · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this one last night. I really liked it–Tarr is one of those writers who makes prose seem effortless. And who knew that Crusading knights and fey creatures could play so well together? In fact, this is a lovely bit of historical fantasy, and I do love historical fantasy, especially with a dash of mystery and a lot of strong writing. There’s also a strong romantic plot which I found odd, but also enjoyable in a hard-to-define way. I’ve heard really good things about her Lord of the Two Lands, so I have put a hold on that.

[Heather Wickett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most of Judith Tarr's books, I liked this novel. The plot was a tad...plotless, really. Meandering and vague, it sometimes succeeded in being a character piece of Aidan the Frankish knight living in a Saracen world - but more often than not it felt like Judith Tarr was interested in the crusades, and the knight Aidan, and thought I suppose I'll just write one novel to save time. Aidan and his two love interests were probably the weakest and wishywashiest characters - everyone else was quite interesting.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my second or third time reading this book. I think I found more flaws in it this time, in the sense that it's more than a little horrifying that both women have to go back to husbands who have physically mistreated them. And yes, I realize that is a reflection of the morals of the time, but it still doesn't quite sit right. Something about Morgana and Aidan's romance strikes an off chord in me too, even though it's not entirely different from how Thea pursued poor Alf, and I love that trilogy.

[Rima Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Judith Tarr. Her Queen of Swords was superior historical fiction. Alamut was... too long. While Tarr clearly had the knowledge as well as the seeds of a great story, the execution was meh. There were huge lags in action, and I practically forgot what the point of the story was. The main characters were a bit flat -- I had a hard time relating to Aidan, Joanna, and Morgiana as people. Also, I feel like Aidan should have figured out who Morgiana was earlier in the story.

[Sarah Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic telling of the Crusades with some magic thrown in. I read this book 20+ years ago at a time when I getting my library degree and taking a graduate history course on the Crusades from the Muslim point of view.

One of my favorite novels...Judith Tarr is a great writer of medieval fiction!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if not all the Crusaders who went to the Holy Land were human? What if some of them were the Fair Folk? What if a Christian fell in love with an Infidel? This is a wonderful book about the Crusades, about magic, about love.