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Wolves of Solomon #1
The Wolves of Solomon
England, 1307...
Templar Knight Galeren de Massard is sent to investigate an incident where a nun claims to have been attacked by “a man who became a wolf.” When Galeren meets Catherine, he instinctively knows that her attacker was Esquin de Floyran, an old foe, and that his return is dangerous for the increasingly unpopular Templar Order.
Out for revenge, De Floyran has betrayed his brotherhood’s secret to the French King who has long sought to discredit the Templars. When he discovers the truth of their nature, he vows to destroy the Order and have the Knights burned to the last.
When hundreds of Templars are arrested in France and Catherine is taken by De Floyran, Galeren resolves to rescue her and save as many of his brethren as he can. Alone, he journeys to France and into the heart of danger to face his enemy and risk everything to save his race from destruction.
Templar Knight Galeren de Massard is sent to investigate an incident where a nun claims to have been attacked by “a man who became a wolf.” When Galeren meets Catherine, he instinctively knows that her attacker was Esquin de Floyran, an old foe, and that his return is dangerous for the increasingly unpopular Templar Order.
Out for revenge, De Floyran has betrayed his brotherhood’s secret to the French King who has long sought to discredit the Templars. When he discovers the truth of their nature, he vows to destroy the Order and have the Knights burned to the last.
When hundreds of Templars are arrested in France and Catherine is taken by De Floyran, Galeren resolves to rescue her and save as many of his brethren as he can. Alone, he journeys to France and into the heart of danger to face his enemy and risk everything to save his race from destruction.
- GenresFantasy
505 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 16, 2010
64 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
R.L. Blackhurst
4 books3 followersI was born in Essex but raised in Bahrain and southern Spain. Having fallen in love with the natural world at a young age, I studied for a degree in Earth and Planetary Sciences and went on to do a PhD in Astrobiology (looking for microbes that could colonize Martian rocks and that sort of thing!)
Now, I live in New Zealand and make "palm oil free" soaps and natural skincare products, and write fantasy and(hopefully soon) science fiction novels. I am crazy about wolves and have two of my own (well, close . . . Germans shepherds.) My other favourite beasts are sharks, rats (I have two) and all members of the crow family.
I like living in this century well enough, but often believe I was born too late or too early. The middle ages or a space faring future would have suited me better. Luckily as a writer I can write about both.
My first two books, "The Wolves of Solomon," and sequel "Wolf" are set in the middle ages and revolve around the fall of the enigmatic Knights Templar, with a supernatural theme.
I have just started the prequel to "The Wolves of Solomon."
Now, I live in New Zealand and make "palm oil free" soaps and natural skincare products, and write fantasy and(hopefully soon) science fiction novels. I am crazy about wolves and have two of my own (well, close . . . Germans shepherds.) My other favourite beasts are sharks, rats (I have two) and all members of the crow family.
I like living in this century well enough, but often believe I was born too late or too early. The middle ages or a space faring future would have suited me better. Luckily as a writer I can write about both.
My first two books, "The Wolves of Solomon," and sequel "Wolf" are set in the middle ages and revolve around the fall of the enigmatic Knights Templar, with a supernatural theme.
I have just started the prequel to "The Wolves of Solomon."
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 6, 2011
The Wolves of Solomon is a novel by ex-pat British author R.L. Blackhurst. Ms Blackhurst now lives in the South Island of New Zealand with her partner. I came across The Wolves of Solomon when Ms Blackhurst posted the novel for review in the Facebook group Review Seekers (the New Zealand connection is entirely coincidental). It was originally intended for my son to read and review; the original post on Facebook said something along the lines of “This is not strictly YA”, and I seized on the YA part. But then I got embarrassed at how long it was taking him to get around to reading it, so I did it myself. Although there are no graphic sex scenes, and the violence, though strong, is not OTT or gratuitous, the sexual themes and references do make it a book for adults. For example, one of the main characters, when he’s not frequenting brothels, gets his kicks out of raping and murdering women.
So. Age appropriateness dealt with. On with the review.
First, the negatives. This novel is a diamond in the rough which could be polished into a gem with the help of an assured editorial hand. A lot of the dialogue is punctuated incorrectly, the author never met a dialogue tag that she didn’t think could be ‘improved’ with an adverb, and there is far too much filtering; she frequently tells us (over 300 times – I searched the document) that a viewpoint character ‘knew’ this or ‘knew’ that, when it’s pretty obvious who is doing the knowing, therefore it doesn’t need to be stated.
And yet, I still gave the novel four stars.
Why? Because the things she does well outweigh a few easily-remedied writerly bad habits. The central premise – The Templar Knights were really werewolves under cover – is pure speculative fiction gold. Blackhurst seamlessly weaves this premise into an historical tale of the demise of the Templar Knights at the hands of King Philip IV of France in the fourteenth century, and overlays it all with the romance between Templar Knight Galeren de Massard and Catherine, a novice nun sent to a convent in disgrace by her unforgiving father. I don’t know much about the true history of the Knights Templar, but it appears that Blackhurst does; the story has a ring of authenticity about it, and the political plotline is exquisitely depicted. The characterisation is strong and the protagonists are heroic, yet just flawed enough to be sympathetic. You’ll often hear a novel described as having something for everyone, and in this case, it’s close to true. It’s a genre melange of historical novel, horror and paranormal romance which should appeal to lovers of all three genres.
So. Age appropriateness dealt with. On with the review.
First, the negatives. This novel is a diamond in the rough which could be polished into a gem with the help of an assured editorial hand. A lot of the dialogue is punctuated incorrectly, the author never met a dialogue tag that she didn’t think could be ‘improved’ with an adverb, and there is far too much filtering; she frequently tells us (over 300 times – I searched the document) that a viewpoint character ‘knew’ this or ‘knew’ that, when it’s pretty obvious who is doing the knowing, therefore it doesn’t need to be stated.
And yet, I still gave the novel four stars.
Why? Because the things she does well outweigh a few easily-remedied writerly bad habits. The central premise – The Templar Knights were really werewolves under cover – is pure speculative fiction gold. Blackhurst seamlessly weaves this premise into an historical tale of the demise of the Templar Knights at the hands of King Philip IV of France in the fourteenth century, and overlays it all with the romance between Templar Knight Galeren de Massard and Catherine, a novice nun sent to a convent in disgrace by her unforgiving father. I don’t know much about the true history of the Knights Templar, but it appears that Blackhurst does; the story has a ring of authenticity about it, and the political plotline is exquisitely depicted. The characterisation is strong and the protagonists are heroic, yet just flawed enough to be sympathetic. You’ll often hear a novel described as having something for everyone, and in this case, it’s close to true. It’s a genre melange of historical novel, horror and paranormal romance which should appeal to lovers of all three genres.
July 5, 2017
I picked this up not really knowing what it was about, despite the fact that it had 'Wolves' in the title. It took me a while to understand it was about werewolves, but by that time I was hooked. I'm not a great fan of werewolf stories, but this was great. I loved the concept of the Order of the Knight Templar's being a organization as a cover for shape shifters. A well told story with great characters. It was enjoyable to follow the fortunes and misfortunes of Galeren de Massard and his mate Catherine. Lots of heroics and heroes, plus a greedy and paranoid King, a weak Pope and dastardly villains. Intrigue, betrayal, love and bravery, all set against a background of real historical events. Lovely alternative history. I would recommend this to anyone who like historical fiction fantasy.
December 18, 2025
“I went into this expecting a straightforward historical fantasy, but it turned out to be much richer and more intense than I anticipated. The medieval setting feels authentic and atmospheric, and the blend of Templar history with the darker, supernatural elements works surprisingly well. Galeren is a compelling lead driven, conflicted, and easy to root for and his rivalry with De Floyran adds real emotional weight to the story. I especially liked how the tension builds as the fate of the Templars hangs in the balance, making every decision feel urgent and costly. The pacing kept me turning pages, and the stakes never felt small. If you enjoy historical fiction with a dark, mythic edge, this is a very satisfying read.”
September 2, 2018
Research poor
This could be a tremendous book however; the details have not been checked. Shakespeare and potatoes are glaring historical errors. Modern methods of conversation are mixed in with a form of speech that is guessed at.
This could be a tremendous book however; the details have not been checked. Shakespeare and potatoes are glaring historical errors. Modern methods of conversation are mixed in with a form of speech that is guessed at.
December 16, 2020
Great book. Well-written, and it's obvious the author did their homework on Templar history. I love how fact and fiction are blended to create this story. The intrigue and historical details only add to the story.
June 17, 2017
Very good
A good read and a fascinating story about the Templar, s looking forward to the next instalment ,on to book 2
A good read and a fascinating story about the Templar, s looking forward to the next instalment ,on to book 2
July 16, 2018
Great story indifferently executed.
February 21, 2019
Adventure, fantasy and a love story!
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this - great characters and plot lines! I also liked the historical context blended with folklore.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this - great characters and plot lines! I also liked the historical context blended with folklore.
December 15, 2019
Great story; horrible writing
5 stars is what the story deserves, but the terrible grammar (or lack thereof), run on sentences, wrong words, all made reading a chore.
5 stars is what the story deserves, but the terrible grammar (or lack thereof), run on sentences, wrong words, all made reading a chore.
July 12, 2020
Great read
As I have said above, this book was so easily read and although it was fantasy, and I know it was ....... l think. It had me believing it. I think that this story could be read by a “mature” child and certainly by an old guy like me,the gory bits are acceptable for the younger reader. I read this book because I got it for £0.00 as they say “ the best things in life ...........
As I have said above, this book was so easily read and although it was fantasy, and I know it was ....... l think. It had me believing it. I think that this story could be read by a “mature” child and certainly by an old guy like me,the gory bits are acceptable for the younger reader. I read this book because I got it for £0.00 as they say “ the best things in life ...........
October 24, 2014
This is a brilliant amalgamation of historical fact, a ton of fiction, werewolves, revenge, conspiracy and good ol' action adventure very much in the theme of Three Musketeers and similar stories. Blackhurst combines the traditional stories that surround the Templar Knights with a good dose of werewolf lore and the usual romance, damsel in distress and saving world order that such historical tales require in a fairly seamless and fast paced story. We find ourselves following a number of the characters as they set out to save themselves and others, protect the Templar Order or to wreak havoc across the known world and destroy the Order getting revenge on their enemnies in the process. Each of the characters is well founded and develops over the course of the story, including interesting bits of back story and previous encounters. The only issue really is with some of the writing as there is a good amount of additional unnecessary wordage used which makes the book more cumbersome than it needs to be. But as the story is such a good one it doesn't suffer too much because of this. I did have some issue with how Catherine was portrayed as she couldn't seem to decide between being the damsel in distress or being a hard ass (personally she should've stuck with the latter, she obviously has the balls to do it so do it!), but this is very much a personal preference. Overall a pretty damn good read.
March 17, 2016
I loved this story. Although I initially considered the premise of Templar Knights as Werewolves as preposterous, I was sufficiently wooed by the story line to suspend disbelief and follow this story. On doing so, I was rewarded with a tale that unfolded with rich historical detail and complex political machinations that are more than believable for the times in which the story is set. I found the pace was even throughout although a couple of slow spots had me skipping pages ... only because I really enjoyed the story line and wanted the plot to move forward! In a tip to Larry Brooks, the setting was perfect and the author nailed every single plot point at precisely when they needed to arrive. Huge applause here.
Well done, Ms Blackhurst, on a well-told story that had me thinking about both the characters and the story line long after I put it down.
Well done, Ms Blackhurst, on a well-told story that had me thinking about both the characters and the story line long after I put it down.
May 24, 2016
Wolves of Solomon is a Tour de Force
if you aware of the current accepted theories circulating by most other than UGLE, you will appreciate the value of this tactic. Given the Templars mystical perspective gained from nearly a 200 year sojourn in the Holy Land; and how in Europe their battle cry Beauseant, was also joined with freedom cry of Liberty, Fraternity, & Egalite, and for the sake of practicing the presence of profit, their books are known to be more greatly itemized and complete than did the treasure not found to plunder at Paris Temple. Introducing Lycanthropy and bloodlines of Jackals sneering while only the more remarkable dire-wolf men are ever able to win in the battles against evil.
if you aware of the current accepted theories circulating by most other than UGLE, you will appreciate the value of this tactic. Given the Templars mystical perspective gained from nearly a 200 year sojourn in the Holy Land; and how in Europe their battle cry Beauseant, was also joined with freedom cry of Liberty, Fraternity, & Egalite, and for the sake of practicing the presence of profit, their books are known to be more greatly itemized and complete than did the treasure not found to plunder at Paris Temple. Introducing Lycanthropy and bloodlines of Jackals sneering while only the more remarkable dire-wolf men are ever able to win in the battles against evil.
July 20, 2015
Very interesting. Started out a little slow, but once all the preliminary descriptions were done it got interesting. Very different from the usual werewolf tale. I have started the second book in the series.
not-finished
April 30, 2015I found this book to be very leading and a Templar who doesn't believe in its' cause is not something I'm into. Plus the heroine was a bit too Mary-Sue, the Abbess too damning, you get the picture. Shame because the premise is wonderful.
January 9, 2015
Good read! 5 stars
This book was good. The story flowed well and kept you interested in the outcome of it's very likable hero and his mate.
This book was good. The story flowed well and kept you interested in the outcome of it's very likable hero and his mate.
July 26, 2015
Great Story
This book does fit in with historical events, and could be said is true. But that there lies the secret of the Templars.
This book does fit in with historical events, and could be said is true. But that there lies the secret of the Templars.
July 18, 2016
Read this a few years ago and have just enjoyed it all over again! Exciting and romantic just a perfect read.
March 30, 2015
INTERESTING STORY
January 21, 2018
Not what I was expecting but I really enjoyed it. well written with a good plot and super characterisation.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews