Byzantium

by Stephen R. Lawhead

Aidan, a scribe in a remote Irish monastery, accompanies a band of monks on a trip to the magical city of Byzantium, where he becomes an ambassador to kings and an intimate of Byzantium's Golden Court.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Historical, Christian Fiction, Christian, Adventure

645 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Stephen R. Lawhead is an internationally acclaimed author of mythic history and imaginative fiction. His works include Byzantium, Patrick, and the series The Pendragon Cycle, The Celtic Crusades, and The Song of Albion.

Also see his fanpage at Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/stephenlawhead...

Stephen was born in 1950, in Nebraska in the USA. Most of his early life was spent in America where he earned a university degree in Fine Arts and attended theological college for two years. His first professional writing was done at Campus Life magazine in Chicago, where he was an editor and staff writer. During his five years at Campus Life he wrote hundreds of articles and several non-fiction books.

After a brief foray into the music business—as president of his own record company—he began full-time freelance writing in 1981. He moved to England in order to research Celtic legend and history. His first novel, In the Hall of the Dragon King, became the first in a series of three books (The Dragon King Trilogy) and was followed by the two-volume Empyrion saga, Dream Thief and then the Pendragon Cycle, now in five volumes: Taliesin, Merlin, Arthur, Pendragon, and Grail. This was followed by the award-winning Song of Albion series which consists of The Paradise War, The Silver Hand, and The Endless Knot.

He has written nine children's books, many of them originally offered to his two sons, Drake and Ross. He is married to Alice Slaikeu Lawhead, also a writer, with whom he has collaborated on some books and articles. They make their home in Oxford, England.

Stephen's non-fiction, fiction and children's titles have been published in twenty-one foreign languages. All of his novels have remained continuously in print in the United States and Britain since they were first published. He has won numereous industry awards for his novels and children's books, and in 2003 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by the University of Nebraska.

also write under the name Steve Lawhead

Reviews

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are two kinds of epic novels: the kind (such as Stephen King's The Stand) where the characters start to feel like close, personal friends, and where you are constantly being blown away by the author's imaginative scope; and the kind (such as Gai-Jin by James Clavell) that seem to drag on endlessly month after month, as you stare at the bookshelf and wonder how much time you will have wasted if you give up and just start something different. The first few chapters of Byzantium give the impression of its fitting into the latter category, but, after that, it quickly establishes itself as belonging in the former. Lawhead started off as a writer of really bad science fiction novels, and it's amazing to see how far he has come at developing his craft. Byzantium is miles above anything else he had written previously, and it makes me regret that I'd given up reading him for so long. The story has a 13th Warrior kind of feel, and the action scenes are superb, especially one particular battle at sea where Danish warriors must contend with enemy ships armed with Greek fire. Very cool, if you're into that kind of thing. Lawhead is also to be commended for being perhaps the most daring "certified" Christian writer I've ever come across. Sure, Byzantium has a Christian message, but Lawhead is not afraid to realistically depict carnage, sexuality, and profanity (to a small degree) as it exists in the real world. The spiritual lessons imparted are not feel-good, Hallmark-greeting-card platitudes, either, but genuine spiritual wisdom that is effectively used to boost the story and bring added depth to its characters. This may well be the best adventure novel you can buy in a Christian bookstore. My only real criticism of the novel (apart from the fact that I wish it hadn't been written in first-person) is that it takes almost 600 pages for the main character to have a purpose and a goal in the story. Before that, he simply drifts along at the mercy of men who weld greater power, and this makes him a bit boring and unlikable. Looking back on it, though, you can see how Lawhead does an admirable job of bringing all the plot threads together into one cohesive narrative tapestry. But you have to have patience to get there. Hopefully, you will, because it's a terrific pay-off when you finally complete the journey.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came within a whisker of giving this 5 stars. I loved the journey for so much of the book that when it started to get boring for me, 200 pages from the end, I was bitterly disappointed. I wanted this to be my first 5 star historical fiction of the year! Still, it is a strong 4 star book and while the last 200 pages held some boredom for me, it was not all that way, only some of it.

All that aside, onto the book itself.

Man, I really got off on this book for 600 pages. As all those who know me well on Goodreads realise I am quite the little Viking fan. Byzantium, despite the rather misleading title, was only small part Byzantium. The majority was set amoung the Vikings in places other than Byzantium.
The main character, Aidan an Irish monk, is abducted by Vikings during a raid in the early part of the book and becomes their slave.
These Norsemen are enjoyable in all their childish, brutal, oafish glory. They were thoroughly entertaining and funny, which is how I love my Northmen to be. I found myself chuckling a lot in this book.
King Harald is a real character and there is even one scene with him and his men in their longboats which a buddy and I, whilst discussing the book, compared to a Monty Python skit. It was some humorous moment that one.

Lawhead, surprisingly, was a master of atmospheric writing. I say surprised because my only other taste of him has been with the YA book, Hood. Even in that book I could see hints of a good adult fiction writer, but the young adult themed storyline didn't appeal to me. So, when I began Byzantium I was amazed that this author had it in him.
It is a real shame that he got his fame from those YA books and not from his adult historical fiction books, because he deserves fame for both.

I recommend this book to anyone who has experience with and likes historical fiction (not YA HF, because it is a completely different kettle of fish to his YA offerings).

[A. Dawes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generally a fantasist, Lawhead also writes historical fiction quite well.

The title here is a little misleading, as it's more about the destination than the story itself. Aidan is a blueblood, who chooses the role of a scribe in an Irish monastery over a role of power. Adventure though soon awaits, as he and a group of monks are given a mission to journey to the mystical East's capital, Byzantium, to present a valuable manuscript, The Book of Kells, to the Emperor himself.

The story suits a fantasy writer as it revolves around the journey itself, an overly familiar trope in the fantasy genre. Aidan, naturally, develops over the journey, meeting all manner of 'exotic' people and 'finds himself' in the process.

It's a nice novel, told in first person, for the most part not overly dramatic or eventful, nevertheless, it's a good read.

[Palmyrah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Docked one star for a page or two of Christian apologetics at the end. The problems of theodicy are not resolved quite so readily as that; unfortunately, theodicy is the first-person narrator’s big spiritual problem.

Byzantium is in every other way a five-star read, and diligently researched as to historical background. I spotted one or two trivial anachronisms, but the big stuff checks out. Somewhere in the middle of the ninth century, Aidan the Irish monk travels to the other end of the mediaeval world – Samarra in Mesopotamia – by way of the capital of (what is left of) the Roman Empire: the city of Constantinople, also known as Byzantium. He starts out as one of a company of monks sent to accompany the Book of Kells to Byzantium, where it is to be presented to the Emperor, Basil I. But things get complicated, and when he finally does end up in the imperial capital it is as a slave to the king of a tribe of Vikings. And that’s just the beginning of a very long story. It’s action and intrigue and excitement all the way, and very hard to put down.

I learnt while reading the book that Stephen Lawhead, whom I had never heard of before, is a ‘Christian’ author. I’m not terribly sure what that means, except that it in my experience it usually means a book full of preaching, salutary moral examples and sadistic punishments visited upon the ungodly. Seriously, there’s none of that here, only that disappointing bit of theology at the end. Despite my own sturdy irreligiosity, I was able to read the whole book with unsullied enjoyment. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good old-fashioned adventure story or realistic and well-researched historical novels.

[Shannon Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever I recommend this book I can't help but really mean it from a literary standpoint, and a spiritual standpoint. Aidan takes quite a journey through many places. Along the way he encounters a lot of challenges that change him fundamentally. I like how real Lawhead makes this journey for him. He is taken to the edge and then beyond to discover who he is. So often in our own lives we have a crisis of identity and Lawhead shows this in detail. My favorite part is at the end when Aidan realizes everything happens for a purpose and that God was with him all the time. Often we have epiphanies like that where things are clear for the first time. The best and most important ones are when they come from God. He draws us in, shakes up our world, changes us, and it it all alright.

[Fonch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ladies and gentlemen, although I have many overdue reviews yesterday I do not know why I came up with an idea, which could be interesting to review some of my favorite books. I don't know why I thought a lot about a character in this book called Justino (I guess because of the scandals in the world of football in particular Barçagate, and the impunity of certain institutions, and people in this world. If you want to know more about the world of football I recommend the YouTube videos of YouTuber Quillo Barrios)), since this character speaks to the protagonist Adam of the corruption of the principalities of this world. I got this book thanks to the magazine El Círculo de Lectores to which my mother was curiously subscribed (which is the one that pays less attention to books), But thanks to her above all my father, and I were able to acquire valuable treasures. Perhaps one of the most valuable has been "Byzantium" by Stephen R. Lawhead, which here delved into the field of the historical novel. Lawhead had been noted for his novels of Fantasy Song of Albion, and his five Arthurian-themed novels, where he mixed the history of England with the destruction of Atlantis. He is a great Christian (but not Catholic) writer. That will be discussed later) very influenced by the Inklings, particularly was very influenced by Charles Williams (he took the opportunity to send a hug to Sorina Higgins). In fact, he even participated in a book of homage to Tolkien called "Tolkien Lord of Middle-earth" edited by my most admired, and dear @jpearce_official. I liked this novel "Byzantium" so much, that I was looking for similar novels, and I could not find them taking spectacular disappointments. I think of one of the worst novels I've ever read “Hawk Gest” of Robert Lyndon (who despite his protagonists Hero, and Vallon, and talking about the school of Salerno was very boring. Not to mention the amoral ending, and the Gnostic plot, which was marked in the final denouement). I am also thinking of "Baudolino" by Umberto Eco (which is more than for being anti-Christian. He failed to change the rules mid-match.) To me Lawhead, despite his anti-Catholicism, seems to me one of the best writers, I have ever read. On the subject of the Celtic world I ask people to seek out my reviews of Steven A. McKay's "The Druid," Gilles Kristian's "Lancelot," and the wonderful book "Mailoc's Journey" by Prior Santiago Cantera (for me a magnificent novel, which puts the world of Celtic Christianity in the proper context). In the wonderful "Avalon" of Anya Seton was already seen the decline of Celtic Christianity in England, and the North of France. . Of course, in the five wonderful parts of this novel the world of Irish abbeys is described with a masterful hand. The plot of the novel is very simple an embassy of Irish monks wants to bring a gift to the emperor of Byzantium. The most powerful monarch in the Christian world. I tell you a little about the context Charlemagne, and Louis the Pious have died, and Charles the Bald succeeds them. Leon is ruled by Alfonso III (the best King of Leon), and Alfred the Great (so praised at Ivanhoe by Cedric Rotherwood) is about to arrive in Wessex. But none of these sovereigns comes to the power of the Emperor of Byzantium. I tell you how Byzantium has overcome the iconoclastic heresy thanks to the Empress Theodora, and her son Michael III the drunkard rules. Lawhead does not say so (although he drops as Photius treats heretics). There has been a rupture between the Patriarch of Constantinople Photius, and the Papacy that two centuries later crystallized with the rupture between Byzantium, and the Western European monarchies, creating a schism between East, and West with Michael Cerularius around the year 1054. Lawhead's idea is through Bishop Cadoc to offer one of the treasures of the Celtic Church the book of Kells to the emperor of Byzantium (I did not yet know the story of the book of Kells, which has been told in cartoons, and I give thanks, because otherwise I would have known how the novel ended). The protagonist Aidan is a monk son of Irish princes, whose family was killed by the Vikings, who have created Dubh Llyn (future Dublin). He will do everything possible to be chosen for the expedition, succeeding, even if his confessor warns him of spiritual dangers. We must say that the fantastic element in Lawhead Aidan has a gift of premonitory dreams and before the eve of departure at a vigil he has a dream that, like Joseph, or the Prophet Daniel interprets his destiny to be to die in Byzantium. With what has a terrible fear to go from the Irish side highlight the description of the Celtic abbeys Hy, Lindisfarne, and Coincmaclose, and the different personalities of the monks. Aidan gets along very well with his friend Dugal, with Prior Fraoch, with his confessor, he cannot stand Brocmal's arrogance, and Libir, and although he is an embarrassing character Aidan reluctantly supports Diarmot. Of the expeditionary monks the most interesting are Brynach (which will later have tremendous importance), and the doctor Ddewi (who explains how Celtic medicine works. Apart from the heroic Cadoc. We are told about concepts of the Celtic Church martyrdom (red), pilgrimage (green martyrdom), Anamcara. Cadoc embodies Celtic holiness, which was basic to the re-evangelization of Europe. On the subject of hierarchies is very interesting the portrait of Lord Aengus, and Eithne (which is compared to St. Bridget of Kildare). Not to be confused with the Swedish Saint. Fintan is very interesting. As well as the description of Celtic France by Samson de Dol. His encounter with the Vikings. Before going to Byzantium, everything happens to Aidan, and it evolves. A gesture of charity will save him. Since he is kidnapped by the Vikings (they survive a first attack thanks to Dugal, who got into the expedition thanks to his military competence). The part where Aidan is with the Vikings is the best, and they tell you how society worked. Harald Bluetooth was already there, and there is already a missionary like Scoop. What I like is the stay on the farm of Gunnar Warhammer (the Viking who captured him), and that is protecting him. Gunnar's family consists of his wife (Karin), a relative of his wife, Ylva (who is my favorite female character in this novel, I like much more than Kazimain. There are two beautiful scenes between her, and Aidan one in which she is bathing in a river, and then when she prepares the pancakes for her, and she is the first of the family to approach Christianity. It is seen that he has a predilection for Aidan. The pity is that Ylva doesn't come out as much as I'd like. But Lawhead gives him a perfect final destination. Gunnar has a son Ulf, and two slaves Helmuth (who will teach him to speak Danish), and Odd who has a mental disability. There is an event, which upsets everything, and makes the plot accelerate. Ragnar, who looks like the leader of the Vikings turns out to be a vassal of Harald bull bellow (I could not discover anything of the historicity of this character). This is a novel in which Aidan as he changes adopts different positions, and as if he were the hero of Campbell's 1000 faces he evolves. It is very interesting how Christianity is introduced, and how it anticipates Heliand, and how it tells the passion of Christ to the Vikings. Gunnar embodies the enthusiastic, Ragnar, and Leif are neutral, and Jarn has atheistic materialist positions. Lawhead rejects St. Augustine's approach, and does not believe that gods are demons. It is very interesting how Aidan thanks to a lawsuit passes into the hands of the disturbing Harald, who does not know the role he will play, and until the third will be a very dangerous threat, and unpredictable. Thanks to this novel I discovered how the Vikings called Byzantium Miklagard. We see the route used by the Varangians, and we analyze Viking enclaves such as Kiev before St. Vladimir, and Yaroslav. The descent of the rapids, and the battle of the Pechenegs is not bad. But the best thing is the incursion into Byzantium, I never saw the city of Byzantium so well described, although some Byzantineers have put obstacles to this novel. But, I think I became Byzantine thanks to this novel, and "The Fall of Constantinople" by Mika Waltari. It describes the city (impressive), the market, the port (especially the big chain). Lawhead's turn is very skillful, and how you go from a possible invasion, to a lawsuit, and then to be part of the Guard. Of the Byzantine part the best are the description of Basil the Macedonian, and the characters of Justin (who in my opinion would have deserved his own Spin Off. A novel like "The Golden Hall" by José Luis Corral) would be very good), and Nikos (one of the best villains I have met with permission from Irenicus from Baldurs Gates Shadows of Amn). There is some sympathetic character like Didymus. Justin there is a moment when he tries to explain to Aidan the evil of temporal power, and the corruption of the city. Aidan becomes an interpreter fluent in four languages (Latin, Greek, Celtic, and Danish). You will end up mastering a fifth language.) I had the honor of acting as an interpreter, perhaps the bitterest thing as Aidan moves away from God (something, which was already seen coming in the Viking part with Scoop, and a disturbing dream, which he has there, and should have disturbed him like the one he has in Eire), the further Aidan moves away from God the closer he gets to the world, although there will be playful moments such as the bet of bread that they will carry out at the instigation of Aidan Gunnar, and Hnephi (with a very surprising result for the first). The reason for Aidan's departure is a bit silly. Aidan had already gotten the idea, that if he comes to Byzantium, then he would die, but he does not die. (The most astute reader will have realized why.) The plot with Epparchus Nikephoros, to achieve peace between Byzantines, and Arabs is very heavy, although his confrontation with Nikos, who tries to boycott the Peace Treaty between Byzantines, and Arabs (using Sergius, Martian, or the cook Plautus) is not. There is first the meeting of Aidan with a seer, who announces what is going to happen to him, and who confirms what Aidan already knows, although it reassures him in a way. Of the best the battle between the Vikings against their mysterious opponents, which show us that they show that Lawhead is one of the best writers of the war genre (on that we will abound. There is a very good battle in his first Celtic Crusader novel "Road to Jerusalem" between Byzantines, and Pechenegs, who also appear in this novel.) When they are captured as slaves Aidan will be reunited with some companions, and after some epic scenes. And dramatic will change masters again. The Arab part with Emir Sadiq, Faysal, and Kazimain is heavier (although there are some curious characters such as the doctor Faruk, and the Egyptian interpreter Mahmoud). Of course he will use Kazimain (since to seduce someone I would have tried with Ylva, but hey), to achieve his ends, and take revenge on Nikos, and save his friends. Although Lawhead puts the Arabs well shows the decline of the Abbasid dynasty, after Al Mansur, Harun Al Raschid, and Al Mamun dynasty falls in less than two hundred years, due to rebellions, and splits (one of them (the Umayyad Spain of Abderramán), leaving only Baghdad, which will be destroyed by the Mongols in the thirteenth century. If it had not been for religion today there would have been nothing left of the Muslims, who suffered religious wars between Sunnis, and Schíes (one of the most curious manifestations were the Fatimids of Egypt), and the Arabs were conquered by the Turks, the Ghaznavids who dominated that region in the eleventh century were Turks, who were displaced by other Turks the Seljuks. The Califa of this book Al Mutamid (and they must deal with the Vizier Tabatabai). The rescue of Aidan's friends is fine, as well as the battles, although the best is where they capture the Vikings. I did not like that the bad guys were the Armenians, but the villains, who are the precursors of the Cathars (decades later they would be an obstacle to Byzantium with Thomas the Slavic). Lawhead is with Tolkien, Victor Hugo, Tolstoy, or Ryo Wada. It's one of the best descriptors of pitched battles I've ever seen. The duel between Brynach and Aidan is very interesting. Sometimes (especially when Aidan attacks the faith) he will support Brynach (particularly Aidan is very cruel to Ddewi, who shows us how Celtic medicine works). There is a moment when Sadiq (the lion of Samarra) tells him not to be like his enemies. Include what can happen to you. We are told that it tells us about the sterility of revenge, and what happens in a world in which the good do not always win. Not for the reason the villain of Spaceball said because the good are fools, but because the children of darkness are more warned than those of light. That evil should not be answered with more evil, or power with more power. Regarding the ascent of Leo VI will happen as in Quo Vadis? with the fire of Rome, which will remain in the field of the opinionable (The only request, which the emperor cannot grant, is that of the monks, although it is less costly than requests from Arabs and Vikings.) In fact they are the last ones who are the most favored, since they came for riches, and they got them (as Aidan will complain to his confessor). The ending is a masterpiece, and what is believed to be a curse is perhaps a gift. Now that death is being discussed at The Catholic Book Club. Be aware that in the end you are going to die, and even if a server is afraid of you. You have to accept it naturally not like the French enlightened. I will never know if Aidan's confessor knew, or not. But I find the ending of this novel wonderful, and a round brooch. In the end the novel is not only a physical journey, but a spiritual one, and that the end is not the attainment of material ends, but to believe in God, and to remain faithful to him, attaining salvation. As in Shusaku's Samurai, Endo Gunnar will understand it before Aidan. This God suffers for humans, and he cares about them, and in suffering we draw near to him. With all its lights and shadows (anti-Romanism, perhaps one of them), and some part like that of the Arabs heavier (yet Lawhead is sincere apostasy is paid for with death, and renouncing Islam is unthinkable). All in all this is one of my favorite historical novels. Superior "Abyssinian" of Rufin, or "The pillars of the Earth". Whoever likes Bernard Cornwell is going to like this novel, and it doesn't have the anti-Christian charge of Cornwell's novels. I already said that, thanks to this novel, and to "The Fall of Constantinople" by Mika Waltari, I studied the subject Byzantine Monographic Course. After Waltari's is my favorite novel about Byzantium, although Laszlo Passuth's "Born of the Purple" was not read. it could be edited again into Spanish (now it would be very difficult to find both in Spain, especially that of the Hungarian writer). My grade is (5/5). It is difficult to get, because Lawhead, it is no longer edited, but if you can get it do not miss it.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have had to spend some time deciding how to describe why I didn't like this book other than just writing that I found it boring.
It is not the kind of book that you would imagine as boring, once you get though the first 20 chapters, it never stops moving you through people and places. From sea wolves to emperors, forest to desert and country to city, there is always another place to be and more people to meet.
Alot of the story seemed implausible and did there really have to be so much praying?
What I finally came up with as a reason....is that I felt like I was being talked at, instead of entertained. I wasn't drawn into the story but was rather left on the outside being preached at by an Irish monk telling me his fantastical life story so I would convert.
It was okay but I feel like I've lost time that I could have used to read something better.

[Loren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about an irish monk, Aidan, who is chosen to embark on a journey to bring the Book of Kells to the Emporer of Byzantium (Constantinople). It has a pretty classic storyline in terms of the personal growth and trials that the main character goes through to fulfill his quest. If you enjoy historical fiction you won't be disappointed by this book. It's got plenty of action, conspiracy, and intrigue to make it a page-turner and it's enjoyably rich in culture. Be aware though (or be grateful, depending on how you look at it) that there is little to nothing in the way of romance or sex. Of course, there doesn't have to be because the plot stands on its own in making this book a great read. My only reason for giving the book 4 stars rather than 5 is because I felt consistently frustrated by Aidan's capricious emotions. One minute he's a devout monk and the next minute he's an atheist. One minute he's a genuine, reasoning fellow and the next he's a vengeful cutthroat. I realize that this is intended to demonstrate the change and growth that Aidan goes through over time, but I felt that the emotions of and between the characters lacked authenticity and I didn't feel really connected to or invested in them as much as I should have for a book like this. That is my main criticism and yet it did not deter me from enjoying this book immensely.

[Andy]

cant really give it a mark as i could go no further than 30pg's but there tells a tale!

Too much of the White Christ for this pagan & with the way it was going, no way could I endure for another 600+ pg's, delivery of the book of Kells was clue enough in the summary so should have swerved, Never mind.

[Michael Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happened to come across this, my first Lawhead book, many years ago in Barnes and Noble. Loved it. Some of the spiritual mysticism is strange, but minor in the overall story. This is epic Lawhead, and I think probably his best. Not many historical fiction books read like this one.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent historical fiction. I found this book very interesting and well written. Brought to light a period of history I don't know much about, Constantinople in the 900's AD. The main character is an Irish monk who travels from Ireland to Constantinople with many adventures along the way, including some time with the Sea Wolves, the Vikings from Daneland.
The author also wrestles with some significant theological questions in this book, but not in a preachy way. I really appreciated how he handled those topics.

[Kris43 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is story of Aidan, the Irish monk, descendant of a royal house. When he starts he is little more than a boy, still very much naive and trusting. Totally unprepared for the world. His family send him off as a little boy to a convent because it was seen as a good omen for his line to have a holy man as king's adviser. Somewhere along the line, it all got wrong, and his family was killed. That left him as a just another monk, a scribe. Apart from that, he has one unique quality, he's a seer and has prophetic dreams.

This book starts very slowly and we get familiar with Aidan himself and the monastery daily routine.

One day he founds out that there is going to be a pilgrimage to Byzantium and he does his very best to be worthy and gets selected. From there, his adventure starts.

From there action keeps rolling and we exchange one picturesque landscape for the other quickly. And things keep happening, some of them more over-the-top than other, some quite outrages. All center around Aidan.


*SPOILERS*




So we start the pilgrimage, survive heavy storm, get shipwrecked, attacked by vikings, almost killed, attacked again, captured, sold to slavery, attacked again, resold, go on another journey, meet the emperor, go on a yet another journey....get attacked again.....sold to slavery.....again.....

*END*


And somewhere along the line all those picturesque landscapes that keep changing and all those things happening merge into one long repetitive drag!
And then it drags on and on...

I found that to be the biggest fault of this book.
Aside from that this is a interesting well written book.

One other thing that you should be prepared for when opening this is that the main character is a monk and there is a lot of praying. Its all about God this and God that and if something is working its solely because of Gods favor...Aidan is very self righteous and narrow minded and has a derogatory view on other people's Gods. And a major condescending attitude! Is also really preachy and holier than God's piss pot! I found that very off-putting. There was one part when Aidan tries to convince Vikings that christian God is viable, it was hilarious! I realize he's a medieval monk, but still, I didn't like it. The barbarians were much more open minded.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my new favorite book from Lawhead who has become one of my favorite authors.

Aidan the protagonist is a young exuberant monk eager to win glory for God by carrying a precious gift across the known world of the Holy Roman Empire to lay at the feet of Basil the second. Through the friendships made and broken, heaped with honors and plastered with humiliations, radiant with joy and drowned in sorrows, he realizes life is not what he hoped it would be, faith is not what he knew it to be, and he, Aidan, is no longer the boy who left. I left a boy. What have I become?

It tells the tale of humanity: a tale of beauty and brokenness. And it tells how the hand of God works, now seen, now unseen, through it all.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read! This book has a little of everything in it. Aidan, an Irish monk, is on a pilgrimage to Byzantium, but a shipwreck and marauding Vikings change Aidan's destiny. Aidan's journey takes the reader far beyond Byzantium into unbelievable situations and circumstances.

The core of the book for me was Aidan's loss of faith in God and the eventual renewal of that faith. Aidan lost his faith in a foreign country in the midst of unspeakable cruelty. Without God, Aidan was utterly alone and despondent. He had no soul. A Viking barbarian helped Aidan to find his faith in God again.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable historical fiction set in the Dark Ages when Constantinople was still considered a Religious center on par with Rome, when Danes/Vikings marauded the northern coasts of Europe and when monks in monasteries in Ireland and Britain painstakingly and carefully carried out the work of creating new copies of the Holy scriptures. In this tale by Lawhead you will experience the known world of the Dark Ages from the Emerald Isle to the Saracen lords of the Middle East. You get a good overview of Dark Ages history in Europe and the Middle East while enjoying the story.

[Malinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

My fav book of all time. I love the adventure, and the historical fact mixed with his fictional story. Plus, the story keeps changing, everywhere he travels is so different that it is like a new story. You hardly notice the length of the book. I was sad that the story had to end when it did. I learned a valuable lesson from the line God speaks to the main character, "What did you expect?" That was so powerful. This is my one MUST READ! Cory might like it too.

[Rita Costa (Lusitania Geek) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Bizâncio" é uma obra de ficção histórica que combina elementos de aventura, romance e intriga política, onde é ambientado no Império Bizantino durante o século IX.

Este livro acompanha as aventuras de Aidan, um monge irlandês que possui um misterioso e poderoso artefato conhecido como Chifre de Prata. À medida que Aidan embarca numa desafiante e perigosa viagem a Bizâncio, ele fica enredado em intrigas políticas, conflitos religiosos, diferenças culturais e encontra forças místicas.

Um dos pontos fortes do Stephen Lawhead é a sua capacidade de dar vida a cenários históricos e ao mesmo tempo, infundi-los com elementos de fantasia.

Recomendo ler esta obra se aprecia dentro do género romances históricos ambientados em épocas antigas e uma escrita onde o autor, combina habilmente detalhes históricos com uma narrativa imaginativa, criando uma narrativa rica e envolvente.

P.S. - Para amantes de Ken Follett especialmente da série romance histórico Kingsbridge, então este livro é para vocês!

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[Brian Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read, and I'm really surprised that more people aren't talking about it. I mean, Celtic Monks, Vikings, Constantinople, and the Golden Age of Islam - what's not to like about it?!

Even better is that it's well-written and never really flags. The characters are great, its rich in detail, the settings are alive, and the pace never lets up.

This was my third (or fourth?) reading of this book and it's still a personal favourite. My only real criticisms are a) there's no ebook version and the paperback is desperate for a re-release, and b) despite every appearance of being based on real characters, it's apparently not - it's that convincing.

If you have any kind of interest in the early mediaeval period/late antiquity history then this book shines.

[Karol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't believe there is any rating I could give this book other than a 5 out of 5 stars. It has been a long while since I've read an epic. This one I loved, as it took me from Ireland of the 10th century, to "Skania", and then to Byzantium/Constantinople. In this novel or gargantuan proportions, the author wrote about 4 different cultures: Irish catholic monks, vikings, Arabs, and the Roman catholic empire.

It was a book largely about one man's struggle against his God: his battle, and loss of faith, that ultimately resulted in faith regained and grown deeper.

I borrowed Byzantium from my local library on the recommendation of a friend; now that I've read it, I consider it a "must own". It is one I will want to read and savor again.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read this one, but I ranked it (along with The Confessions of Nat Turner) as my favorite book for a LONG time.

It's about an Irish monk who has to travel to Byzantium (Istanbul) to take a manuscript the Emperor of Christendom. I thought it was a great historical-fic read.

I received it as a gift right before I took a long trip as well - quite fitting.

[Kevin Burrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The scope of this book allows readers to imagine life in 10th-century Ireland, or amongst Nordic pirates, or Saracen raiders. It Imagines life in Celtic monasteries and sheik's palaces. It's grounded in lots of rich historical detail, and Lawhead says that the main character Aidan is a compilation of several historical Irish missionaries of that time. Best of all, Aidan's faith journey is robust and avoids simple platitudes. How does a person's faith survive a journey of intense suffering? The answer has lots of modern-day implications. Loved this novel!

[Jill Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much - more, in fact, than I thought I would do. I'd thought it was going to be an enjoyable early medieval romp with a bit of piety thrown in, but in fact it hotted up to an epic climax and explored some serious aspects of honour, vengeance and faith along the way. The characters were likeable and the storyline convincing. A lengthy but engaging novel, with plenty of atmosphere. It's not great literature, but it's a great read.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible adventures for a innocent abroad. The story of the loss and re-gaining of faith; the meaning of suffering; the love and respect of those around you; the impact of honorable interaction with non-beleivers - something other missionaries could have learned from. My only compaint was that the book ended too soon. The adventure had not been completed.

[Lovely Day]

DNFd 20mins in because I was utterly bored…it might’ve been the monotone narrator though 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Fer de Uña · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesante novela histórica de Lawhead, que narra las peripecias de un monje irlandés, Aidan, en un largo peregrinar hacia Constantinopla en el que sufre toda clase de aventuras: el cautiverio a manos de los vikingos, su labor como diplomático bizantino, su acogida entre los abásidas. Lawhead describe ricamente los diferentes pueblos y costumbres, los diferentes ambientes y países. Aún así, se toma bastantes licencias históricas, y su perspectiva protestante (y algo anti-romana) se acaba filtrando en la historia, así como ideas románticas bastante alejadas de la realidad histórica, especialmente en su presentación de la "iglesia celta" y de los abásidas, que da lugar a que se den en el relato situaciones absolutamente inverosímiles.

Es muy interesante también el viaje interior que realiza Aidan, de apóstol entre los daneses a apóstata entre los mahometanos. Es muy interesante precisamente porque sucede sin que uno sea especialmente consciente prácticamente hasta casi el momento de su apostasía. El viaje de vuelta a la fe, sin embargo, aunque bien fundamentado humana y teológicamente, se presenta de manera apresurada y no acaba de resultar especialmente creíble.

En conjunto, una obra rica y amena, aunque conviene tomársela como una simple novela de aventuras fantasiosa, al uso del resto de la obra de Lawhead. Las más de 600 páginas avanzan rápidamente, y el lector se verá arrastrado por la vorágine de los acontecimientos, queriendo saber cuanto antes cómo prosigue la historia de Aidan. Nota: 3,5.

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a hidden gem! It is long (nearly 900 pages) but written superbly by a masterful storyteller! It has some gory ish parts of how Arabs tortured their slaves that was too detailed for me, but I skimmed over it. It was just 1-2pages long. Otherwise, it is a great historical tale of the Sea Wolves (Vikings) and their conversion, the crimes of so called Christian Emperors in Constantinople, and quite a faith journey of the main character!

[John Karatziovalis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Byzantium was the biggest book I’ve read so far .

following the journey of a young Irish monk on his way to Byzantium, a journey full of dangers and challenges.
A journey that challenges his fate to god and also his body.

The book started slow in the first 200 pages but as it got towards the end it picked up.

Overall really enjoyed the journey and I was hooked by the end!

*The ending was full of plot twists and theological dilemma. I loved that part

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was immersive history in a great way. Academic in its facts and accuracy and yet, I think, there was enough sincere human experience to make it all believable. I read alongside my high schoolers for school and listened to the audiobook. The narrator did a solid job.

[Sander Nijhof · Rating 4 out of 5]

Het was een leuk boek, maar het einde doet alles teniet wat er in het boek gebeurt. Irritant christelijk einde, maar de tocht is wel interessant beschreven

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Giving up at 15%. Simply not worth it. So so boring, way way too Christian, and reads a lot more like slow epic fantasy (ASOIAF or Rothfuss) to be of any interest to me. I might try the audiobook somewhere down the line but for now, I value my reading time too much to continue.