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Behold the Dawn
by
Marcus Annan, a tourneyer famed for his prowess on the battlefield, thought he could keep the secrets of his past buried forever. But when a mysterious crippled monk demands Annan help him find justice for the transgressions of sixteen years ago, Annan is forced to leave the tourneys and join the Third Crusade.
Wounded in battle and hunted by enemies on every side, he rescu ...more
Wounded in battle and hunted by enemies on every side, he rescu ...more
Paperback, 330 pages
Published
August 24th 2009
by PenForASword Publishing
(first published January 1st 2009)
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Start your review of Behold the Dawn

It's not often you find a book that has a message that shouts out to you. That from the beginning you can sympathize with, understand, and feel a part of. A character who's real, makes mistakes, but you love all the more. One you pity, but are proud of. And when you close the book for the last time, you look around and feel as if you've lost something. One you can't wait to finish, but dread as it nears the end. Behold the Dawn captured my heart, and it has yet to let it go.
I stayed up late thr ...more
I stayed up late thr ...more

This book was quite an adventurous read. That's an understatement. If you didn't read any of the updates I made throughout the book they went like this:
"WHAAAAAT?!????!!? *strangled sob*"
"OHMYWORDOHMYWORDOHMYWORD!!! THE FEELINGS!!! I think my heart died and then revived again between this update and my last one."
"Noooooooooooooooooooo"
*GASPS*
So yes, it was quite exciting. :) The story was set during the time of the Crusades, and the main character was Scottish, so I had a feeling from the begin ...more
"WHAAAAAT?!????!!? *strangled sob*"
"OHMYWORDOHMYWORDOHMYWORD!!! THE FEELINGS!!! I think my heart died and then revived again between this update and my last one."
"Noooooooooooooooooooo"
*GASPS*
So yes, it was quite exciting. :) The story was set during the time of the Crusades, and the main character was Scottish, so I had a feeling from the begin ...more

Okay, it's taken me a long time to write this review. Partly because I've been busy, but partly because--I'm still not sure how to review this book. But it's been over a week, so I'm jumping in and doing it anyway. Here goes...
Confession #1--I really liked this book! Confession #2--I still cannot figure out why!!! It was definitely very well-written, but good writing doesn't make or break a book for me, and this one had several elements that usually are not my favorite, so I'm seriously at a los ...more
Confession #1--I really liked this book! Confession #2--I still cannot figure out why!!! It was definitely very well-written, but good writing doesn't make or break a book for me, and this one had several elements that usually are not my favorite, so I'm seriously at a los ...more

Overall, the book left me with mixed feelings. It was undeniably well-written with vivid and evocative descriptions and realistic and exhilarating battle scenes- at least at the beginning. Towards the end the kidnappings or attempted kidnappings), attacks, narrow escapes, rescues and almost inevitable accompanying fight scenes seemed to become a little repetitive, predictable and dare I say, overdone or over reliant on action?
Also, the apparently invincibility of the hero Marcus Annan and his s ...more
Also, the apparently invincibility of the hero Marcus Annan and his s ...more

Apr 17, 2017
Kate Willis
marked it as unfinished
I hesitate to write reviews of books I have not finished, because you never know if the book really does turn out to be amazing without finishing it. So please be sure to read some positive reviews as well! This is just my personal opinion of the book.
(view spoiler) ...more
(view spoiler) ...more

Oh my. I am totally astounded at this book. Having only read one other historical fiction book set during the Crusades that I wasn't impressed with, I wasn't sure what to expect with this. From what I've seen of this author I hoped it would be good and it was. More than that, it was amazing.
The characters were full of depth and so real. Annan, struggling with his past, is a tourneyer only to appease his conscience. Then there is Mairead, a countess wife, her fear and need of safety found in the ...more
The characters were full of depth and so real. Annan, struggling with his past, is a tourneyer only to appease his conscience. Then there is Mairead, a countess wife, her fear and need of safety found in the ...more

Fast-moving, enthralling novel of the Third Crusade. A tourneyer, Marcus Annan, is convinced to join the Crusade by a mysterious crippled monk from Annan's past. There is much fighting but the main story is that of Annan's guilt for his actions sixteen years previously, his self-forgiveness and redemption. As one character says, and I'm paraphrasing: Each new dawn brings with it a new beginning with the new day.
I figured out part of Annan's past early on, but I wish the rest had been explained e ...more
I figured out part of Annan's past early on, but I wish the rest had been explained e ...more

OKAY THIS WAS A REALLY GREAT BOOK, FAM?!
Like, I'm Having Feelings. And I Have a Feeling I won't stop Having Feelings for awhile, because I Have a Feeling it'll take me a few days to process this book.
I mean . . . the story is so intense for such a long time, and that meant that *I* was rather tense while reading it. It almost seemed to twist up my insides a little bit. But . . . it was really good??
Wow. I feel like . . . I don't really know what to say? Before I read it -- just going by the syno ...more
Like, I'm Having Feelings. And I Have a Feeling I won't stop Having Feelings for awhile, because I Have a Feeling it'll take me a few days to process this book.
I mean . . . the story is so intense for such a long time, and that meant that *I* was rather tense while reading it. It almost seemed to twist up my insides a little bit. But . . . it was really good??
Wow. I feel like . . . I don't really know what to say? Before I read it -- just going by the syno ...more

Compelling and riveting historical fiction
Get ready for a novel by KM Weiland that will grab you and hold on until you turn the last of its captivating pages.
Behold the Dawn opens in the year 1192 when Crusaders under King Richard I battled Saladin's Muslim forces in the Holy Land in an attempt to recapture Jerusalem. At the same time, Marcus Annan engaged in deadly mock battle as a Tourneyer. Annan, "...fought today for the same reason he always fought: it was the only thing his life had left h ...more
Get ready for a novel by KM Weiland that will grab you and hold on until you turn the last of its captivating pages.
Behold the Dawn opens in the year 1192 when Crusaders under King Richard I battled Saladin's Muslim forces in the Holy Land in an attempt to recapture Jerusalem. At the same time, Marcus Annan engaged in deadly mock battle as a Tourneyer. Annan, "...fought today for the same reason he always fought: it was the only thing his life had left h ...more

I was so excited to read this based on other reviews I read... and was disappointed. Please note, I majored in Pre-Modern European History, so I was totally stoked for the subject matter. But it was SO hard to get into, I had to push myself through the first quarter of the book or so. By the time it started to pick up, I was already losing interest. But it did pick up, and became much more exciting. This is why I gave it 3 stars instead of 2... it did improve a bit. I managed to finish it. Met u
...more

Setting this down for a while. I'll probably try this again when I'm not so busy.
...more

I am a major history nerd, so historical fiction is right up my alley. My favorite book is "Pearl Maiden" by Sir Rider Haggard, an author who wrote historical fiction that is both riveting and deep.
I mention Haggard, because "Behold the Dawn" very quickly brought his medieval book "The Brethren" to mind. Coming from me, considering BTD to be similar to one of his works is a huge compliment to Weiland.
The setting to BTD felt gritty and authentic. It was hot, sweaty, dusty, and bloody. I did occa ...more
I mention Haggard, because "Behold the Dawn" very quickly brought his medieval book "The Brethren" to mind. Coming from me, considering BTD to be similar to one of his works is a huge compliment to Weiland.
The setting to BTD felt gritty and authentic. It was hot, sweaty, dusty, and bloody. I did occa ...more

An action-packed medieval romance
I am not a fan of this genre but this author came highly recommended by a friend so when I got a chance to acquire a copy of this book in return for a review, I seized the opportunity. I was impressed by the representation of the era and I believe the author did a great job there and obviously had to do a lot of research. Although K.M. Weiland has undoubtedly great writing skills (especially where descriptions and character development are concerned), I found som ...more
I am not a fan of this genre but this author came highly recommended by a friend so when I got a chance to acquire a copy of this book in return for a review, I seized the opportunity. I was impressed by the representation of the era and I believe the author did a great job there and obviously had to do a lot of research. Although K.M. Weiland has undoubtedly great writing skills (especially where descriptions and character development are concerned), I found som ...more

I was a little wary of reading this book, because I really, really, really wanted to like it--and when you go to read a book you really, really, really want to like, or have high hopes for, there's always a nagging fear that it won't measure up to your preconceptions and hopes. I'd never read anything by this author before (excepting some excerpts from her books), so I didn't have the assurance that, hey, she's written good books before, so she's probably done it again (not that that's always a
...more

.
i don't really read much "christian" fiction and certainly not of the historical romance genre, but it was free and i LOVED the other book i read by this author, so i was like "eh, why not?"
.
it was quite an exciting book. very tense. much suspense. run, run, run. lots of hurrying about and killing people.
.
medieval setting was cool too.
.
and i adored little side-kick, marek.
.
in the end, however, i was not all that impressed and i feel like the author failed to live up to the potential the plo ...more
i don't really read much "christian" fiction and certainly not of the historical romance genre, but it was free and i LOVED the other book i read by this author, so i was like "eh, why not?"
.
it was quite an exciting book. very tense. much suspense. run, run, run. lots of hurrying about and killing people.
.
medieval setting was cool too.
.
and i adored little side-kick, marek.
.
in the end, however, i was not all that impressed and i feel like the author failed to live up to the potential the plo ...more

I’ve been looking forward to reading this novel since I was first introduced to KM Weiland’s excellent and practical writing advice. Weiland has made a study of her craft, particularly when it comes to structuring and building one’s novel. Her approach is craftsmanlike—here are the rules, and here’s how they apply. In reading this novel and Weiland’s more recently-published fantasy Dreamlander, I’ve been reminded just how very far a disciplined and craftsmanlike approach to art can take us, if w
...more

Decent but frustrating read, because too many questions were left unanswered.
While well written and reasonably enjoyable, my main issue with this book was lack of both full
disclosure and background story. The driving force for the events in this book is suppose to be the wrongdoing that occurred at St Dunstan Abbey, yet, with the exception of occasional sentence here and there and the obvious impact it had on all the characters, not even once we are fully told what had actually happened in the ...more

My first K.M. Weiland book! I really liked this book....Marcus Annan is an absolute kick butt and I identify with Mairead so much. I do have a couple things that bothered me (like the romance being underdeveloped imo) but the plot twist at the end......MY WORD! Like how??? It makes so much sense, but you don't see it coming at all! Also, kudos to Weiland at writing a beautiful redemption story without shoving God down your throat.
...more

I wasn't sure how much this was going to grab me at the beginning, but once I got into it, I found it hard to put down. The medieval world feels very real, and once Mairead entered the story, I felt as though she brought an extra dimension to it.
This is a skilfully written tale by an author who knows her period. ...more
This is a skilfully written tale by an author who knows her period. ...more

Disclaimer: I have been provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I was first introduced to Weiland through her writing blog, and, soon after, through her books on writing. Given this, having profited a lot from her blog and her books, I was very interested to see how her own advice on writing translated into her actual writing.
The result? An enjoyable read that had a lot of good parts in it, but not one without its faults.
Set within the context of the Third Crusade ...more
I was first introduced to Weiland through her writing blog, and, soon after, through her books on writing. Given this, having profited a lot from her blog and her books, I was very interested to see how her own advice on writing translated into her actual writing.
The result? An enjoyable read that had a lot of good parts in it, but not one without its faults.
Set within the context of the Third Crusade ...more

Behold the Dawn is an incredibly satisfying read: when all is said and done, and the last page has been checked behind to see if there's more, the soul feels satisfied, well-filled. No lingering regrets that the story should have gone different. That said, there is only one thing that some people might take too much to heart. I am not the first, and shall probably not be the last, to say that the language employed for the dialogue is strangely modern and incongruous with the 12th century setting
...more

Ends Strong
This is not a story of the Crusades. This is not even really the story of a Crusader. Events of the Third Crusade create a backdrop for the tale, and the varying landscape of the medieval Middle East creates its atmosphere. But if you're looking for a detailed history of the actual campaigns and historical figures of the time, try G. A. Henty.
In part, "Behold the Dawn" is the romance of two unlikely newlyweds, thrown together amid extenuating circumstances. The couple's interactions, ...more
This is not a story of the Crusades. This is not even really the story of a Crusader. Events of the Third Crusade create a backdrop for the tale, and the varying landscape of the medieval Middle East creates its atmosphere. But if you're looking for a detailed history of the actual campaigns and historical figures of the time, try G. A. Henty.
In part, "Behold the Dawn" is the romance of two unlikely newlyweds, thrown together amid extenuating circumstances. The couple's interactions, ...more

May 22, 2016
Clare S-B
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
books-necessary-to-living,
christian-fiction
"Deepen your characters and you’ll also deepen your conflict and your theme" ~K.M. Weiland
She has certainly followed her own advice in this book it is just amazing.
This is a book I have always wanted to read, but I did not realize that this books was one of those books until I started reading. The story is set during the Kings Crusade but gives a very different view than most historical fiction, well any other crusade story I have read. I did have high expectations though -having listened to K. ...more
She has certainly followed her own advice in this book it is just amazing.
This is a book I have always wanted to read, but I did not realize that this books was one of those books until I started reading. The story is set during the Kings Crusade but gives a very different view than most historical fiction, well any other crusade story I have read. I did have high expectations though -having listened to K. ...more

Right off the bat I'm going to say if you want to read a light book before bedtime, don't pick this one up. You won't be able to put it down and it WILL keep you up.
I was unfamiliar with this author so I had no idea what to expect, but I liked the cover, and I usually enjoy early church/early historical novels, so I picked it up.
Also, let me say, K.M. Weiland can write! Granted the language styles weren't historically accurate, but I appreciated it nonetheless because I didn't have to wade throu ...more
I was unfamiliar with this author so I had no idea what to expect, but I liked the cover, and I usually enjoy early church/early historical novels, so I picked it up.
Also, let me say, K.M. Weiland can write! Granted the language styles weren't historically accurate, but I appreciated it nonetheless because I didn't have to wade throu ...more

Behold the Dawn is a historical novel set during the crusades. It is the story of Marcus Annan, whose life is consumed soley by the bloodthirsty (and morally dubious) sport of tourneying. We learn very quickly that there is much more to this man than we realise. He has a dark past that he has been running from for a very long time. On the surface, Marcus seems a very unlikely hero for this story, and yet as the reader you immediately bond with him, you root for him and want to find out more abou
...more

I'm not a hundred percent sure why but the movie Kingdom of Heaven about the crusades is one of my all time favorites, so when I saw Behold the Dawn and learned the time period and premise (a master tourneyer is drawn by the sins of his past to the Holy Land during the Third Crusade) I knew I had to read it!
And read it, I did, for hours on end. There may have been a few nights (er, early mornings) where I didn't set it down until the light on my clock reminded me that t'was already 3:00 AM.
Weila ...more
And read it, I did, for hours on end. There may have been a few nights (er, early mornings) where I didn't set it down until the light on my clock reminded me that t'was already 3:00 AM.
Weila ...more

I have to begin this review by saying that I stayed up ‘til 1:00 in the morning to finish this book the day after I got it. I haven’t enjoyed a book this much in a very long time.
Behold the Dawn by K. M. Weiland is set during the third Crusade. If that doesn’t ring a bell, this is when Robin Hood and Ivanhoe were saving England from Prince John. Here is the books description from the website you can order the book from (go here also to see the trailer).
Marcus Annan, a tourneyer famed for his pro ...more
Behold the Dawn by K. M. Weiland is set during the third Crusade. If that doesn’t ring a bell, this is when Robin Hood and Ivanhoe were saving England from Prince John. Here is the books description from the website you can order the book from (go here also to see the trailer).
Marcus Annan, a tourneyer famed for his pro ...more

What did I think?
I thought, some things could have been done better. I thought the setting fit the story perfectly. I thought the characters were realistic and relatable. I thought it was well-written overall.
I thought it was better than Miss Weiland's Dreamlander, which I read first. More because I liked what this was meant to be better than I liked what Dreamlander was meant to be. Both have there issues but both were enjoyable and profitable reads for me.
I think the thing that stood out the m ...more
I thought, some things could have been done better. I thought the setting fit the story perfectly. I thought the characters were realistic and relatable. I thought it was well-written overall.
I thought it was better than Miss Weiland's Dreamlander, which I read first. More because I liked what this was meant to be better than I liked what Dreamlander was meant to be. Both have there issues but both were enjoyable and profitable reads for me.
I think the thing that stood out the m ...more

I tried reading this book awhile ago and couldn't get hooked. My son read it and told me to try again, it was worth it. He was right (but don't tell him I said so!). It does start very slow, I was well into the seventh chapter before I found myself hooked into the story. It finishes much stronger and contains a good love story in the midst. I liked the feel and cadence to the story in the second half, it was less wordy and more lyrical, which lends itself well to the medieval theme of the story
...more
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The Massacre at Acre? | 1 | 10 | Jun 04, 2014 01:05PM |
K.M. Weiland lives in make-believe worlds, talks to imaginary friends, and survives primarily on chocolate truffles and espresso.
She is the IPPY, NIEA, and Lyra Award-winning and internationally published author of the acclaimed writing guides Outlining Your Novel, Structuring Your Novel, and Creating Character Arcs, as well as Jane Eyre: The Writer’s Digest Annotated Classic.
Her fiction include ...more
She is the IPPY, NIEA, and Lyra Award-winning and internationally published author of the acclaimed writing guides Outlining Your Novel, Structuring Your Novel, and Creating Character Arcs, as well as Jane Eyre: The Writer’s Digest Annotated Classic.
Her fiction include ...more
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