Looking For a Book About..: First and second crusade period (heavy on action)

[Robbie]

Hi all. I am new to Goodreads. I am seeking a book or series set during the above time period. I think Bernard Cornwell's, Sharpe series in a crusader setting would be a good comparison.
Think "military" Historical fiction as in "military" Scifi or fantasy for example.
It has to be heavy on action and light on romance.
Cheers :)

[``Laurie]

Zoé Oldenbourg wrote a series of historical fiction books about the Crusades. They wouldn't qualify as Scifi or fantasy though so I don't know if this is the kind of book you're looking for.

[Robbie]

Laurie wrote: "Zoé Oldenbourg wrote a series of historical fiction books about the Crusades. They wouldn't qualify as Scifi or fantasy though so I don't know if this is the kind of book you're lo..."
Hi Laurie.
I have probably confused the issue by mentioning sci-fi and fantasy.
please forgive this.
I am after just historical fiction that concentrates more on the military aspects rather than on romance or relationships.

[``Laurie]

The Heirs of the Kingdom by Oldenbourg gives a very realistic account of the first crusade that you might enjoy then.

[``Laurie]

Jerusalem by Cecelia Holland is another great book about the Crusades.

[Robbie]

Laurie wrote: "Jerusalem by Cecelia Holland is another great book about the Crusades."
Great, many thanks, Laurie. I will check them out :)

[``Laurie]

You're welcome Robbie - I hope these books are what you are looking for :D

[Mark]

Try Brethren: An Epic Adventure of the Knights Templar it's more the fall of the knights templar and fall of the east, good action and good intrigue and plot.

[``Laurie]

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

This list should be able to help you find a good book about the crusades Robbie.

[Mark]

I can recommend call to crusade by Tom vetter, I read and enjoyed it. it's not at the crusades yet but will be soon.

ps can someone please add the links to book and author as I can't do it on my phone thanks in advance. ;)

[May]

I agree, Mark. We thoroughly enjoyed Robyn Young's Trilogy, I believe THE BRETHEREN was the first. Great recommendation!!

[Dawn]

Mark wrote: "I can recommend call to crusade by Tom vetter, I read and enjoyed it. it's not at the crusades yet but will be soon...."

Call To Crusade by Tom Vetter

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Templar's Acre by Michael Jecks is a good one.
It is a prequel to Michael Jecks' entire Templar series which has over 20 books in it.
The rest of the series which begins with The Last Templar has nothing to do with Crusades. It is a medieval murder mystery series set in England. One of the main characters was a Templar.

Templar's Acre is the last published in the series but goes back to the 13th century. Is set during the battle for Acre. It is pretty good as far as battle scenes go.

[Mark]

Dawn wrote: "Mark wrote: "I can recommend call to crusade by Tom vetter, I read and enjoyed it. it's not at the crusades yet but will be soon...."

Call To Crusade by Tom Vetter"

Ta Dawn.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

But if you want super heavy on action?? The Religion is an absolute belter.

Seperate to the Templar Crusades, this is the Knights of St John in Malta fighting the Turks.

[Jerry]

There is one book I can remember from away back in the mists of time, Count Bohemond by Alfred Duggan. I think it was first published in 1960, so in view of some recent comments about dated writing style I suppose this recommendation should carry a warning, but if I can remember it all these years later I must have enjoyed it.

[Robbie]

Many thanks all, will put the books you mention on my to read list :)
I will start with "Call to Crusade" downloaded last night from the ibooks store. Unfortunately, they must have mucked up the compiling process as the first page is now the last and you have to read from right to left!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I see that book, Call to Crusade, is tagged as Young Adult. I'm wondering how heavy the action will be.

[Mark]

Terri wrote: "I see that book, Call to Crusade, is tagged as Young Adult. I'm wondering how heavy the action will be."

Not young adult at all Terri. The main character starts as young boy, but he matures as character as the book goes on.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Young Adult doesn't mean the book has only child characters though. A Young Adult can have no child characters at all.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

However, it looks as though the people who tagged it as Young Adult aren't making the distinction between Young Adult being a type of writing not a book including a child.
I saw one of their reviews said it would be good for Adults (male..apparently not a book for women..cough) and Young Adults.

[Robbie]

Terri wrote: "However, it looks as though the people who tagged it as Young Adult aren't making the distinction between Young Adult being a type of writing not a book including a child.
I saw one of their review..."

I can confirm that the book starts out when the protagonist is a young boy. Not read enough to give an opinion on whether or not the book is "action packed" yet.
I also started to read Deaths Head by Robert Broomall
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
It's about an English monk who runs away to join the crusade. I won't say anymore as I don't want to give spoilers.
I'm at around 10% into the book and the protagonist has just arrived in the holy land. So straight into the thick of it :)

[Robbie]

Laurie wrote: "https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

This list should be able to help you find a good book about the crusades Robbie."
Very handy, thank you :)

[Mara]

I'm new to Goodreads and I just stumbled upon this thread. I recently finished the classic (I'm told) trilogy by Jan Guillou which tells the story of a Templar Knight who hails from what was to become Sweden. All three books are about as historically accurate as you can ask for. All of the Crusader action is in the second volume "The Templar Knight," with great descriptions of battles like Mont Giscard and Hattin. It can easily be read as a stand alone. The third volume, "Birth of the Kingdom," follows the protagonist home from Outremer to Gotaland with an odd retinue. It recounts the wars to establish Sweden as a kingdom separate from Denmark. The battle scenes are outstanding. I really had a sense of how unpleasant it all was. There is minimal romance in the story, although the first volume, "The Road to Jerusalem," tells the story of how a youthful love affair leads to the boy being trained as a Templar and the pregnant girlfriend's confinement in a convent. The romance is important but it is low key and focuses mostly on the lives of the lovers during their 20 year penance. The protagonist, Arn de Gothia, known as al-Ghouti, is much more than a typical warrior monk. All three volumes are well worth a read.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Hi Mara, welcome to Goodreads and welcome to Ancient & Medieval HF group.

Just wanted to explain the add book/author feature so that when posting a comment you can add a link to the book.
In this group we add a link to book if that book hasn't already been linked in the last approximately three posts.

That way other members can find the books you're talking about and it helps the conversation.

If you are using the App, it doesn't have the add book/author feature, but if you are not using the App then you can find the add book/author words above top right corner of the comment box.
Click on that, type the book or author into the search and if spelling is accurate it should find it.
Then click on the one you want to add to your comment and away you go.

Regards,
Terri

[Mara]

Jan GuillouHI Terri. - thanks for the information about the add book/author feature. I depend heavily on my mobile devices so was unaware. I apologize. Anyway, the Crusades era books I was referring to are a trilogy by Jan Guillou. I believe I mentioned the titles in my comment. Hope I've got it right now.

[Ian]

There is also a fourth book in this trilogy by Guillou. It's called Arvet efter Arn (Arn's Legacy), and somewhat surprisingly it doesn't seem to have been translated into English yet. I don't know whether any translation is underway. It's basically about the further establishment of Sweden as a nation state under the historical Birger Jarl.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

That is surprising seeing as the trilogy is well known anong English speakers.

[Rafael]

What a surprise to discover that the fourth book have a brazilian edition, but not even one in english language. Usually happens the opposite. This author it's a european one, this surprises me eve more.