2007 Challenge - Book 14
14. Knights of the Black and White - Jack Whyte
I picked up this novel in the grocery store during one of my weekly shopping trips. We were heading to the coast for my brother's wedding, and I knew that Robb would need a novel to read, as I was in the middle of Skybowl.
The author, Jack Whyte, is wellknown for his series A Dream of Eagles or The Camulod Chronicles. This story, however, is based on the various stories and legends of the Knights of Templar. He has researched the history of the knights, and has created a tale that is both dramatic and gripping. His version of who the knights are, and what they believe is a bit more realistic than Dan Brown's and Steve Berry's works on the same subject.
The first half of the book follows the beginnings of the Crusades through the eyes of Hugues (Hugh) de Payens, it shows the horror of the Crusades and the destruction and desolation that the 'Christian' knights left in their wake. De Payens is disillusioned by the actions of his fellow knights and becomes a hermit. His actions led him to realize that the "Friendly Families" and their view of the Order of Rebirth in Sion could save him and the world. Along with his brother-in-law and six other knights, they convince King Baldwin II of Jerusalem and the Patriarch Archbishop, Warmund de Picquigny, to allow them to form a monastic order. This order is a cover so that they are able to carry on their duties as Knights of the Rebirth. They call themselves the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Jesus Christ, which was, in itself a misnomer, as they do not believe that Jesus was the Christ, nor are they really 'poor'.
The second half of the book follows Stephen St. Clair, who is a fictional character, as he is the ninth knight of the order. He is involved, without his consent, in a relationship with the Princess of Jerusalem, who is attempting to find out what the knights are really doing in their stable on the Mount. (753 pages)
01. Way of the Peaceful Warrior - Dan Millman
02. Tears of the Giraffe (The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency) - Alexander McCall Smith
03. The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag - Robert A. Heinlein
04. The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
05. Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire - Steve Perry
06. False Memory - Dean Koontz
07. The Butlerian Jihad - Brian Herbert and Keven J. Anderson
08. The Templar Legacy - Steve Perry
09. The Lovely Bones - Alice Seabold
10. Dragon Star: The Dragon Token - Melanie Rawn
11. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling
12. Dragon Star: Skybowl - Melanie Rawn
13. The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara: Ilse Witch Terry Brooks
14. Knights of the Black and White - Jack Whyte
14 / 50 Books
(28.0%)
6,645 / 20,000 Pages
(32.0%)
264 / 365 Days
(72.3%)
I picked up this novel in the grocery store during one of my weekly shopping trips. We were heading to the coast for my brother's wedding, and I knew that Robb would need a novel to read, as I was in the middle of Skybowl.
The author, Jack Whyte, is wellknown for his series A Dream of Eagles or The Camulod Chronicles. This story, however, is based on the various stories and legends of the Knights of Templar. He has researched the history of the knights, and has created a tale that is both dramatic and gripping. His version of who the knights are, and what they believe is a bit more realistic than Dan Brown's and Steve Berry's works on the same subject.
The first half of the book follows the beginnings of the Crusades through the eyes of Hugues (Hugh) de Payens, it shows the horror of the Crusades and the destruction and desolation that the 'Christian' knights left in their wake. De Payens is disillusioned by the actions of his fellow knights and becomes a hermit. His actions led him to realize that the "Friendly Families" and their view of the Order of Rebirth in Sion could save him and the world. Along with his brother-in-law and six other knights, they convince King Baldwin II of Jerusalem and the Patriarch Archbishop, Warmund de Picquigny, to allow them to form a monastic order. This order is a cover so that they are able to carry on their duties as Knights of the Rebirth. They call themselves the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Jesus Christ, which was, in itself a misnomer, as they do not believe that Jesus was the Christ, nor are they really 'poor'.
The second half of the book follows Stephen St. Clair, who is a fictional character, as he is the ninth knight of the order. He is involved, without his consent, in a relationship with the Princess of Jerusalem, who is attempting to find out what the knights are really doing in their stable on the Mount. (753 pages)
01. Way of the Peaceful Warrior - Dan Millman
02. Tears of the Giraffe (The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency) - Alexander McCall Smith
03. The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag - Robert A. Heinlein
04. The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
05. Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire - Steve Perry
06. False Memory - Dean Koontz
07. The Butlerian Jihad - Brian Herbert and Keven J. Anderson
08. The Templar Legacy - Steve Perry
09. The Lovely Bones - Alice Seabold
10. Dragon Star: The Dragon Token - Melanie Rawn
11. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling
12. Dragon Star: Skybowl - Melanie Rawn
13. The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara: Ilse Witch Terry Brooks
14. Knights of the Black and White - Jack Whyte
14 / 50 Books
(28.0%)
6,645 / 20,000 Pages
(32.0%)
264 / 365 Days
(72.3%)