The Iron Lance (The Celtic Crusades, Book 1)
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Christian Books & Bibles
Book Type: Paperback
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Christian Books & Bibles
Book Type: Paperback
A Scottish lawyer in 1899 is invited to join a secret society that has roots in the Celtic crusades of the 11th century. This begins the story of Murdos adventures in the crusades.
The year is 1095 and the devoted Catholic people of Scotland leave their homes to fight the infidels in the Holy Land. Murdo, who is sixteen, is resentful of being left home with his mother while his father, older brothers and cousins embark on what he thinks is an exciting journey. Once the older male relatives leave home, the corrupt church authorities seize Murdos family lands and property, kill his servants and banish them from their home. Murdo wants to regain his rightful property for his family and his future wife so he goes to Jerusalem to get his father back.
Murdo, who is now angry at all priests is unwittingly joined by three monks on his journey to the holy land. Their relationship at first is antagonistic, but the priests wear him down and a friendship is born. Murdos enthusiasm for the crusades quickly fades on the first day of fighting when he witnesses the excessive cruelty and vicious killing of innocent women and children by the crusaders.
This a story of coming of age for Murdo where he discovers how the church, faith, home, love and family determine the life he wants. The character development was very good, but the story dragged in a few places for me.
The year is 1095 and the devoted Catholic people of Scotland leave their homes to fight the infidels in the Holy Land. Murdo, who is sixteen, is resentful of being left home with his mother while his father, older brothers and cousins embark on what he thinks is an exciting journey. Once the older male relatives leave home, the corrupt church authorities seize Murdos family lands and property, kill his servants and banish them from their home. Murdo wants to regain his rightful property for his family and his future wife so he goes to Jerusalem to get his father back.
Murdo, who is now angry at all priests is unwittingly joined by three monks on his journey to the holy land. Their relationship at first is antagonistic, but the priests wear him down and a friendship is born. Murdos enthusiasm for the crusades quickly fades on the first day of fighting when he witnesses the excessive cruelty and vicious killing of innocent women and children by the crusaders.
This a story of coming of age for Murdo where he discovers how the church, faith, home, love and family determine the life he wants. The character development was very good, but the story dragged in a few places for me.
