Reviews for The Iron Lance (Celtic Crusades Series #1), Vol. 1

The average rating for The Iron Lance (Celtic Crusades Series #1), Vol. 1 based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2013-05-21 00:00:00 Beth Smith Rating: 2* of five The Publisher Says: In the year 1095, Pope Urban II declared war on the infidel. Kings, princes, and lords throughout Europe have joined the Crusade. To Murdo Ranulfson has fallen the duty of guarding his family's interests while his father and brothers fight to win Jerusalem. But when corrupt clergy prove enemies rather than protectors, Murdo must leave his native Scotland in search of his father. In the company of monks and warriors, he journeys far beyond the rolling fields of home, beyond the fabled Constantinople and the brooding walls of Antioch, to the Holy Land and the sword points of the Saracens. There, where blood, suffering, and human evil at its most horrifying are shot through with rays of the miraculous, he obtains the relic that will guide his life and the lives of his descendants for centuries. And there he grows from a callow youth to a man, trading cynicism for faith and selfishness for the heart of a leader. Steeped in heroism, treachery, and the clamor of battle, The Iron Lance begins a remarkable, masterfully woven epic trilogy of a Scottish noble family fighting for its existence and its faith during the age of the Great Crusades -- and of a secret society that will shape history for a thousand years. My Review: There was a time when I tried, and tried hard, to be a christian. Something alluring about feeling sure you're protected by a big daddy who loves you. But the problem for me is, I have this logical outlook on life and I need stuff to make sense, to follow the rules of storytelling. This religion don't do none o' that, and plus it's riddled with exclusionary language, "moral" justifications for rotten stuff like slavery and incest, and so on and so forth. Horrible. This novel is a holdover possession from that period of my life. It's competently written, it's about a period of history I find enthralling, and I hated every single eyeblink I spent on it. There's persuasion and then there's bludgeoning. This is the latter. Had I paid the slightest attention, I would have noticed that the book was published by Zondervan...a christian publishing house. A foolish error on my part. This review is my reminder to myself: Openness to change is good, but don't get carried away. Borrow from the library. That way the crap that offends you can go back with no damage to your pocketbook.

Review # 2 was written on 2011-03-23 00:00:00 Katherine Whittaker I came to Lawhead via his much vaunted "Merlin" series. This, is quite a different series, and one in which he excels. More historical than fantasy, I am amazed that Lawhead doesn't have a wider following, as he recounts a riveting tale, populated by fascinating characters.The Celtic series spans some 1,500 pages-and if ps2+3 come up to parr with this first excellent intstallment, then I have much to look forward to, and will be reading the next 2 in quick succession-p2 starting shortly! Two tales are recounted-the losing of the Celtic lands in Orkney, for the protagonist's family-and the epic tale of the fisrt Crusade to libertate Jerusalem. Although the first tale is short, it adds much to the narrative, and gives us huge empathy for the families involved. Murdo, the youngest son, sets out for the Holy Land to get help from his father and elder brothers, undertaking a tortuous route which takes him a year to complete. En route he befriends three monks of the Cele De-they are vehemently opposed to the traditional church, and their innate goodness contrasts vividly with the Church of the time, and inspires Murdo to help and support them. I suspect this will become more relevant in the subsequent novels, as the "True Path" is established. Simply, the first part is one of these historical narratives of epic proportions. I was riveted by the entire concept, learned much, and found plot and characters page turning. I adore and thrive on this type of writing, and paln to track down the rest of Lawhead's back catalogue. 5/5 stars does nnot really reflect how much I enjoyed it-and how much I learned.