Crusade

Ok here goes! Crusade by Elizabeth Laird - loved it! Thank you Val for lending it to me to review. Maybe you have to love history but I think a story about the Crusades has resonance in today's world. The book has pace and strong sub plots. The two boys, on either side of the conflict during the seige of Acre, are exceptionally well defined and accessible to a modern readership. The story unfolds through their eyes and in their two voices and p.o.v. With the benfit of hindsight and dramatic irony, I found this a very poignant read. The Crusade to reclaim Jerusalem from Saladin was vicious, bloody and lacking in all conscience - Christian or otherwise. You feel the boys' fear and can't help but say"If only...."

Anne B

key words: Crusades; Islam; Prejudice; Conflict; Family

PS think I may not entirely have the hang of this format yet!! :-)