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Templar Trilogy #2
Templar Trilogy 02 Standard of Honor
In this thrilling sequel to the bestselling Knights of the Black and White, oaths of loyalty and obedience are weighed against the virtues of honor and nobility. Three members of the St. Clair family find themselves embroiled in battle, imperiled by circumstance, and unsure whether their true enemy stands against them … or among them.
As the deadly Crusades rage on, Christian forces are easily destroyed by the armies of Saladin, Sultan of Egypt, Syria, and Mesopotamia. Among the Knights Templar are two cousins; André St. Clair, a young man forced to escape his homeland when he is wrongfully accused of a crime, and Scottish knight Alexander Sinclair, a spy for the ancient Brotherhood of Sion.. Along with his father, Henry, André is offered the chance to escape injustice by joining the Third Crusade and fighting with the armies of Richard of Aquitaine, soon to become King of England.
Sinclair’s war is almost over before it begins when he is taken captive by one of Saladin’s captains. Learning from his captor that Saladin believes the Knights Templar to be the most dangerous of all the enemies of Islam and that he is determined to kill them all, Sinclair fears for his friends’ lives. But perhaps the biggest threat to the St. Clair family is the new king, Richard the Lionheart, whose duplicitous ways and fierce temper lead to his shocking and vicious betrayal of one of his best men.
Filled with dramatic adventure and rich in the historical detail Jack Whyte fans have come to expect, Standard of Honor is a stunning continuation of this epic history of the Knights Templar.
As the deadly Crusades rage on, Christian forces are easily destroyed by the armies of Saladin, Sultan of Egypt, Syria, and Mesopotamia. Among the Knights Templar are two cousins; André St. Clair, a young man forced to escape his homeland when he is wrongfully accused of a crime, and Scottish knight Alexander Sinclair, a spy for the ancient Brotherhood of Sion.. Along with his father, Henry, André is offered the chance to escape injustice by joining the Third Crusade and fighting with the armies of Richard of Aquitaine, soon to become King of England.
Sinclair’s war is almost over before it begins when he is taken captive by one of Saladin’s captains. Learning from his captor that Saladin believes the Knights Templar to be the most dangerous of all the enemies of Islam and that he is determined to kill them all, Sinclair fears for his friends’ lives. But perhaps the biggest threat to the St. Clair family is the new king, Richard the Lionheart, whose duplicitous ways and fierce temper lead to his shocking and vicious betrayal of one of his best men.
Filled with dramatic adventure and rich in the historical detail Jack Whyte fans have come to expect, Standard of Honor is a stunning continuation of this epic history of the Knights Templar.
614 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
84 people are currently reading
1212 people want to read
About the author
Jack Whyte
62 books772 followersJack Whyte is an author and writer born and raised in Scotland, but has been living in western Canada since 1967, and in Kelowna, British Columbia, since 1996.
Whyte's major work to date is the A Dream of Eagles series (as it is titled in Canada, but known as The Camulod Chronicles in the United States and elsewhere). This series of historical novels presents the tale of King Arthur set against the backdrop of Roman Britain. This retelling of the popular legend eschews the use of magic (as in T. H. White’s The Sword in the Stone) to explain Arthur’s ascent to power and instead relies on the historical condition (with some artistic license) of post-Roman Britain to support the theory that Arthur was meant to counter the anarchy left by the Roman departure from Britain in 410 AD and the subsequent colonization and invasion of Britain by various peoples from Northwestern Europe, including the Saxons, Jutes, Franks, and Angles). Whyte incorporates both traditional Arthurian names, places and events (albeit in gaelic or Latin form) as well as the names of various historical figures that have been suggested as being the possible basis for the original King Arthur legend. The tacit implication is that Whyte's version of history is the true story that has become distorted over time to become the legend and stories of magic that we know today.
Jack Whyte served as the official bard of The Calgary Highlanders and performed several tracks of poetry and song on the 1990 recording by the Regimental Pipes and Drums of The Calgary Highlanders entitled Eighty Years of Glory: The Regimental Pipes, Drums and Bard of The Calgary Highlanders.
Whyte's major work to date is the A Dream of Eagles series (as it is titled in Canada, but known as The Camulod Chronicles in the United States and elsewhere). This series of historical novels presents the tale of King Arthur set against the backdrop of Roman Britain. This retelling of the popular legend eschews the use of magic (as in T. H. White’s The Sword in the Stone) to explain Arthur’s ascent to power and instead relies on the historical condition (with some artistic license) of post-Roman Britain to support the theory that Arthur was meant to counter the anarchy left by the Roman departure from Britain in 410 AD and the subsequent colonization and invasion of Britain by various peoples from Northwestern Europe, including the Saxons, Jutes, Franks, and Angles). Whyte incorporates both traditional Arthurian names, places and events (albeit in gaelic or Latin form) as well as the names of various historical figures that have been suggested as being the possible basis for the original King Arthur legend. The tacit implication is that Whyte's version of history is the true story that has become distorted over time to become the legend and stories of magic that we know today.
Jack Whyte served as the official bard of The Calgary Highlanders and performed several tracks of poetry and song on the 1990 recording by the Regimental Pipes and Drums of The Calgary Highlanders entitled Eighty Years of Glory: The Regimental Pipes, Drums and Bard of The Calgary Highlanders.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
February 24, 2008
What is honor? Can it be measured, and if so, can it be measured by anyone other than the individual to which it applies? This book will cause one to take a hard look at what honor is, how it is measured, and whether or not one has this thing called "honor."
I would be tempted to say that honor is confirmed when one can look at one's actions and his or her conscience says, "it is good." However, I know there are many in our society today that have no conscience, or if they do, they choose to completely ignore it, which would render that definition invalid. I do not know what it is, other than it is an individual thing.
This book, while tracing the path of one young Templar Kinght and member of the secret order behind the TK's, reveals his search for, and development of honor.
Great book, full of action, intrigue, and history. It continues the story begun in Knights of the Black and White.
I would be tempted to say that honor is confirmed when one can look at one's actions and his or her conscience says, "it is good." However, I know there are many in our society today that have no conscience, or if they do, they choose to completely ignore it, which would render that definition invalid. I do not know what it is, other than it is an individual thing.
This book, while tracing the path of one young Templar Kinght and member of the secret order behind the TK's, reveals his search for, and development of honor.
Great book, full of action, intrigue, and history. It continues the story begun in Knights of the Black and White.
December 22, 2011
Strange, slow, long, but still enjoyable. Though, I'm really not too sure why.On the face of it, not an awful lot happens. It feels like what it of course actually is; number two in a trilogy (I haven't read number three yet); a transition novel, between one and two.
My first problem was that it doesn't exactly follow on from the first in the series. In that one, the Templars are formed and find what they're looking for under the old Jewish Temple of the Mount. This one, takes place a number of years later and whilst many of the general themes from the first, are present and correct, there aren't an awful lot of links in terms of personnel or direct links, in terms of developing what they found and how the Templars might have used whatever it was they found, to become what they did and possibly are today. Really, apart from the location, the Holy Land and the fact that the main characters are members of the organisation behind the Templars, it is a different story, different characters.
The story follows one young knight, from (what is now France), through trials and tribulations to do with his family's background, his membership of the fellowship that was behind the formation of the Templars, through his dealings with Richard (the Lionheart), King of England, his induction into the Templars, under what are in effect, false pretences, preparations and the initial stages of the latest Crusade to 'free' the Holy Land.
However, whilst I read and read and waited patiently for something to happen, I actually got quite involved with the themes and the story. The detail and the evocation of the period, is impressive. But I often got the impression that the author does want you to know he's done an awful lot of research and that he wants to make absolutely sure you get the thrust of what he's saying. So, even though it's a good, long book, he hasn't got the space to weave all he's wanting to impart into the events that could make up the story. He plumps for having his two main characters sit discussing these ideas and ask each other leading questions in a rather false and stilted manner. What the characters are really saying is "please explain to me in great detail, exactly what the author's research told him". After a couple of these sessions, it becomes a bit wearing to be lectured at in this manner. There are quite a few other sections that could have been edited down, to allow for what he is trying to impart to be woven into actual events making up a story.We don't really get anywhere towards the end and I think, a few days later, that we left things on the eve of, hopefully, some big events in the Crusade and some sort of revelation about what the Templars intend to do with whatever they found. Buying Cyprus isn't enough.
Having said all that...while I can't really recommend this one over a few of the others I've read in this style, I still found it enjoyable and if it hadn't been for the distractions of owning an iPad2, I'd have read it a lot more quickly. I will be buying the number three, when I've ploughed through the books I've got waiting on the 'to read' shelf.
My first problem was that it doesn't exactly follow on from the first in the series. In that one, the Templars are formed and find what they're looking for under the old Jewish Temple of the Mount. This one, takes place a number of years later and whilst many of the general themes from the first, are present and correct, there aren't an awful lot of links in terms of personnel or direct links, in terms of developing what they found and how the Templars might have used whatever it was they found, to become what they did and possibly are today. Really, apart from the location, the Holy Land and the fact that the main characters are members of the organisation behind the Templars, it is a different story, different characters.
The story follows one young knight, from (what is now France), through trials and tribulations to do with his family's background, his membership of the fellowship that was behind the formation of the Templars, through his dealings with Richard (the Lionheart), King of England, his induction into the Templars, under what are in effect, false pretences, preparations and the initial stages of the latest Crusade to 'free' the Holy Land.
However, whilst I read and read and waited patiently for something to happen, I actually got quite involved with the themes and the story. The detail and the evocation of the period, is impressive. But I often got the impression that the author does want you to know he's done an awful lot of research and that he wants to make absolutely sure you get the thrust of what he's saying. So, even though it's a good, long book, he hasn't got the space to weave all he's wanting to impart into the events that could make up the story. He plumps for having his two main characters sit discussing these ideas and ask each other leading questions in a rather false and stilted manner. What the characters are really saying is "please explain to me in great detail, exactly what the author's research told him". After a couple of these sessions, it becomes a bit wearing to be lectured at in this manner. There are quite a few other sections that could have been edited down, to allow for what he is trying to impart to be woven into actual events making up a story.We don't really get anywhere towards the end and I think, a few days later, that we left things on the eve of, hopefully, some big events in the Crusade and some sort of revelation about what the Templars intend to do with whatever they found. Buying Cyprus isn't enough.
Having said all that...while I can't really recommend this one over a few of the others I've read in this style, I still found it enjoyable and if it hadn't been for the distractions of owning an iPad2, I'd have read it a lot more quickly. I will be buying the number three, when I've ploughed through the books I've got waiting on the 'to read' shelf.
April 13, 2015
This was a book given to me by a friend who said I'd enjoy it. I read the first book in this series nearly three years ago in preparation to read this book. Obviously, it took a while to get back to the series though I'm glad I did.
The main thing I was left with at the end of this book was the sensation that I don't know nearly enough about the history of the Middle East. It seems that the region has been involved in warfare for centuries all in the name of God and religion. The main players may have changed over time, but the region remains tense and disputed whether actively through warfare or politically through maneuverings.
The backdrop of the story is the Temple Knights and their society. Once an organization of deep religious values and strict monkish observances who happened to be knights, they seem to have evolved away from the spirit of their religion into a private army of the Church, absolved of their sins in the name of their religion. Their actions and culture reflects this move away from their founding values and creates a tension among different factions and rulers which threatens to destabilize their resistance to the Arabs.
With this as the background, I couldn't help but feel an affinity for the central characters of the story and their struggles with "honor." Though far from perfect, they at least acknowledge the humanity of their enemies and refuse to be caught up in the blood lust of the broader population. There is plenty of discussion and time for reflection on the theme of honor without feeling subjected to a lecture from the author. In the end, I felt like I understood honor better through the juxtaposition not only of actions, but also in the way they discussed and treated one another. It was enlightening and enjoyable at the same time.
As a side note, I'm really sad I didn't read this book sooner as the person who recommended I read it has since passed away. I always enjoyed comparing notes on books with him. He was a good man whose life was shaped by deeply held principles.
The main thing I was left with at the end of this book was the sensation that I don't know nearly enough about the history of the Middle East. It seems that the region has been involved in warfare for centuries all in the name of God and religion. The main players may have changed over time, but the region remains tense and disputed whether actively through warfare or politically through maneuverings.
The backdrop of the story is the Temple Knights and their society. Once an organization of deep religious values and strict monkish observances who happened to be knights, they seem to have evolved away from the spirit of their religion into a private army of the Church, absolved of their sins in the name of their religion. Their actions and culture reflects this move away from their founding values and creates a tension among different factions and rulers which threatens to destabilize their resistance to the Arabs.
With this as the background, I couldn't help but feel an affinity for the central characters of the story and their struggles with "honor." Though far from perfect, they at least acknowledge the humanity of their enemies and refuse to be caught up in the blood lust of the broader population. There is plenty of discussion and time for reflection on the theme of honor without feeling subjected to a lecture from the author. In the end, I felt like I understood honor better through the juxtaposition not only of actions, but also in the way they discussed and treated one another. It was enlightening and enjoyable at the same time.
As a side note, I'm really sad I didn't read this book sooner as the person who recommended I read it has since passed away. I always enjoyed comparing notes on books with him. He was a good man whose life was shaped by deeply held principles.
November 13, 2012
I can't believe I have finally finished this book! It took me four months to read, probably the longest it has ever taken me to read a book. Some of it was due to the fact that I have been very busy these last couple of months, but some of it has to do with the fact that this book is very long and I often found it plodding and meandering all over the place. It certainly didn't move as fast as the first book in the series. I guess if I had really been into this book I would have finished it much sooner than I did.
The second book in the Templar trilogy picks up years and years later after all of the events of the first book. There are a whole new group of characters to meet and follow. It begins in the Middle East and then switches gears to France. Over the next 500 pages or so, the author goes into palace intrigue, secret socities, scheming men and women, the necessary routines to get an army ready for battle and moved to a new area, and lots more. Lots and lots more. I really think this book could have used some editing of side plots because there are many of them. Only the last 200 pages or so have the Templars back in the Middle East. There's a great of detail and description which I guess is good in its way, but after awhile it gets tedious reading about weapons and formations and clothing. I just wanted to plot to move in a streamlined fashion. Characters come and go as do side jaunts for the author.
I wanted to like this book more than I did. It certainly hasn't whetted my appetite for the final book in the series. I think I'm going take a breather from Jack Whyte and explore other books that I have put off for far too long while trying to finish this book.
The second book in the Templar trilogy picks up years and years later after all of the events of the first book. There are a whole new group of characters to meet and follow. It begins in the Middle East and then switches gears to France. Over the next 500 pages or so, the author goes into palace intrigue, secret socities, scheming men and women, the necessary routines to get an army ready for battle and moved to a new area, and lots more. Lots and lots more. I really think this book could have used some editing of side plots because there are many of them. Only the last 200 pages or so have the Templars back in the Middle East. There's a great of detail and description which I guess is good in its way, but after awhile it gets tedious reading about weapons and formations and clothing. I just wanted to plot to move in a streamlined fashion. Characters come and go as do side jaunts for the author.
I wanted to like this book more than I did. It certainly hasn't whetted my appetite for the final book in the series. I think I'm going take a breather from Jack Whyte and explore other books that I have put off for far too long while trying to finish this book.
May 19, 2011
Disappointing follow up to the first book in the trilogy, "The Knights of Black and White". Set 90 years after the events of the first book, there is no connection, no follow up, no thread of continuity; so, much so I wonder why he considers this a series. Considering what Whyte had the Templars discover in their diggings in the first book, I found it disappointing that no mention whatsoever was made of that. I just didn't care for any of the characters and I found the whole thing rather pointless.
Now, I'm going to give Whyte the benefit of the doubt and perhaps the third book will tie things up, so perpaps I'm being a little too premature in my review.
Now, I'm going to give Whyte the benefit of the doubt and perhaps the third book will tie things up, so perpaps I'm being a little too premature in my review.
Read
September 26, 2008YAY !!! True to my own promise to me I finished this last night. Mr. Whyte must have researched this all for years before starting this project, well of course he did. As someone who never really was that big into "History" I learned a Bunch of stuff from this book and his first in the series The Knights of the Black and White. The sad part is having to wait another year for book 3 .
May 27, 2008
Spends a lot of time pondering RCs vs Orthodix, Sh'ia vs Sunni ... but adds sufficient action (Crusaders vs Saracens, Richard the Lionheart's sexual preferences, gay knights vs chaste/ celibate knights) to keep you going.
January 16, 2022
Hmmm... don't really know what to make of this book. I like Jack Whyte's narrative, his character development, and his general approach in telling a complex story. That said, Standard of Honor seemed to be a narrative with great characters, but no purpose; no story.
As the 2nd installment in his Templar series, I felt Whyte did a poor job of bridging the end of Book 1 with the intentions of Book 2. In Book 1 some knights turned monks discovered a treasure beneath the ancient Temple, and in Book 2 - well - they didn't do anything at all with it. Granted it was nearly 100 years later, but is this a serial? Is there an overarching story to be told across multiple volumes? Or is the Templar series just a set of standalone books with a common setting, common costumes, a common jacket design, and at some point in the future a beautiful gift box containing all three volumes?
What really bothered me were the couple threads in the story - for example, the complex relationship between Andre St Clair (our hero), Richard the Lionheart, his queen and his sister - that served no purpose I could see. Those threads aside, by the end of the book I was literally asking myself what the past 800 pages were all about. I enjoyed the journey (for the most part) because he is a gifted (albeit verbose) writer. I was simply left wanting in terms of a tangible story. I wouldn't even know what to tell someone if they asked me was the book was about. I'd be tempted to say it was background for Book 3, but that assumes he does a better job of bridging stories than he did with this one.
I've already mentioned a couple times that I like Jack Whyte's writing, and I'm very interested in the Crusades. After reading Standard of Honor, I'm thinking I may just be holding a torch for the Camulod Chronicles - at least as far as Jack Whyte is concerned. I thought he'd learned a lesson in burnout by making the Templars a 3-book series instead of the marathon effort of his 9-book King Arthur saga. Unfortunately he hasn't picked up the tempo from his whimpering conclusion to the Camulod Chronicles; he doesn't seem as excited to tell this story as he did King Arthur's. Neither Templar story has been great, and Book 2 has set the series on a downward trend.
I fully expect to read Book 3 when it comes out. If it's as limp a story as Standard of Honor, though, it may well be the last Jack Whyte book I buy.
As the 2nd installment in his Templar series, I felt Whyte did a poor job of bridging the end of Book 1 with the intentions of Book 2. In Book 1 some knights turned monks discovered a treasure beneath the ancient Temple, and in Book 2 - well - they didn't do anything at all with it. Granted it was nearly 100 years later, but is this a serial? Is there an overarching story to be told across multiple volumes? Or is the Templar series just a set of standalone books with a common setting, common costumes, a common jacket design, and at some point in the future a beautiful gift box containing all three volumes?
What really bothered me were the couple threads in the story - for example, the complex relationship between Andre St Clair (our hero), Richard the Lionheart, his queen and his sister - that served no purpose I could see. Those threads aside, by the end of the book I was literally asking myself what the past 800 pages were all about. I enjoyed the journey (for the most part) because he is a gifted (albeit verbose) writer. I was simply left wanting in terms of a tangible story. I wouldn't even know what to tell someone if they asked me was the book was about. I'd be tempted to say it was background for Book 3, but that assumes he does a better job of bridging stories than he did with this one.
I've already mentioned a couple times that I like Jack Whyte's writing, and I'm very interested in the Crusades. After reading Standard of Honor, I'm thinking I may just be holding a torch for the Camulod Chronicles - at least as far as Jack Whyte is concerned. I thought he'd learned a lesson in burnout by making the Templars a 3-book series instead of the marathon effort of his 9-book King Arthur saga. Unfortunately he hasn't picked up the tempo from his whimpering conclusion to the Camulod Chronicles; he doesn't seem as excited to tell this story as he did King Arthur's. Neither Templar story has been great, and Book 2 has set the series on a downward trend.
I fully expect to read Book 3 when it comes out. If it's as limp a story as Standard of Honor, though, it may well be the last Jack Whyte book I buy.
July 22, 2025
Well written and excellently researched this still fell short of fully engaging read. Offer has a habit of switching his main characters here and there this is fine as he’s trying to tell the story of the Knights Templar over the few hundred years they were active. But a large portion of this book didn’t seem to be telling their history at all. It seemed to get sidetracked with something unrelated, although that did actually prove somewhat relevant later, but I feel that could haven been done with far less words. In the end, a handful of compelling scenes over 600 pages meant I could not give this more than 3 out of 5.
February 7, 2018
Probably a great book if you want to understand details of the Crusade, if not, slowed down by too much detail, don't know if reading the 1st one before reading this would have helped, but I'm not rushing out to buy it.
April 15, 2018
I found the book long and often focused on items that did not in my opinion add to the Templar or Crusade story. I did not read the first book in the trilogy, although I don’t believe this had any impact on this book as it appeared to standalone.
June 11, 2018
I found this book very hard to give a rating. The topics and thought provoking ideas put forth by the author were fascinating. That being said, I found it hard to stay interested in the overall story and found myself skimming through various parts in order to find something of substance.
November 23, 2022
I couldn't finish this book quick enough. Sooooooooo boring. It was very masculine, with a lot of war and battle strategy jargon. But the research is so good, I learn a lot from these books, I want to read them, but it's not enjoyable enough.
December 16, 2019
Abandonei no meio por achar muito maçante e lento demais.
January 7, 2020
Book 2 of the trilogy. The series is a very exciting read.
February 9, 2020
not as good as the first book in this series but still a great story. Whyte really seems to understand the Knights Templar. even if your not a history buff this is just a great adventure
September 16, 2020
LOVED! It For An Old Guy Jack Whyte Can Write A Convincing Story About Knights Fighting With Each Other
August 3, 2023
I enjoyed this book. I have always been intrigued by the Templars. This was a great ride into what might have been.
May 27, 2024
Context si personaje promitatoare. Multa vorbarie , putina actiune.
December 27, 2024
Engrossing
I am not normally a reader of 'historical' novels. I could only set the books down with effort.
Great stuff.
I am not normally a reader of 'historical' novels. I could only set the books down with effort.
Great stuff.
March 21, 2017
Very good historical fiction.
August 17, 2016
2 volume
Papa Grigore cheama crestinatatea la cea de-a treia cruciada pentru a elibera Ierusalimul de sub stapanirea pagana.
Regii Europei sunt chemati din nou la lupta. Masacrul "cruciadei regilor" va scalda Tara Sfanta in sange.
ÎN 1187... unul dintre supravietuitorii Bataliei de la Hattin, tânarul templier scotian Alexander Sinclair, ranit, se refugiaza în desert. Aflând de executia celor cazuti prizonieri, nu pomeneste nimic despre statutul sau în cadrul Ordinului Templului. Scotianul face parte din Sanctuarul Tainic al Ordinului. Mai mult, este unul dintre membrii stravechii Confrerii din Sion, o societate secreta în interiorul altei societati secrete, necunoscuta de simplii membri si de sergenti.
DOI ANI MAI TÂRZIU... Sieur Henri St. Clair este trezit în miez de noapte de suzeranul sau, Richard Inima de Leu, venit sa-l viziteze. Regele Richard strânge o armata pentru a elibera tara Sfânta de sub dominatia lui Saladin si a sarazinilor lui si doreste ca sieur Henry, primul si cel mai iubit profesor al sau, sa-l însoteasca în calatoria pe mare, ca Maestru de Arme. Pe batrân nu-l trage inima sa mearga, caci Richard – sadic si nemaipomenit de egoist – îi displace si nici nu-i inspira încredere.
DAR VIITORUL... sau si al tânarului fiu André, cavaler în plina ascensiune în cadrul Ordinului, depind de loialitatea fata de Richard. Sieur Henri stie ca André îl venereaza pe Alexander Sinclair, var mai vârstnic din ramura scotiana a familiei, care se afla în Tara Sfânta de ani de zile. Sperând ca va gasi în Alexander un aliat pe un pamânt necunoscut, Sieur Henri accepta calatoria. Dar campania cruciadei si intrigile politice si personale din sânul ei aduc familia de St. Clair – si Ordinul – în pragul dezastrului.
Recomandari Codul Onoarei
„Jack Whyte e mai bun decât a fost vreodata. Istorie sângeroasa, mister sacru si o poveste care înainteaza prin timp ca un sarpe urias, prinzând în strânsoarea sa pagâni si crestini, regi si soldati, profeti si cavaleri templieri – dar mai ales cititori...”
Diana Gabaldon
„Whyte creeaza cu maiestrie un tablou epic de proportii, fascinant prin abila împletire a zbuciumului istoriei cu aventura literara clasica.”
Booklist
„O poveste fermecatoare despre batalii, intrigi politice, dorinta si dragoste, plina de detalii istorice sclipitoare. [...] O carte pe care dupa ce o citesti, o adaugi la colectie.”
Historical Novels Review
Papa Grigore cheama crestinatatea la cea de-a treia cruciada pentru a elibera Ierusalimul de sub stapanirea pagana.
Regii Europei sunt chemati din nou la lupta. Masacrul "cruciadei regilor" va scalda Tara Sfanta in sange.
ÎN 1187... unul dintre supravietuitorii Bataliei de la Hattin, tânarul templier scotian Alexander Sinclair, ranit, se refugiaza în desert. Aflând de executia celor cazuti prizonieri, nu pomeneste nimic despre statutul sau în cadrul Ordinului Templului. Scotianul face parte din Sanctuarul Tainic al Ordinului. Mai mult, este unul dintre membrii stravechii Confrerii din Sion, o societate secreta în interiorul altei societati secrete, necunoscuta de simplii membri si de sergenti.
DOI ANI MAI TÂRZIU... Sieur Henri St. Clair este trezit în miez de noapte de suzeranul sau, Richard Inima de Leu, venit sa-l viziteze. Regele Richard strânge o armata pentru a elibera tara Sfânta de sub dominatia lui Saladin si a sarazinilor lui si doreste ca sieur Henry, primul si cel mai iubit profesor al sau, sa-l însoteasca în calatoria pe mare, ca Maestru de Arme. Pe batrân nu-l trage inima sa mearga, caci Richard – sadic si nemaipomenit de egoist – îi displace si nici nu-i inspira încredere.
DAR VIITORUL... sau si al tânarului fiu André, cavaler în plina ascensiune în cadrul Ordinului, depind de loialitatea fata de Richard. Sieur Henri stie ca André îl venereaza pe Alexander Sinclair, var mai vârstnic din ramura scotiana a familiei, care se afla în Tara Sfânta de ani de zile. Sperând ca va gasi în Alexander un aliat pe un pamânt necunoscut, Sieur Henri accepta calatoria. Dar campania cruciadei si intrigile politice si personale din sânul ei aduc familia de St. Clair – si Ordinul – în pragul dezastrului.
Recomandari Codul Onoarei
„Jack Whyte e mai bun decât a fost vreodata. Istorie sângeroasa, mister sacru si o poveste care înainteaza prin timp ca un sarpe urias, prinzând în strânsoarea sa pagâni si crestini, regi si soldati, profeti si cavaleri templieri – dar mai ales cititori...”
Diana Gabaldon
„Whyte creeaza cu maiestrie un tablou epic de proportii, fascinant prin abila împletire a zbuciumului istoriei cu aventura literara clasica.”
Booklist
„O poveste fermecatoare despre batalii, intrigi politice, dorinta si dragoste, plina de detalii istorice sclipitoare. [...] O carte pe care dupa ce o citesti, o adaugi la colectie.”
Historical Novels Review
April 21, 2013
I'm really starting to struggle with this series and I'm unhappy about that because I love Jack Whyte's writing. Even within Standard of Honor, there are brilliant passages and stories within the stories that engaged me fully and kept me reading.
But these books are long - the PB edition of Standard of Honor tops out at 857 pages - and with a novel of that size there has to be some considerations for your reader. Namely, I expect a well-plotted story, with one or two main characters that will take me through from start to finish. This novel begins with one such character that I was ready to follow through thick and thin, but he was abruptly dropped 118 pages in to be replaced by another character that took time to care for, who was then replaced by another, albeit his son.
The whole series has felt rambling to me and combined with the fact that the end of the first book in the trilogy left the reader hanging about what was going to happen (they discovered the Ark of the Covenant, for God's sake!) I felt it was quite disjointed to then pick up in the second book almost 100 years later, with little to no mention of what was going on at the end of the first book.
I'm going to carry on and read the third book because I respect Whyte's style so much, but I'm disappointed in the structure I've experienced so far. For the size of these novels, I would have much preferred to have one long story carried on (such as he did so brilliantly with his "Dream of Eagles" series) - even if that meant it was more than a trilogy. As it stands right now, I feel as though I know little to nothing about the true Order or the Templars, other than a few brief mentions as we go through the random stories of these characters' personal experiences. Clearly this is an editing thing: I want more and less at the same time.
But these books are long - the PB edition of Standard of Honor tops out at 857 pages - and with a novel of that size there has to be some considerations for your reader. Namely, I expect a well-plotted story, with one or two main characters that will take me through from start to finish. This novel begins with one such character that I was ready to follow through thick and thin, but he was abruptly dropped 118 pages in to be replaced by another character that took time to care for, who was then replaced by another, albeit his son.
The whole series has felt rambling to me and combined with the fact that the end of the first book in the trilogy left the reader hanging about what was going to happen (they discovered the Ark of the Covenant, for God's sake!) I felt it was quite disjointed to then pick up in the second book almost 100 years later, with little to no mention of what was going on at the end of the first book.
I'm going to carry on and read the third book because I respect Whyte's style so much, but I'm disappointed in the structure I've experienced so far. For the size of these novels, I would have much preferred to have one long story carried on (such as he did so brilliantly with his "Dream of Eagles" series) - even if that meant it was more than a trilogy. As it stands right now, I feel as though I know little to nothing about the true Order or the Templars, other than a few brief mentions as we go through the random stories of these characters' personal experiences. Clearly this is an editing thing: I want more and less at the same time.
May 11, 2010
The Standard of Honor is the second book in a trilogy about the Templar Knights, following “Knights of the Black and White” which introduced the beginnings of their Order, the reasons behind the founding of them. This book deals with the inner workings of the organization and how man perceives the aspect of honor.
Jack Whyte has prepared this entertaining book with well researched detail on the Third Crusade and the Order of the Temple. I loved Mr. Whyte’s full descriptions of the political intrigue of the time combined with the battles and skirmishes including excellent explanations on certain methods of warfare and weapons. He took the time to explain the political intrigue between the factions of the orthodox and catholic sections of Christianity, and Saladin along with the Muslims.
The scope of the story was quite large with the development of plot between the two cousins: Alec Sinclair’s fate in the desert after the Battle of Hattin and Andre St. Clair’s training in the Brotherhood of the Sion within the Order of the Temple; and the various battles in Cyprus and Sicily, and the different relationships between family, king, country, Order and Brotherhood.
Other reviews have mentioned an abrupt ending to the story; however, I found 50 pages before the end was reached that Mr. Whyte had begun to wind the story down. The ending came at an appropriate placement with the characters with closure of the questions presented before.
If you want an adventure story with detailed historical events then this book will do the job in an excellent fashion.
I am looking forward to reading the third book in this trilogy, Order in Chaos, which is certain to entertain in true Jack Whyte style.
Jack Whyte has prepared this entertaining book with well researched detail on the Third Crusade and the Order of the Temple. I loved Mr. Whyte’s full descriptions of the political intrigue of the time combined with the battles and skirmishes including excellent explanations on certain methods of warfare and weapons. He took the time to explain the political intrigue between the factions of the orthodox and catholic sections of Christianity, and Saladin along with the Muslims.
The scope of the story was quite large with the development of plot between the two cousins: Alec Sinclair’s fate in the desert after the Battle of Hattin and Andre St. Clair’s training in the Brotherhood of the Sion within the Order of the Temple; and the various battles in Cyprus and Sicily, and the different relationships between family, king, country, Order and Brotherhood.
Other reviews have mentioned an abrupt ending to the story; however, I found 50 pages before the end was reached that Mr. Whyte had begun to wind the story down. The ending came at an appropriate placement with the characters with closure of the questions presented before.
If you want an adventure story with detailed historical events then this book will do the job in an excellent fashion.
I am looking forward to reading the third book in this trilogy, Order in Chaos, which is certain to entertain in true Jack Whyte style.
July 2, 2012
For some reason, Whyte is regularly charged with doing too much research/going into too much detail concerning the historical background. Granted his pre-publication work is extensive-but surely he shouldn't be criticised for this? Given the vacuous nature of so much of today's output, I rather feel he should be praised.
Part 2 of the Templars trilogy brings us forward to the third crusade, lead by Richard the Lionheart. In the process of this we see many deaths of central characters, so clearly p3 will follow a very different route.
The prose is evocative-bringing characters and landscape to life. Several memebers of the same family are brought together, briefly, only to be seperated by death.Furthermore, we see how close the opposing factions actually are-despite their stance to the contrary. Little has changed!
Rather long, granted, but much of the information was new to me, and for that I'm grateful.
Part 2 of the Templars trilogy brings us forward to the third crusade, lead by Richard the Lionheart. In the process of this we see many deaths of central characters, so clearly p3 will follow a very different route.
The prose is evocative-bringing characters and landscape to life. Several memebers of the same family are brought together, briefly, only to be seperated by death.Furthermore, we see how close the opposing factions actually are-despite their stance to the contrary. Little has changed!
Rather long, granted, but much of the information was new to me, and for that I'm grateful.
August 30, 2013
Ok, let's be clear, Knights of the Black and White and Standard of Honor are NOT rocking crusading war adventures. If you seek Dan Brown, seek elsewhere. Yes, there is a secret society behind the Templars in this series. Yes, they are fascinating. Yes, there is action, fights, and battles. But the focus of this book is within the philosophy and the subject of honor.
A major focus is Shi'ai versus Sunni, Christian versus Saracen, Roman Catholicism versus the Greek Orthodoxy, and finally honor. Honor is a wisp in the wind. I took from this book that if at the end of my days, I can look myself in the mirror and say with honesty, "I have lived a good and honorable life." Then that is honor.
This particular series of Whyte's deals more with the thoughts, motives, and motivations of people than the action that surrounds them. It is more about how the action affects them than how they act within the action. If you want to stretch your brain, read this series.
A major focus is Shi'ai versus Sunni, Christian versus Saracen, Roman Catholicism versus the Greek Orthodoxy, and finally honor. Honor is a wisp in the wind. I took from this book that if at the end of my days, I can look myself in the mirror and say with honesty, "I have lived a good and honorable life." Then that is honor.
This particular series of Whyte's deals more with the thoughts, motives, and motivations of people than the action that surrounds them. It is more about how the action affects them than how they act within the action. If you want to stretch your brain, read this series.
April 15, 2014
The end of the 12th century and the start of the Third Crusade are the backdrop of this well-written middle entry to the author's Templar Trilogy. Richard is not yet the Lionheart and Saladin is pushing the Christians out of the Holy Land. Political intrigue between kings and popes abounds. Young knight Andre St. Clair is swept into the surge of events that eventually leads him and his close family members into battles both military and personal.
No matter what the historical time or place, war is hell and innocent participants are often caught in the crossfire of forces beyond their control. Jack Whyte nicely portrays both Christian and Muslim warriors ostensibly fighting for the same God. Recommended for those who enjoy historical fiction, and maybe a nice holdover for those waiting for George R.R. Martin's next novel. Start with the first book in the series, Knights of the Black and White.
No matter what the historical time or place, war is hell and innocent participants are often caught in the crossfire of forces beyond their control. Jack Whyte nicely portrays both Christian and Muslim warriors ostensibly fighting for the same God. Recommended for those who enjoy historical fiction, and maybe a nice holdover for those waiting for George R.R. Martin's next novel. Start with the first book in the series, Knights of the Black and White.
March 13, 2014
3.5*
Hmm. This book, while having likeable enough characters in Alec Sinclair and André St. Clair, seemed to be a bit of a chore to read. Even intriguing characters like the two queens were few and far between in their appearances. The book couldn't be over fast enough.
Speaking of being over, I found the ending to be rather disappointing, somehow. It just kind of fizzled for me.
Since finding both books kind of ho hum, I don't intend on picking up the third and final instalment. Especially knowing that the last book again picks up many years down the line with brand new characters. I also think it's telling that the first book has a so many reviews/ratings, & each subsequent book has fewer and fewer. I guess I'm not the only one who felt the trilogy wasn't worth sticking around for. Sadly.
Hmm. This book, while having likeable enough characters in Alec Sinclair and André St. Clair, seemed to be a bit of a chore to read. Even intriguing characters like the two queens were few and far between in their appearances. The book couldn't be over fast enough.
Speaking of being over, I found the ending to be rather disappointing, somehow. It just kind of fizzled for me.
Since finding both books kind of ho hum, I don't intend on picking up the third and final instalment. Especially knowing that the last book again picks up many years down the line with brand new characters. I also think it's telling that the first book has a so many reviews/ratings, & each subsequent book has fewer and fewer. I guess I'm not the only one who felt the trilogy wasn't worth sticking around for. Sadly.
September 3, 2009
After reading the Dream of Eagles series, I was very eager to try another of Whyte's historical epic series. I haven't been as keen about this one as I was the other, but since I LOVED the other set, I had no-where to really go from there. I do like Whyte's manner of storytelling, I find I sail on through his chapters, swept up in the language and the tale he weaves. I didn't get so attached to the characters in this set, as they change more often than in the other. But, as a fan of Whyte, I cannot say that I won't wait to see what magic he produces next. Fortunately, I still have the third in this series to read ahead of me.
May 13, 2012
This is the second book in the Templar trilogy and I enjoyed it very much. It's a funny sort of book; lots of travelling, from France to the Holy Land and things that happen throughout the journey, but most of the action is talked about after the fact, at least so it seems to me. No romance or sex; this story is about honour. It flowed nicely for all its length, an easy pace. The history is very interesting, that of the 2nd Crusade. Much politics, and plotting. I wasn't sure I wanted to get the third book in the trilogy, but Whyte seems to have found his story and his writing style and turned the story into a more comfortable read. Well worth trying.
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