Siege of Heaven

Demetrios Askiates #3

by Tom Harper

A powerful novel of intrigue, sacrifice, savagery and holy war---the apocalyptic ending of the First Crusade trilogy.

August, 1098. After countless battles and sieges, the surviving soldiers of the First Crusade are at last within reach of their ultimate goal: Jerusalem. But rivalries fester, and while the Crusaders delay, new enemies are massing against them in the Holy Land.

Demetrios Askiates has had enough of the Crusade’s violence and hypocrisy---he longs to return home. But when a routine diplomatic mission leads to a deadly ambush, he realizes he has been snared in the vast power struggles that underlie the Crusade. The only way out now leads through the Holy City.

From the plague-bound city of Antioch to the heart of Muslim Egypt, across mountains, seas and deserts, Demetrios must accompany the army of warlords and fanatics to the very gates of Jerusalem. Where, as the lethal endgame plays out, the Crusade climaxes in an apocalypse of pillage, bloodshed and slaughter.

Siege of Heaven is a breathtaking finale to the critically acclaimed series. Following The Mosaic of Shadows and The Knights of the Cross, Tom Harper skillfully blends war, redemption, and triumph into a stunning conclusion.

Praise for Knights of the Cross

“Harper’s excellent second historical whodunit shows that his fine debut was no fluke. Like Steven Saylor, the master of the ancient Roman historical, Harper effortlessly draws the reader into an unfamiliar time, bringing alive the characters and their motivations.”

---Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Gripping for its portrayal of the Crusader leaders . . . this is a great example from a trustworthy historian.”

---Independent

Praise for the Mosaic of Shadows

"Fans of well-written, meticulously researched historicals should embrace this promising new talent.”

--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Considering what Arnold Schwarzenegger did with the title ‘The Terminator,’ the hero of Tom Harper’s debut historical mystery could go all the way to the top of American politics . . . Harper . . . knows how to fit known facts into flights of fancy to fine dramatic effect.”

---Chicago Tribune

“. . . an exciting historical mystery . . . Reminding readers of Saylor’s Gordianus and Roberts’ Decius, Demetrios is an interesting protagonist who escorts readers on a terrific tour during his dangerous investigation.”

---Midwest Book Review

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Mystery, Ebooks, Adventure, Thriller

518 pages, Hardcover

First published August 5, 2006

About the author

Tom Harper was born in West Germany in 1977 and grew up in Germany, Belgium and America; he now lives in England. He is chair of the Crime Writers' Association and also a member of the Historical Novels Society and the Society of Authors.

Tom Harper also writes historical adventures as Edwin Thomas.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Markus · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Army of God marches towards the Holy City and in the midst of intrigue, diplomacy of murder, Demetrios Askiates is caught up in the storm of the First Crusade one last time…

Siege of Heaven concludes the story of Demetrios Askiates, the unveiler of mysteries, and his journey alongside the crusaders towards Jerusalem. In the end, this was probably the weakest book in the series, but it was only slightly less enjoyable than the last two.

One particularly interesting part of this book was the setting. While the Levant has been portrayed in works of fiction many times, and stories of Byzantium and the Crusades have been told even more times, Fatimid Egypt is a place not often explored in historical fiction. When Demetrios was sent there on a diplomatic mission, I got the chance to see a civilisation brought to life that I’ve previously only read about in history textbooks. And even though I knew all that was mentioned about the places and people involved, this really fascinated me.

And just like in the last two books, The Mosaic of Shadows and Knights of the Cross, Tom Harper shows the guts to involve central characters of immense historical significance in his plots and intrigues. Nothing can top the climactic plot twist at the end of the second book, but here you can also find revelations that, although they might not make sense historically, were greatly enjoyable surprises.

While these books are far from the shimmering peaks of historical fiction populated by giants like Bernard Cornwell and Umberto Eco, I enjoyed them greatly. Harper does a good job of visualising the crusades in an exciting story, and while I’m a student of Byzantium and the Crusades, I have no problems with him taking liberties with historical accuracy and characterisation.

[Keith Currie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a long, perhaps too long, novel on the final stages of the first crusade, i.e. from the capture of Antioch to the siege and capture and sack of Jerusalem. I think the hero, Demetrios Askiates, is too feeble, an investigator who has rings run around him by most of the other characters and the narrative is too contrived in places, but overall I found the book a diverting enough read. For this sort of historical hokum the novels of Pip Vaughn-Hughes are hard to beat.

[Vasso Chatzimanoli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Μου αρέσει πολύ ο Tom Harper!! Κ η Πολιορκία των Ουρανών δεν με απογοήτευσε...Ένα καθαρά ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα σε σχέση με όσα δικά του έχω διαβάσει που περιγράφει πολύ ρεαλιστικά την εποχή πριν την Άλωση της Ιερουσαλήμ από τους σταυροφόρους... Μηχανορραφίες, ιδιοτελείς βλέψεις, φανατισμός κ φυσικά άνθρωποι που μπλέχτηκαν άθελά τους σε όλον αυτόν τον παραλογισμό. Προς το τέλος...έμαθα κ κάτι που δεν ήξερα...είναι τριλογία 🙃🙃🙃

[sonja wegert · Rating 2 out of 5]

As the previous two books of this series, the historical part of the crusade is well written. Even the plotting at the beginning of the book is quite promising. But this is getting lost when you reach the middle of the book. Demetrios inability of solving any riddles or mysteries is now so obvious and annoying that I had to stop reading for a while. Furthermore, with a feeble, unbelievable excuse the writer even involves Demetrios whole family in the war. To me it seems senseless with the only aim to keep the reader interested enough to manage finishing the book, best also not to question how illogical and disjointed the whole story becomes.

Overall, if you like to read it for the crusade then the book series is interesting and written in a way easy to read.

If you read it for the plots and mysteries and how they been solved - as I did - then the books are a real disappointment and Demetrios would be an embarrassment for any medieval detective or spy (e.g. Cadfael or Owen Archer). I know their stories are set a few hundred years later but ingenuity, ability and cleverness should be fairly similar.

[Keith Beddard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had not read the first two books in this series but this does not stop this book from being perfectly able to stand alone as a story in its own right rather than as part of a trilogy. The book views the First Crusade and its principal characters from another perspective that of a former Greek cleric from Byzantium. This adds even more to the treachery and double dealing that was prevalent throughout the whole of this event. Through his eyes we see how the Crusade was bogged down by petty jealousies and betrayals as well as acts of outstanding bravery and faith on both sides of the religious divide between Christianity and Islam.
The action scenes are well written and the descriptions of the various locations especially Antioch and Jerusalem are as if the reader is actually there.
A good book dealing with a difficult subject.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Siege of Heaven is the third and final book in the Demetrios Askiates series by Tom Harper. This is such a vividly detailed story/series, it really comes to life before your eyes, pulling you into all the action and keeping you held in its grasp right till the end.
A fantastic historical (medieval) thriller, with plenty of mystery, action, adventure, drama, tension, suspense, The Crusaders, The Holy War, interesting characters, intrigue, agendas, violence, a diplomatic mission gone awry, a deadly ambush, power struggles, plots, plague, seas & deserts, new enemies, sieges, and much more.
I highly recommend reading the first book in the series before starting on this one, as the first book will enhance your appreciation of this story, as well as the series as a whole.
An epic conclusion to this engrossing series.
Happy Reading...

Thank you, Tom Harper!

[Midnight Owl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked that one, comparing to the previous book, The Knights of the Cross. Excluding the parts with Saewulf, it was an intriguing book full of agony, especially in some parts in the beginning and in the end. But what made me love it us how Harper portrayed Godfrey de Bouillon. I mean, I could feel how bad Godfrey was. That's what I loved in that book.

[Paschalis]

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[Captain Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent ending. I really wish he'd stuck with Demetrios

[Γρηγόρης Μανθοπουλος · Rating 4 out of 5]

Κλασσικός Χάρπερ. Ξερει να κρατάει το ενδιαφέρον του αναγνώστη με ιντριγκα, αγωνία και πολλά ιστορικά στοιχεία.

[Speesh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blimey! That took a long time. A long time finishing and a long time starting to do anything. When I was (hurrah!) done, all I could think was- it came, it was there and now it’s gone again. And it felt to like it got longer each time I picked it up.

I really couldn’t see what the point of the book was. I couldn’t see what the aim of the book or the story was. Usually it’s fairly clear from the start, or from the blurb on the inside, or the back, so you’re in the frame of mind to measure it against that premise. For good or bad, I read this on the iPad and iPhone, without the blurb, so I just went straight in. And it didn’t capture me. I didn’t find myself caring about any of the characters. Not him the main man, the name escapes me, not Nike...what'sit, not the Caliph or any of them. My eye and mind skated around the book in search of something to get a grip on. Without finding anything.

It seems to be set in the First Crusade, with, what might be a Greek envoy from the Holy Roman Emperor, or someone or somewhere, on tour in the Middle East of the 11th Century, ending up going here and there and finally taking part in the capture of Jerusalem in 1099.

It was s a new style on me. One that sags for the first third, then picks up. And then doesn’t.

But, if nothing else, it wins this years most ridiculous, no one anywhere has ever or would ever - outside of a book - think of this simile : “my soul was trembling like a broken sword.” Do broken swords ’tremble’? Maybe they do.

What is it with novels and people’s soul? I mean, outside books, the church and the odd Deep Purple song, when did you ever hear anyone discuss their soul, with you? Down the pub? At work? I don’t think so. And, of course, the longer ago a book is set, the more a discussion of one’s soul, is taken as being both ‘what they got up to’ and an indicator of the story being ‘set a long time ago.’ He relies on us believing, like he clearly does, that a person’s soul is an important indicator of their character, their suffering or their, well…we’re obviously supposed to read it as some deep, probably meaningful, insight, the mere mention of someone’s ‘soul.’ Has your soul ever felt ‘twisted,’ by the way? Have you ever ripped something from ‘the very depths' of your soul? Has your boss ever said that he/she didn’t want you to go to somewhere, Jerusalem in the First Crusade, for example? THAT would feel like he/she had ‘ripped out part of (your) soul.’ (though, watch out, as Jerusalem is a ‘loathsome city' that will wrap itself ‘tight around (your) soul', if you’re not careful). Didn’t know that? It was obviously possible back then. Even common, by the looks. Something modern life has left us unable to feel, clearly. Peter Bartholomew (the madman who tried to lead the Crusade, but wasn’t born high enough), on the other hand, “plucked a string that resonated in all (their) souls.” Just think what we’re missing nowadays!

There's page after page of people, prophets, priests, recounting, reciting and answering straightforward 'yes' 'no' questions, with paragraphs, pages, yards, hours of religious 'all shall be revealed to those who can see'- type nonsense babble. Really wearing. Doing nothing, going nowhere. I don’t doubt that this sort of thing used to go on, especially as they thought they were in the ‘End Of Days' (though more because they wanted to see 'The Lord Himself,' than any real, indisputable evidence of His Return) and looked for the signs to fulfil some idiot or others' prophecy of such. It would, like the book, try the patience of a saint. And I’m no saint.

I’ll giver it two stars ‘cause it was long and he’d clearly spent a lot of time on it.

[Omni Theus · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an OKish read. Started well enough but lost its way in terms of entertainment for me personally from memory. 2 out of 5 stars.

[P.D.R. Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harper writes about that charade of religious fervour, the First Crusade of 1096-8 in all its ghastly violence and hypocrisy. The reader is spared nothing of the petty rivalries between the various Dukes and warlords, the infighting and power struggles which is all the Crusade turns out to be for these men. Harper's research is impressive. I learnt a great deal about the shenanigans of the last of the Holy Roman Empire as the main character, a Greek, Demetrios Askiates, is the Emperor's representative in Antioch.

He's an irritating fellow who just wants to go home and is always falling over his feet or door sills when he fights. However he cannot go home to Constantinople until he has fulfilled his duty to his Emperor, and he doesn't want to, not with the infighting between the Lords, the plague amongst the true pilgrims, and the double crossing dealings his Emperor wishes him to be part of. So through Demetrios' eyes we stagger along with the Crusade and finally reach Jerusalem.

One wonders why there was no earthquake of protest at the useless slaughter and cruel massacre but Demetrios survives, finds his family and does return them safely to Constantinople. It's a book to make you think about bigotry.

[Peter Timbrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, I finally finished "Siege of Heaven". I can see that the subject could be challenging, particularly as the documented historical detail relating to the crusades is somewhat scarce, and the accuracy of its recording may be questionable.

I did find this novel hard work. The characters were not particularly well constructed, particularly the protagonist Demetrios. I struggled to picture the man let alone relate to him. The story didn't flow for me either, again that could well have been down to the factual holes in historical documentation. I became confused on several occasions, trying to follow the various battles and skirmishes leading up to the siege of Jerusalem. It was also difficult to clarify who was siding with whom.

What did come across loud and clear though, was the thick layer of hypocrisy on which the crusades were founded. "The Army of God" were no more than a bunch of cut throat mercenaries, hell bent on blood letting and plunder; a fact that is hardly a revelation but none the less well depicted by Harper.

It also underlined how little progress humanity has made when comparing the atrocities of the crusades with those we are committing today, still in the name of religion and commerce.

[James Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third book in the Demetrius Askiates trilogy and for me the weakest. The final destination, of the first crusade, Jerusalem, is in sight and it takes a long time getting there. 600 pages could easily have been reduced to 400, the result being a better pleased reader. There has to be some description to help the reader imagine what is happening, the atmosphere and what the character is seeing and feeling, but for me, the description was completely over elaborated. Sentences were extended into paragraphs and so everything got a bit boring for me and I found myself skipping through pages rather than reading them.
The first two books were really good, although the characters are fictional the history is based on fact and the Crusades is an intriguing and interesting part of our heritage but The Siege Of Heaven was a mediocre ending to a good series. All the main characters seemed to be more bothered about their own self-importance and Demetrius ( the unraveller of mysteries) is far from that description.
One question, how did Demetrius’ wife and family become embroiled in this battle? Their involvement just seemed a little silly to me.
I’m sorry Tom, you have a lovely flowing pen but I can only just give a mark of 3/5.

[Ghost14 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very high and rich depiction of the trilogy's end. Lacks the mystery of the first part (mosaic of shadows) and the political aura of teh second (knights of the cross). But does make up for it by adapting a straight in-your-face narrative overtone of the final seige of teh holy city.

The theme involved is more military than political or suspense in the third part. Lags a bit towards the end but picks up pace again towards teh gory climax. An interesting read and one that adds variety to the diverse overtone of the trilogy.

[Tapley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Once again, I think I would have appreciate this book more if I had started from the beginning of the series. As it was I found the story a bit tricky to get into in the very beginning, but it drew me in as the story went along. In the end though, it was entertaining but not brilliant, and I just put it down.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Siege of Heaven' is the third book in this series following 'The Mosaic of Shadows' and 'Knights of the Cross'. I recommend this series and other books by this author including 'the Reluctant Adventures of Lieutenant Martin Jerrold' trilogy beginning with 'The Blighted Cliffs' that were published under his real name, Edwin Thomas.

[Chris Westlake · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good end to the trilogy, if a little meandering in places. Disappointed that Demetrios left behind the detective aspect of first two books and just became another soldier. Would recommend the Trilogy and will look for more Tom Harper

[Satyabrata Mishra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps the best piece of Historical fiction I have ever picked, Siege of Heaven recounts the inception of the war between the Fatimids and the army of God, over Jerusalem, a war which is going on even today...

[Unbestechlich · Rating 5 out of 5]

A worthy end of the trilogy. Still it left some bitter feeling. Probably because nothing changes and people continue fighting because of their religions...

[Douglas Misquita · Rating 2 out of 5]

The language is very good, but if you're looking for a historic thriller, this is not it; it's more an insight (true and fictional) of the first crusade.

[Winnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this trilogy - loved the characters and the writing flowed and was quick and easy to read which was all I wanted from this set of books.

[bleeding fangs · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic, I really felt living the story

[Rick Brindle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, readable book, giving a modern take on the sack of Jerusalem. Not sure if I'd read it again, but definitely worth taking on holiday.

[Liesl de Swardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not read the preceding books, but could pick up the story seamlessly. Very powerful and very sad.