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“... he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid...”-Romans 13:4
Over 95 Goodreads 5-Star Reviews. Action-packed adventure perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell's The Last Kingdom.
Brother Foulques de Villaret just wants to stay in Acre and perform his sworn duties. Instead, the young Hospitaller Knight of Saint John must undertake a dangerous journey from the Holy Land to a remote village nestled in the Alps, the "Spine of the World". His buy 500 peasant boys and return them to Acre to be trained as Soldiers of Christ. Pursued across the Mid-Earth Sea by slavers, Brother Foulques and his Army of Children are about to be thrust into a confrontation with the greatest warriors the East has ever the Mamluks. To survive, Brother Foulques must turn to risky alliances… and pray that his choices do not lead them all to destruction.
Acre is the first book in the Hospitaller Saga, a series of breathtaking novels set in the late 13th century. If you like authentically rich fiction with lots of action, then you’ll love the epic tale of Brother Foulques de Villaret.
Over 95 Goodreads 5-Star Reviews. Action-packed adventure perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell's The Last Kingdom.
Brother Foulques de Villaret just wants to stay in Acre and perform his sworn duties. Instead, the young Hospitaller Knight of Saint John must undertake a dangerous journey from the Holy Land to a remote village nestled in the Alps, the "Spine of the World". His buy 500 peasant boys and return them to Acre to be trained as Soldiers of Christ. Pursued across the Mid-Earth Sea by slavers, Brother Foulques and his Army of Children are about to be thrust into a confrontation with the greatest warriors the East has ever the Mamluks. To survive, Brother Foulques must turn to risky alliances… and pray that his choices do not lead them all to destruction.
Acre is the first book in the Hospitaller Saga, a series of breathtaking novels set in the late 13th century. If you like authentically rich fiction with lots of action, then you’ll love the epic tale of Brother Foulques de Villaret.
307 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 26, 2016
643 people are currently reading
311 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
September 17, 2016
Well written. I look forward to the next in the series.
March 15, 2017
Nice historical adventure story set during the Crusader period in and around the ancient city of Acre. It features multiple stories, a Knight from the Hospitaller brotherhood, a young boy sold to the Knighthood by his parents, a debt-laden Genoan merchant, and a terrific villain known as the Northman. This is the first book in a series, and it showed. We get an introduction to the characters, and a little mini-adventure at the end. It could have easily been twice as long, but it seems the author cut the original book into two, with this being the first. So as the start of a series, it's very promising. But it's short, and left me wanting more. A great time frame to explore, and look forward to more books in the series. I'd give it a 3.5 if I could.
July 17, 2018
A Hospitaller knight escorts a large group of children from the Alps to Acre, the last city held by the crusaders against a growing Mamluk assault. Though somewhat unremarkable, Acre is just the right length, has some interesting characters and side tales, and makes for an quick summer beach read for any historical fiction lover. Rating: 2 stars (Good).
July 5, 2016
Good story!!
Vivid imagery, swift action, and plausible story. On to the next one. Templar history and Christian history makes a good mix.
Vivid imagery, swift action, and plausible story. On to the next one. Templar history and Christian history makes a good mix.
November 9, 2024
This book sucked me in right from the beginning, and I could not stop until I read the last page. The events unfolding are such I could imagine happening just like this in those times.
You have likeable (and not so likeable) characters, but even the protagonists are not supermen or women, but people with faults who try to do their best; even the villains (are they really, though?) are described in such a way that you cannot help but feel for them, too. The children, now those got to me.
I need more in this series.
You have likeable (and not so likeable) characters, but even the protagonists are not supermen or women, but people with faults who try to do their best; even the villains (are they really, though?) are described in such a way that you cannot help but feel for them, too. The children, now those got to me.
I need more in this series.
February 13, 2020
Interesting
Though l like books about the Templers, l thought this story of the Hospitalers of St. John would be defferent it isn't.
The writing is good and descriptive but the story very similar to others. So having enjoyed reading this book I'm not sure l will be rushing to get the next book. Especially as l found l could actually stop reading for a few days and then come back as like to finish a book once l have started it.
Though l like books about the Templers, l thought this story of the Hospitalers of St. John would be defferent it isn't.
The writing is good and descriptive but the story very similar to others. So having enjoyed reading this book I'm not sure l will be rushing to get the next book. Especially as l found l could actually stop reading for a few days and then come back as like to finish a book once l have started it.
March 27, 2022
Exciting for History of the Crusades
The Hospital Knight has missions in Acre. He faces against a large warrior called the North man. The action continues as brings problems to the knight. The characters are unique and interesting. The time of the ending crusades causes both history and the actions. Torture of that time is usually gory and painful. I was surprised that a second story is coming. I will definitely buying it.
The Hospital Knight has missions in Acre. He faces against a large warrior called the North man. The action continues as brings problems to the knight. The characters are unique and interesting. The time of the ending crusades causes both history and the actions. Torture of that time is usually gory and painful. I was surprised that a second story is coming. I will definitely buying it.
March 2, 2023
"Acre" definitely has the feel of being a first installment in a series, where it's more concerned with setting up the characters and some initial interactions between them than actually getting to the crux of the plot. The characters seem fairly nuanced and interesting and the protagonists are worth following. For its length, very little actually seems to happen in terms of plot development, but I look forward to reading the next books in the series!
June 4, 2024
Care is really interezting
I really enjoyed reading this book. I like historical fiction, but have shied away from stories about this era of the world's history. Mr. Swift allows readers to picture what it was like back the days of this novel's setting. Big, beautiful visions of what !I've was !like back then. He also meshes in a very good plot and has created believable and colorful characters.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I like historical fiction, but have shied away from stories about this era of the world's history. Mr. Swift allows readers to picture what it was like back the days of this novel's setting. Big, beautiful visions of what !I've was !like back then. He also meshes in a very good plot and has created believable and colorful characters.
June 26, 2025
I recently dived into Acre by J.K. Swift, and what a journey it was! My focus is always on the narrative rather than historical fact-checking, and in that regard, this book delivered. It did have a somewhat slow start, but I promise you, the payoff is worth it – the ending was absolutely superb and tied everything together beautifully. I'm already eager to pick up the next installment once I've made a dent in my ever-growing 'to be read' pile!
January 22, 2022
an ok start…
…but a lot more things need to happen to get higher than the give-away 3 stars.
Make me care for one of the main characters. Right now I don’t think I’d care one bit were ANY characters bit the Big one. I find myself in limbo, wondering if I’ll be getting out of the fully awakened ancient society. *sigh*…
…but a lot more things need to happen to get higher than the give-away 3 stars.
Make me care for one of the main characters. Right now I don’t think I’d care one bit were ANY characters bit the Big one. I find myself in limbo, wondering if I’ll be getting out of the fully awakened ancient society. *sigh*…
July 7, 2022
An interesting start to what I hope will be a good series about the Hospitallers. It seems that fiction like this is firmly tied to the Templars and people forget forget about the equally formidable, and older, Hospitallers.
The book is about a knight that needs to recover some children that he lost during an ambush by one of the most vicious pirates in the middle east. The action is very good, and the main knight is very well written as a bad ass monk. However, although it had the quality it lacked the quantity. Now that the story is established I hope the next two books pick up the pace!
The book is about a knight that needs to recover some children that he lost during an ambush by one of the most vicious pirates in the middle east. The action is very good, and the main knight is very well written as a bad ass monk. However, although it had the quality it lacked the quantity. Now that the story is established I hope the next two books pick up the pace!
July 2, 2024
Well written
I wasn't sure if this book would hold my attention, but look a chance on it. I'm glad I did. Not only were the events well related to the time period, but the author's skill as a writer kept me engaged throughout the book. I read it in two days as my mind tried to think of how the the rescue would happen. I won't say more because it would give too much away.
I wasn't sure if this book would hold my attention, but look a chance on it. I'm glad I did. Not only were the events well related to the time period, but the author's skill as a writer kept me engaged throughout the book. I read it in two days as my mind tried to think of how the the rescue would happen. I won't say more because it would give too much away.
July 12, 2024
Adventure in the East
At the start of a promising series, J.K. Swift sets a story of great adventure in an exotic locale. The story is filled with colorful characters that could fill several volumes. The author does a masterful job of describing the history and politics of the Acre region. I enjoyed the story as presented by the author and eagerly look forward to the next installment.
At the start of a promising series, J.K. Swift sets a story of great adventure in an exotic locale. The story is filled with colorful characters that could fill several volumes. The author does a masterful job of describing the history and politics of the Acre region. I enjoyed the story as presented by the author and eagerly look forward to the next installment.
July 6, 2025
Partly historical fiction, partly pure fiction. Part of an order of warrior/healer/priests (the Hospitallers who were real) are sent during the crusades to fight Muslims east of Israel. The pure fiction part of this is that the Hospitallers bought kids from poor families to save the kids from slavery and then made the kids soldiers.
In the end, I did not care about anyone in this book.
In the end, I did not care about anyone in this book.
October 21, 2021
This book was not bad, but not especially good either. It was an easy read, and rather catching but not catching enough to buy book 2.
That said, it is amazing how fiction can make you see and feel from the ground. A historical book mostly make you see just from a birds-eye view.
That said, it is amazing how fiction can make you see and feel from the ground. A historical book mostly make you see just from a birds-eye view.
Read
October 22, 2021A hackneyed fiction
Some vivid imagery and dramatic fight scenes, but these seem at times more to dazzle the readerand distract from somewhat typical characterisation and plot development
Some vivid imagery and dramatic fight scenes, but these seem at times more to dazzle the readerand distract from somewhat typical characterisation and plot development
June 12, 2024
Great Historical Fiction
I enjoyed this book very much. The story with its many characters were quite enjoyable and I found myself turning page after page. I look forward to reading the rest of the series and seeing where the bigger story goes.
I enjoyed this book very much. The story with its many characters were quite enjoyable and I found myself turning page after page. I look forward to reading the rest of the series and seeing where the bigger story goes.
July 25, 2024
There is a story
But it is a bit disjointed and not always easy to follow. It must be American as the grammar was incorrect. I did not learn about the Crusades as I had hoped. Full of violence which did not aid my under standing or enjoyment of the novel.
But it is a bit disjointed and not always easy to follow. It must be American as the grammar was incorrect. I did not learn about the Crusades as I had hoped. Full of violence which did not aid my under standing or enjoyment of the novel.
January 14, 2025
Acre
Such a brutal time period. The fighting intense a described in all the gory detail in this book. A picture of Muslims and Christians both believing in the rightness of their god and beliefs.
Such a brutal time period. The fighting intense a described in all the gory detail in this book. A picture of Muslims and Christians both believing in the rightness of their god and beliefs.
November 4, 2025
I enjoy reading stories about knights. This one was very memorable.
The main characters are all strong, and the storylines have you on the edge of your seat.
I look forward to reading the next installment.
The main characters are all strong, and the storylines have you on the edge of your seat.
I look forward to reading the next installment.
November 9, 2017
Could not finish this book. After reading a lot of Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell this didn't really stack up against them for me at least.
May 30, 2018
What a great 1st book!
Great characters and a strong story make this a wonderful first book in a series. As soon as I finish this review I'm buying the next book.
Great characters and a strong story make this a wonderful first book in a series. As soon as I finish this review I'm buying the next book.
June 7, 2018
Well constructed storyline that captures the time quite well. Character development is a plus, and makes the protagonists human and easy to care about, even the villains.
July 15, 2020
Good read
I like this book. Nice work. Try more books by jk swift. More good more good more good. I love it.
I like this book. Nice work. Try more books by jk swift. More good more good more good. I love it.
September 19, 2021
Very much enjoyed this quick read
Strong opening to this new series. I really enjoyed the character development and the crafty plot lines. Looking forward to the next book.
Strong opening to this new series. I really enjoyed the character development and the crafty plot lines. Looking forward to the next book.
April 19, 2022
I enjoyed reading this book, good amount of action and several twists, all in all enjoyable light read.
October 27, 2023
Riveting..
Great storyline that kept you enthralled page after page. One of the best books I have read for this timeframe
Great storyline that kept you enthralled page after page. One of the best books I have read for this timeframe
June 3, 2024
Amazing book
Loved this book,read it in 2 days,non stop action,can't wait to read book 2.got me back into reading,new fav historial author
Loved this book,read it in 2 days,non stop action,can't wait to read book 2.got me back into reading,new fav historial author
June 8, 2024
I rarely abandon a book. In this case, I was going to read a bit more before I decided. However, I’m not enjoying it in the least, so why continue.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews