The Fools' Crusade

Brother Petroc #4

by Pip Vaughan-Hughes

King Louis of France is about to invade Egypt on his vainglorious Seventh Crusade. The Pope and the Emperor are at each other's throats. And where greed and ambition cross, blood soon follows. Caught in the middle of this is Petroc of Auneford, or Patch to his friends. After years aboard the Cormoran, a ship of relic-traders and adventurers, Patch has finally returned to living on dry land. Now a rich man, running a bank in Venice, life should be easy. But money and liberty are not the same thing - and all too soon, Patch is being called on by all sides to do their bidding in this deadly game of power and glory. As the rulers of Europe crush lives like beetles underfoot, Patch knows if he, his friends and his beloved Iselda are to stay alive, he must go to the blistering heart of the crusade, where zealot, infidel, mercenary and heretic fight to the death. He must outwit the cunning, outrun disease and death and find a way to true freedom. And all the while, cling on to a precious dream of home...

Genres: Historical Fiction

352 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2010

About the author

Pip grew up in South Devon. He studied medieval history at London University and later worked as a reader for a literary agency when he wasn't dabbling as a bike messenger, saxophonist, food critic, gardener and restaurant owner. He now lives in Vermont with his wife and children.

Reviews

[LaDawn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank goodness I didn't buy the previous books in the series before I read this one. I am very interested in this period and wanted to enjoy this. I love the language the author uses but the fight scenes are excruciatingly long and unnecessarily drawn out. I couldn't figure out where or what the plot pivot was. Disappointed.

[Veronica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this novel is very well written, I found that the plot lacked that spark that would make it very interesting. It is well researched, the characters are strong but the story seems to go on for far too long with too many disasters happening to Petroc.

[Anastasiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rough. Bloody. And devilishly insightful at the same time.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

c2010. A new author for me recommended by a book blogging site. I did not realise that it was the 4th book in a series but it didn't seem to matter at all! What a great story. The writing style is laudable and whilst cramming in a lot of historical information - the author managed to seamlessly blend it into the story. I am not so sure that the blurb on the front of the book "As the world burns one man's secret must survive a deadly quest" is an accurate description. Its not 100% wrong but there is no huge secret and no quest (in the strictest definition of the word).The story is a lot more than that. The phrase seems to me to have been dreamed up by the ponytails in marketing to get somebody to pick it up at an airport and I think this does a great injustice to the book. The description of the Crusade's landing at Damietta was one of the most well written chapters that I have read for a while. There is also a lot of humour in the story but again not at all forced. "I did not care to be wed - fine. But as my horse trudged up the rough road, as chestnut trees gave way to pine trees around me, I began to wonder about Iselda, and then I started to become uneasy. Had I ever asked her what she wanted? Had she perhaps told me and I hadn't heard, hadn't paid attention? Christ, it was possible". Iselda, in this story, is as equally clever and interesting as the protagonist - that sometimes goes under the lovely name of Sir Petrus Blakke Dogge. FWFTB: hero, exciting, Templar, unpredictable, deliciously.

[Linda Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the first chapter,which really belongs near the end,this book progresses very slowly until after halfway. Events speeded up and it became quite engrossing. It is the third and probably last in a series.

[Tony Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rich in historical detail but it is a slow starter. Once it gets going its a superb page turner. Highly recommended!

[Gazbok · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good and engaging, will definitely be reading more of his work.

[Milan Nekolný · Rating 3 out of 5]

České vydání z r.2011 "Mečem a krví"
Vládcové Evropy v honbě za mocí Král Ludvík IX. se chystá na svoji neslavnou 7. křížovou výpravu. Papež a císař si jdou vzájemně po krku. Hamižnost a ambice se kříží a výsledkem je jako obvykle krev. Petroc z Aunefordu se ocitá přímo uprostřed dění. Po letech strávených na palubě Kormoránu ve společnosti obchodníků s relikviemi se konečně ocitá na pevné zemi. Je z něj bohatý muž, podílník významné benátské banky a mohl by si plnými doušky užívat svého bohatství. Záhy však zjistí, že mezi peníze a svobodu nelze klást rovnítko.