What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sword and the Dagger
When empires clash,
a Princess, a Knight, and an Assassin
embark on the quest of a lifetime
During the time of the Crusades, an unlikely trio—a Christian princess, her affianced prince, and a Muslim assassin—embarks on a quest to the court of the most fearsome warrior the world has ever known, Genghis Khan.
A rousing tale of adventure and romance about three young people who must grapple with fundamental issues of loyalty, friendship, faith, honor, and courage against the backdrop of conflicts that still resonate today.
a Princess, a Knight, and an Assassin
embark on the quest of a lifetime
During the time of the Crusades, an unlikely trio—a Christian princess, her affianced prince, and a Muslim assassin—embarks on a quest to the court of the most fearsome warrior the world has ever known, Genghis Khan.
A rousing tale of adventure and romance about three young people who must grapple with fundamental issues of loyalty, friendship, faith, honor, and courage against the backdrop of conflicts that still resonate today.
399 pages, Hardcover
First published April 9, 2019
27 people are currently reading
2836 people want to read
About the author
Robert Cochran
1 book27 followersAn Emmy Award-winning executive producer and showrunner, Robert Cochran co-created and executive produced the international television series phenomenon 24, as well as the FOX franchise event series reboot, 24: Live Another Day. Cochran is also the executive producer of the successful television series La Femme Nikita, and created a limited series based on the Crusades for Germany's Tandem Television. Cochran began his career as a writer on numerous popular television shows such as JAG, The Commish, Falcon Crest, and L.A. Law, to name a few.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
Want to read
January 25, 2019bitch this cover and synopsis has me S H A K I N G
a Christian princess??? Muslim assassin???? embarking on a journey together to do some badass shit??????? BITCH, I'm crying I need this book immediately 😤😤😤
a Christian princess??? Muslim assassin???? embarking on a journey together to do some badass shit??????? BITCH, I'm crying I need this book immediately 😤😤😤
March 26, 2019
I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher—Macmillan-Tor—through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
You can also read my review here
The concept of this book intrigued me from the very moment I read the blurb. Living in a country with so many different races, cultures, and religions isn't easy. Since when I was little conflicts happened because of a little misunderstanding or ethnocentrism. So reading this book was like living in a real life for me. It's not that I'm living a pathetic life or because people around me are annoying. No.
If we want to be truthful with ourselves, there were some moments when we judge people just because they are different from us even though they're a kind person. That's what I'm trying to say. At the beginning of this book, I found the characters are judging each other by their beliefs. Yes, there are other books that brought up the same matter but because this is a historical fiction book, Crochan wrote the events based on history and it felt like I'm reading some people's mind about what they might think about others.
It's sad that what people did centuries ago, judging and killing others who are different from them, are still happening in the modern world, in this economy. The sad and heartbreaking truth that you can see from the recent incidents from around the world.
The plot was good but it was easy for me to guess. Such unfortunate, I expected more surprising amazing twists. Sure there were some turns that were nice but still average, nothing special, lack of intensity and surprise element. It was fast-paced but sometimes it was too fast because at some scenes I felt the need to know more but it was cut off. I appreciated I didn't wait too long for the story to begin but there are important things that needed more explanations. So the two aspects didn't win me over since they're not what I imagined I'd get even though the first one was important for me.
Because the story based on history, I found the world-building pretty great. Yes, Cochran did add and change a few things but overall, he did a good job. It was also helped by the writing which was enjoyable. Set in the past, the author used some formal words which I'd like to describe as 'royal tongue'. Well, what did you expect from a historical fiction book? But I still enjoyed reading it and for me, it was a plus because I could dive into the story easily.
Now, into the characterization! One thing I loved about this book aside from the concept was the characters. The three MCs; Elaine, Rashid, and Conrad, was amazing and well-developed. Elaine was strong, brave, and smart. Rashid was passionate, honest, and stealthy. Conrad was brave, strong-willed, and confident. The trio made the story become interesting. I really enjoyed following their journey, witty-banter, and adoring over their friendship.
Overall, The Sword and The Dagger was an enjoyable and fun read with deep meaning between the words. I think my expectation was to high so I kind of feel like disappointing with the book. It has a potential, unfortunately it wasn't as great as my first impression thought it'd be. But I really liked what Cochran was trying to say. This book isn't only about the journey of three teenagers.
It is about accepting and give respect to others no matter what the differences are.
It is about putting aside your ego and proud of your beliefs. Spread love and let's all unite for a better world.
If you enjoy diverse read, history, strong female lead, a beautiful friendship, I recommend you to try read this one.
Blog | Twitter | Instagram
You can also read my review here
“You are Christians, yet come to the aid of a Muslim.”
“You were the victim of an injustice. And justice is a concern of Christian and Muslim alike, is it not?”
The concept of this book intrigued me from the very moment I read the blurb. Living in a country with so many different races, cultures, and religions isn't easy. Since when I was little conflicts happened because of a little misunderstanding or ethnocentrism. So reading this book was like living in a real life for me. It's not that I'm living a pathetic life or because people around me are annoying. No.
If we want to be truthful with ourselves, there were some moments when we judge people just because they are different from us even though they're a kind person. That's what I'm trying to say. At the beginning of this book, I found the characters are judging each other by their beliefs. Yes, there are other books that brought up the same matter but because this is a historical fiction book, Crochan wrote the events based on history and it felt like I'm reading some people's mind about what they might think about others.
It's sad that what people did centuries ago, judging and killing others who are different from them, are still happening in the modern world, in this economy. The sad and heartbreaking truth that you can see from the recent incidents from around the world.
“It would do no such thing. Just because someone built a paradise on earth, doesn’t mean there isn’t a real Paradise.”
The plot was good but it was easy for me to guess. Such unfortunate, I expected more surprising amazing twists. Sure there were some turns that were nice but still average, nothing special, lack of intensity and surprise element. It was fast-paced but sometimes it was too fast because at some scenes I felt the need to know more but it was cut off. I appreciated I didn't wait too long for the story to begin but there are important things that needed more explanations. So the two aspects didn't win me over since they're not what I imagined I'd get even though the first one was important for me.
Because the story based on history, I found the world-building pretty great. Yes, Cochran did add and change a few things but overall, he did a good job. It was also helped by the writing which was enjoyable. Set in the past, the author used some formal words which I'd like to describe as 'royal tongue'. Well, what did you expect from a historical fiction book? But I still enjoyed reading it and for me, it was a plus because I could dive into the story easily.
Now, into the characterization! One thing I loved about this book aside from the concept was the characters. The three MCs; Elaine, Rashid, and Conrad, was amazing and well-developed. Elaine was strong, brave, and smart. Rashid was passionate, honest, and stealthy. Conrad was brave, strong-willed, and confident. The trio made the story become interesting. I really enjoyed following their journey, witty-banter, and adoring over their friendship.
Life could be complicated, but fortunately there were also times when it was quite simple.
Overall, The Sword and The Dagger was an enjoyable and fun read with deep meaning between the words. I think my expectation was to high so I kind of feel like disappointing with the book. It has a potential, unfortunately it wasn't as great as my first impression thought it'd be. But I really liked what Cochran was trying to say. This book isn't only about the journey of three teenagers.
It is about accepting and give respect to others no matter what the differences are.
It is about putting aside your ego and proud of your beliefs. Spread love and let's all unite for a better world.
If you enjoy diverse read, history, strong female lead, a beautiful friendship, I recommend you to try read this one.
Blog | Twitter | Instagram
April 12, 2019
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight .
This was such an unexpected gem for me! I flew through the pages, and to be honest, I don't even know if I can fully explain why? I mean, I'll try though!
•The Crusades and Genghis Khan and that whole time period are horrible and also fascinating as hell. I mean, this book is not for the squeamish, but it also is pretty accurate from everything I have read about the era. In fact, I think the author does a good job of presenting the absolute horror without being unnecessarily gory, if that helps. But make no mistake, it was a gory time in history, so.
•I love these three main characters so, so much. You have Elaine, the princess of Tripoli, who is kind of over the patriarchy. Conrad is her would-be husband and prince of Antioch who, at the start, I was hoping got stabbed. Rashid is the assassin, who is from a small, hidden Muslim community who has tasked him with killing Elaine. And I won't lie, I was scared because ummm are we sure we want to portray it that way? But it wasn't. At all. Rashid is arguably the best of them, and absolutely the most open-minded. The thing I loved about the characters is that they each underwent so, so much growth, and all had flaws, and a blind spot when it came to judging another group of people.
•Elaine was a feminist before it had a name. She was sick of being treated like property, and girl, preach. She basically set off to find Rashid knowing she could die, but figuring it was better than being forced to marry Conrad.
•So. Much. Adventure. They headed off on a quest through... well look I am not even 100% sure how far, but it seemed like a long distance. And through some pretty rough territory- both geographically and politically. And I adore a journey of survival and such, so this was a big draw for me.
•The trio formed an incredible bond. It was interesting to see them morph from bitter adversaries to... well, you'll have to read it for yourself to see how it goes down, but it was really great. I will say, that they start to begrudgingly respect each other fairly on, so you'll just have to find out what happens after that!
My only real issue was at about maybe 60% in, things started to feel a little redundant for about a quarter of the book. I just didn't feel the same draw to keep reading that I did during the first part (or the last bit, where things picked up again). So that was my only real negative, and I adored how the book ended. From what I can tell, this was a standalone and it wrapped up thusly. The author's note in the back gives a lot of background on the historical stuff, and it's very clear that a lot of research went into it!
Bottom Line: Such great character development and an incredibly exciting world made me eager to keep reading!
This was such an unexpected gem for me! I flew through the pages, and to be honest, I don't even know if I can fully explain why? I mean, I'll try though!
•The Crusades and Genghis Khan and that whole time period are horrible and also fascinating as hell. I mean, this book is not for the squeamish, but it also is pretty accurate from everything I have read about the era. In fact, I think the author does a good job of presenting the absolute horror without being unnecessarily gory, if that helps. But make no mistake, it was a gory time in history, so.
•I love these three main characters so, so much. You have Elaine, the princess of Tripoli, who is kind of over the patriarchy. Conrad is her would-be husband and prince of Antioch who, at the start, I was hoping got stabbed. Rashid is the assassin, who is from a small, hidden Muslim community who has tasked him with killing Elaine. And I won't lie, I was scared because ummm are we sure we want to portray it that way? But it wasn't. At all. Rashid is arguably the best of them, and absolutely the most open-minded. The thing I loved about the characters is that they each underwent so, so much growth, and all had flaws, and a blind spot when it came to judging another group of people.
•Elaine was a feminist before it had a name. She was sick of being treated like property, and girl, preach. She basically set off to find Rashid knowing she could die, but figuring it was better than being forced to marry Conrad.
•So. Much. Adventure. They headed off on a quest through... well look I am not even 100% sure how far, but it seemed like a long distance. And through some pretty rough territory- both geographically and politically. And I adore a journey of survival and such, so this was a big draw for me.
•The trio formed an incredible bond. It was interesting to see them morph from bitter adversaries to... well, you'll have to read it for yourself to see how it goes down, but it was really great. I will say, that they start to begrudgingly respect each other fairly on, so you'll just have to find out what happens after that!
My only real issue was at about maybe 60% in, things started to feel a little redundant for about a quarter of the book. I just didn't feel the same draw to keep reading that I did during the first part (or the last bit, where things picked up again). So that was my only real negative, and I adored how the book ended. From what I can tell, this was a standalone and it wrapped up thusly. The author's note in the back gives a lot of background on the historical stuff, and it's very clear that a lot of research went into it!
Bottom Line: Such great character development and an incredibly exciting world made me eager to keep reading!
April 22, 2019
3.75 stars
review to come
review to come
April 22, 2019
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
One of the most accurate descriptions of the Crusades period and of Genghis Khan is presented in this thrilling adventure! I loved all the main characters especially Elaine who is strong for her time, a feminist even, as also how she tried to navigate through a man's world. This was a very enjoyable read.
One of the most accurate descriptions of the Crusades period and of Genghis Khan is presented in this thrilling adventure! I loved all the main characters especially Elaine who is strong for her time, a feminist even, as also how she tried to navigate through a man's world. This was a very enjoyable read.
April 4, 2019
I want to thank Tor Teen and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review
I enjoyed this book, to be honest, isn't everything I expected it to be, but even so I think the idea of the book is very solid, and the author expresses with this story in a very informative way a historical moment of which personally I didn't know a lot about, so I appreciate saying that I ending this book being a little wiser, and although I'd heard it was slow I must say that for me it was very easy and quick to read
3/5 Stars
You can find this one and more of my reviews on my blog A Book. A Thought.
The Sword and the Dagger, is about these young boys, a Christian princess, a prince, and a Muslim assassin, who embark on a quest, in the time of the Crusades, to the court of one of the most feared warriors. It's a book of adventure and fantasy but at the same time, it's realistic in terms of culture and history. Touch topics such as faith, friendship, and loyalty
When I started reading this book, I was so pleased to see that it was really easy to move through it. The fact that this book is based on a real historical fact makes it really interesting to read it, as I said before it was highly informative for me, I didn't know anything about this time period and now I can say that I certainly do a little more, which is great. I also want to highlight the fact that while the story takes place we can get to know more about races and cultures, but spite of that, I didn't find anything that really stands out above other fantasy books.
As I said before, it was easy to read and it was something that I needed in a fantasy, since I came from a book with a very slow pace, on the other hand, I feel that maybe there are scenes that deserve a more moderate paced, I would have liked to stay a little bit in certain places where the characters spent time during the journey to know more about them, or just admire the landscapes, and although I don't complain about the paced, I think that sometimes too fast isn't a good thing either and I wanted to mention that. The fact that the journey of the characters is fast can be something that you don't like much at the time of reading, in my case, it was good because I don't usually enjoy seeing people on very long journeys.
About the characters, I really liked Elaine, who's our main female character and princess. For the time in which this is based on, I think she's a really great character, feminist, strong and capable, a girl who doesn't want to live to get married and serve her man, but she's also willing to do sacrifices for her country. I like very much how she confronts very powerful men and defends her position, which was very rare for the time, and I appreciate the point of view of a strong and independent woman in a story like this one. On the other hand, we have Rashid, the murderer, and Conrad, the prince. The character of Rashid is good, especially for his growth during the book but also for his faith and loyalty, but on the other hand, I would have liked a better development and depth in the personalities, both in Rashid's and in Conrad's, who turned out to be my least favorite character and honestly, I don't feel much towards him, I think his presence is required as the strong and stubborn guy, but that's just it. There are other characters in the story that could have gone much further and become more important characters for the plot, but the author hasn't given them a deep personality as such so they have ended up being just there
This writing style I think isn't really for me, even though I didn't have any problems with it as such, I had some comprehension problems. I think this is because the book is told from a historical perspective and there's a lot of language of the time, then it was weird for me but it's something super personal that I don't think is a problem for you
Are many dialogues in the book, which I loved, but on the other hand, I feel that at times the characters share too much information through dialogues, perhaps things that no one would say, something like "Well, as you know, you lost your father recently and your mother pass away when you were younger", you know what I mean?
What was perhaps my biggest problem with the book was the POVs change, which isn't signaled and which sometimes happens within the same chapter, which is rare. We are under the point of view of a character and suddenly changes and there's nothing that tells you that will change, you know?. I'm used to seeing that each chapter is about a character or is under the POV of just one character, but here you're reading in the middle of a paragraph and you realize that you have already changed to another POV and that can be confusing when you're trying to follow the plot. Maybe this isn't like that in the final copy of the book, but it's how it is built in the ARC
There's a chapter at the end of the book called "Historical Note", where the author explains, very thoroughly and in-depth, the historical moment in which the story unfolds and I think it's WONDERFUL. I love that and it shows how considerate the author is and how much he has informed himself before writing the book . I appreciate that he had taken his time so that everyone knows what the Crusade was really about and how politics and culture were at that time.
I really liked the end of the book, I think the last chapters are really good, even so, I think the whole outcome is quite predictable, so don't expect anything surprising to happen, because you'll be disappointed, on the other hand, it's a good ending and I enjoyed the process of reading it.
In short, this isn't a bad book, I still recommend it especially if you want to know more about the time of the Crusades and how the political and cultural theme worked at the time, also if you usually enjoy fantasy and historical fiction, I think that this is a very good mash-up of both genders. It's a book that shows you the reality of many races and religions so I also think it's very informative and that's why I recommend it a lot. If what you're looking for is complexity in terms of characters and plot, maybe this isn't for you
April 22, 2019
ARC Provided by NetGalley for an honest review
You can find this review and others like it on the blog here:
http://vicariouslyvoraciously.com/rev...
This was a fun read, mostly because it reminded me so much of another series that I absolutely adore, The Remnant Chronicles. I think that if you were a fan of that series, then this will be one you can instantly enjoy and appreciate. Aside from the similarities, The Sword and the Dagger was also unique enough to reveal adventurous story of its own that takes the characters and the reader on an epic journey. From one crazy event to the next there is always something happening to keep your attention focused on the plot. From failed assassinations, to run away princesses, to unlikely friendships and even war... SO much happens in the span of this one book.
One of my biggest issues with stand alone books is that I feel they tend to be rushed. There just aren't enough pages to fully flesh out all the characters and scenes to get the same amount of depth that an epic series can provide the reader. But when a story is told well it can be a nice change of pace to start and finish a story within the pages of a single book. When you read that last sentence its done, no more. You aren't left hanging wondering what happens next, waiting years for the next installment only to find that you have completely forgotten how the first book even ended. So I was happy to finish this book and realize that it wrapped up perfectly. While there are still some parts that the author leaves to the reader's imagination, nothing feels unfinished or left undone. I enjoy when a book feels complete without feeling overdone. Where the scenes are described in painful detail, and the flow from one part to the next doesn't feel rushed or choppy. And this book is a perfect example of that. It flowed from each location with ease and there was never a part where I felt lost or confused. I loved that even with a little error with the formatting, (which will most likely be fixed in the final editing process) I could still tell exactly which character's POV I was reading from with ease.The three main characters have such distinct personalities and voices that it was as if I had known them my whole life.
Speaking of characters, I fell in love with the three main characters. The friendship and dynamic between them was perfect. One of my favorite tropes is the hate to love relationship, and I don't think it gets any better than the romantic tension between a couple of the characters found in this book. I also love the friendship and the bond formed between the three as they are sent on a journey across the country with only the tentative trust built between them over the course of a few weeks. But over the rest of the journey they learn that there is more than the prejudice that they had been taught, and they learn to see past their differences in religion and upbringings to form a bond that makes them almost unstoppable. Each with their own unique talents, they come together to keep each other out of danger and to all accomplish the goals that they wanted to achieve together. Because they find that in the end they are better together than apart. This resonated with me so much because it seems like we all still face so much negativity for our differences when really if we could all take the time to get to know one another and see past what we are told to fear, we might realize that we are all human and we all want to be accepted and loved for who we are. I think that this was a strong moral that rose to the surface throughout the book and I feel like this is something we should never forget or overlook.
The only thing I can think that kept me from truly loving this book was the convenience of some aspects. In a story where there are so many struggles and twists and turns, the way the characters get through these conflicts are where the lessons are learned, and I feel like in some parts it was almost too convenient to be believable. And while I know its a fantasy and fiction, you still want to be able to feel like it could be real. And when things just happen to fall into place or you skip to another POV just in time to not have to read about a particular difficult part, it makes it almost seem like you were cheated out of that character's growth or maybe even an epic part that could have made all the difference in the way the story is portrayed. Even though this might be something that bothered me, I still feel like it wasn't a big enough issue to cause me to dislike the book as a whole. It might not even be a bother to anyone else other than me. Which is okay! I just had to point it out since that's the only thing that kept me from truly thinking this book was a perfect 5 star read.
I really enjoyed this and almost wish that there was more because I did come to love these characters so much and their friendships were contagious. It almost makes you want to go out and befriend someone that you normally wouldn't, just to see past your initial fear of being different or rejected for your differences. Because in the end we all just want to live and be happy and loved, right? So in a sense we aren't all that different at our cores. Maybe learn about a new religion, find a friend who lives in a different country, reach out to the person that no one else talks to... anything to find that there is more than meets the eye. This book was such an eye opener in that respect and I think it shows what taking that chance could lead to, and hopefully would lead to, And you never know, you might make a new friend for life.
You can find this review and others like it on the blog here:
http://vicariouslyvoraciously.com/rev...
This was a fun read, mostly because it reminded me so much of another series that I absolutely adore, The Remnant Chronicles. I think that if you were a fan of that series, then this will be one you can instantly enjoy and appreciate. Aside from the similarities, The Sword and the Dagger was also unique enough to reveal adventurous story of its own that takes the characters and the reader on an epic journey. From one crazy event to the next there is always something happening to keep your attention focused on the plot. From failed assassinations, to run away princesses, to unlikely friendships and even war... SO much happens in the span of this one book.
One of my biggest issues with stand alone books is that I feel they tend to be rushed. There just aren't enough pages to fully flesh out all the characters and scenes to get the same amount of depth that an epic series can provide the reader. But when a story is told well it can be a nice change of pace to start and finish a story within the pages of a single book. When you read that last sentence its done, no more. You aren't left hanging wondering what happens next, waiting years for the next installment only to find that you have completely forgotten how the first book even ended. So I was happy to finish this book and realize that it wrapped up perfectly. While there are still some parts that the author leaves to the reader's imagination, nothing feels unfinished or left undone. I enjoy when a book feels complete without feeling overdone. Where the scenes are described in painful detail, and the flow from one part to the next doesn't feel rushed or choppy. And this book is a perfect example of that. It flowed from each location with ease and there was never a part where I felt lost or confused. I loved that even with a little error with the formatting, (which will most likely be fixed in the final editing process) I could still tell exactly which character's POV I was reading from with ease.The three main characters have such distinct personalities and voices that it was as if I had known them my whole life.
Speaking of characters, I fell in love with the three main characters. The friendship and dynamic between them was perfect. One of my favorite tropes is the hate to love relationship, and I don't think it gets any better than the romantic tension between a couple of the characters found in this book. I also love the friendship and the bond formed between the three as they are sent on a journey across the country with only the tentative trust built between them over the course of a few weeks. But over the rest of the journey they learn that there is more than the prejudice that they had been taught, and they learn to see past their differences in religion and upbringings to form a bond that makes them almost unstoppable. Each with their own unique talents, they come together to keep each other out of danger and to all accomplish the goals that they wanted to achieve together. Because they find that in the end they are better together than apart. This resonated with me so much because it seems like we all still face so much negativity for our differences when really if we could all take the time to get to know one another and see past what we are told to fear, we might realize that we are all human and we all want to be accepted and loved for who we are. I think that this was a strong moral that rose to the surface throughout the book and I feel like this is something we should never forget or overlook.
The only thing I can think that kept me from truly loving this book was the convenience of some aspects. In a story where there are so many struggles and twists and turns, the way the characters get through these conflicts are where the lessons are learned, and I feel like in some parts it was almost too convenient to be believable. And while I know its a fantasy and fiction, you still want to be able to feel like it could be real. And when things just happen to fall into place or you skip to another POV just in time to not have to read about a particular difficult part, it makes it almost seem like you were cheated out of that character's growth or maybe even an epic part that could have made all the difference in the way the story is portrayed. Even though this might be something that bothered me, I still feel like it wasn't a big enough issue to cause me to dislike the book as a whole. It might not even be a bother to anyone else other than me. Which is okay! I just had to point it out since that's the only thing that kept me from truly thinking this book was a perfect 5 star read.
I really enjoyed this and almost wish that there was more because I did come to love these characters so much and their friendships were contagious. It almost makes you want to go out and befriend someone that you normally wouldn't, just to see past your initial fear of being different or rejected for your differences. Because in the end we all just want to live and be happy and loved, right? So in a sense we aren't all that different at our cores. Maybe learn about a new religion, find a friend who lives in a different country, reach out to the person that no one else talks to... anything to find that there is more than meets the eye. This book was such an eye opener in that respect and I think it shows what taking that chance could lead to, and hopefully would lead to, And you never know, you might make a new friend for life.
Read
July 1, 2019Holy head-hopping, Batman! This style of writing is just not for me.
April 6, 2019
“What kind of an ass sends a lock of his own hair as a gift?” – Princess Elaine
I was hooked as soon as I read the opening line of this story. Princess Elaine of Tripoli is the type of Princess who has defied the expectations of a young woman with her noble status. She is betrothed to Prince Conrad of Antioch, which is an arranged marriage that she despises. She’s constantly reminded by her advisors and lady in waiting, Margaret, that any independent thinking or reading is not only unbecoming of a Princess but unacceptable. To make matters worse, Prince Conrad (a Christian knight) is pompous and sexist; expecting Princess Elaine to become completely subservient to him as his wife. While Elaine wants no part of this marriage, this union would ally the kingdoms of Tripoli and Antioch (two Christian kingdoms) in order to stand a chance against the ferocious Genghis Khan.
The night before Elaine and Conrad are set to marry, a Muslim assassin by the name of Rashid makes a rather poor attempt at trying to slay Elaine. Rashid is captured and sent to the dungeons to await his sentence. However, Elaine is unwilling to merely accept that an attempt was made on her life without answers as to why. Elaine sneaks into the dungeons, frees Rashid, and demands to be taken to the Old Man, the infamous leader of the divine sect of assassins called the Nizaris. Conrad eventually catches up to both Elaine and Rashid where is met with an unexpected request for his betrothed: join Elaine and Rashid on their journey to the Old Man to get answers or return to Antioch. Conrad doesn’t trust a Muslim with his betrothed. Rashid doesn’t trust a Christian. But the three ultimately decide to band together on an adventure to understand why this marriage is unacceptable and that Elaine must die.
From start to finish, the quest that this trio embark on is full of action-packed adventure. Every time they succeed at what seems like an impossible task, they are faced with another that calls to question everything that they were brought up to believe. As the trio comes closer and closer to getting the information regarding who is trying to kill Elaine, they are forced to acknowledge that the enemies behind this plot may not be who they were expecting.
Prior to reading this book, I did not have a lot of insight into the history of Genghis Khan and his reign during the Crusades. I knew of the Crusades and the bloodshed during these holy wars, but that was about it. I was a little worried since I didn’t know the history, but honestly, the book never misses a beat. I honestly felt like I was immersed in the epic battles that took place in the 1200s.
One aspect of the book the I especially loved was seeing Conrad and Rashid band together to rescue Elaine. These two fought for the majority of the book and constantly used their faith as justification for one was right over the other. The sheer hatred between Christians and Muslims was palpable throughout the story. However, watching the barrier between Conrad and Rashid slowly (and I mean slowly) deteriorate was really inspiring.
Overall, I think this book is a great read that I highly recommend. I also think that there’s a lot of learned lessons that could be applied to some of the turmoil that we have in our current global affairs. If you love getting swept up in epic adventures that also discuss historical events, you don’t want to miss this one!
Thank you to Tor Teen for an advanced copy of this book. It did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
I was hooked as soon as I read the opening line of this story. Princess Elaine of Tripoli is the type of Princess who has defied the expectations of a young woman with her noble status. She is betrothed to Prince Conrad of Antioch, which is an arranged marriage that she despises. She’s constantly reminded by her advisors and lady in waiting, Margaret, that any independent thinking or reading is not only unbecoming of a Princess but unacceptable. To make matters worse, Prince Conrad (a Christian knight) is pompous and sexist; expecting Princess Elaine to become completely subservient to him as his wife. While Elaine wants no part of this marriage, this union would ally the kingdoms of Tripoli and Antioch (two Christian kingdoms) in order to stand a chance against the ferocious Genghis Khan.
The night before Elaine and Conrad are set to marry, a Muslim assassin by the name of Rashid makes a rather poor attempt at trying to slay Elaine. Rashid is captured and sent to the dungeons to await his sentence. However, Elaine is unwilling to merely accept that an attempt was made on her life without answers as to why. Elaine sneaks into the dungeons, frees Rashid, and demands to be taken to the Old Man, the infamous leader of the divine sect of assassins called the Nizaris. Conrad eventually catches up to both Elaine and Rashid where is met with an unexpected request for his betrothed: join Elaine and Rashid on their journey to the Old Man to get answers or return to Antioch. Conrad doesn’t trust a Muslim with his betrothed. Rashid doesn’t trust a Christian. But the three ultimately decide to band together on an adventure to understand why this marriage is unacceptable and that Elaine must die.
From start to finish, the quest that this trio embark on is full of action-packed adventure. Every time they succeed at what seems like an impossible task, they are faced with another that calls to question everything that they were brought up to believe. As the trio comes closer and closer to getting the information regarding who is trying to kill Elaine, they are forced to acknowledge that the enemies behind this plot may not be who they were expecting.
Prior to reading this book, I did not have a lot of insight into the history of Genghis Khan and his reign during the Crusades. I knew of the Crusades and the bloodshed during these holy wars, but that was about it. I was a little worried since I didn’t know the history, but honestly, the book never misses a beat. I honestly felt like I was immersed in the epic battles that took place in the 1200s.
One aspect of the book the I especially loved was seeing Conrad and Rashid band together to rescue Elaine. These two fought for the majority of the book and constantly used their faith as justification for one was right over the other. The sheer hatred between Christians and Muslims was palpable throughout the story. However, watching the barrier between Conrad and Rashid slowly (and I mean slowly) deteriorate was really inspiring.
Overall, I think this book is a great read that I highly recommend. I also think that there’s a lot of learned lessons that could be applied to some of the turmoil that we have in our current global affairs. If you love getting swept up in epic adventures that also discuss historical events, you don’t want to miss this one!
Thank you to Tor Teen for an advanced copy of this book. It did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
March 6, 2019
This is the first book I've EVER had to DNF. Usually I try to push through it and get it done, but I just couldn't pull it off with this one.
I received an ARC of this book from a friend, and at first it sounded really great! Just from reading the synopsis, I could see there was potential for two of the tropes that I'm actually trash for: love triangle and enemies to lovers relationships. Like those tropes belong in the garbage bin, but I also belong there for enjoying them, so...sorry not sorry?
Anyway, the book started off fairly interesting, but I only made it roughly 25% of the way through before I just couldn't take it anymore. My main issue with the book was that the POV shifts were actually unbearable. There didn't seem to be any distinction between the shifts - no chapter switches, or even separations within the chapter to signify it. It was toooooo much for me.
Also it didn't help that all three main characters felt very flat and just straight up boring. There was the potential for depth - their backstories were all very interesting - but it wasn't consistent enough for me to actually enjoy it.
I honestly gave up on this book much sooner than I would've liked, but every time I looked at it sitting on my shelf, I just couldn't do it. I have no idea how this book even made it this far, you'd think some sort of editor - or honestly even the author - would have realized that this book was actually unreadable for anyone who can understand basic English. Like I understand this guy wrote for a bunch of TV shows, but that doesn't necessarily translate as easily with books, as clearly evidenced by the dust gathering on this book in my room...
Maybe I'll try again in a while, once I completely forget about this book and can go about it with a fresh new mindset. We'll see though.
I received an ARC of this book from a friend, and at first it sounded really great! Just from reading the synopsis, I could see there was potential for two of the tropes that I'm actually trash for: love triangle and enemies to lovers relationships. Like those tropes belong in the garbage bin, but I also belong there for enjoying them, so...sorry not sorry?
Anyway, the book started off fairly interesting, but I only made it roughly 25% of the way through before I just couldn't take it anymore. My main issue with the book was that the POV shifts were actually unbearable. There didn't seem to be any distinction between the shifts - no chapter switches, or even separations within the chapter to signify it. It was toooooo much for me.
Also it didn't help that all three main characters felt very flat and just straight up boring. There was the potential for depth - their backstories were all very interesting - but it wasn't consistent enough for me to actually enjoy it.
I honestly gave up on this book much sooner than I would've liked, but every time I looked at it sitting on my shelf, I just couldn't do it. I have no idea how this book even made it this far, you'd think some sort of editor - or honestly even the author - would have realized that this book was actually unreadable for anyone who can understand basic English. Like I understand this guy wrote for a bunch of TV shows, but that doesn't necessarily translate as easily with books, as clearly evidenced by the dust gathering on this book in my room...
Maybe I'll try again in a while, once I completely forget about this book and can go about it with a fresh new mindset. We'll see though.
April 28, 2019
I wasn't sure what to expect with this one. I have zero interest in the Crusades, so this could have gone in either direction: A total bore or incredibly well.
I was a fan of the TV series 24, which made me want to pick this one up. This book did not disappoint. I feel like it's an underrated one, but it's all personal preference and I'm always an unpopular opinion.
I really enjoyed the characters and watching them come together, despite their differences. A lot happens throughout the novel making it an entertaining read.
I was a fan of the TV series 24, which made me want to pick this one up. This book did not disappoint. I feel like it's an underrated one, but it's all personal preference and I'm always an unpopular opinion.
I really enjoyed the characters and watching them come together, despite their differences. A lot happens throughout the novel making it an entertaining read.
April 8, 2019
First of all - Thank you netgalley for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I liked this book in a middle-east-ish way! I liked Princess Elaine and I liked that she wasnt whiny and was independent. I like Conrad and Rashid.
The characters and personality was really nice and thats what kept me going.
I also liked the whole Gengis Khan storyline and I thought this medieval kind of genre was very fascinating.
However, the book was too long - As in, there was always toooo many things happening and I kept pushing through it to get it done.
It's a nice read though and if you like this kind of setting, you might enjoy the book. But i sure hope I could have enjoyed it more with the amazing premise!
I liked this book in a middle-east-ish way! I liked Princess Elaine and I liked that she wasnt whiny and was independent. I like Conrad and Rashid.
The characters and personality was really nice and thats what kept me going.
I also liked the whole Gengis Khan storyline and I thought this medieval kind of genre was very fascinating.
However, the book was too long - As in, there was always toooo many things happening and I kept pushing through it to get it done.
It's a nice read though and if you like this kind of setting, you might enjoy the book. But i sure hope I could have enjoyed it more with the amazing premise!
April 26, 2019
Thanks to Raincoast for providing me with an ARC to review~
The time period? Beyond interesting. The concept of this Muslim assassin, Christian princess, Christian prince/knight trio? I need. Adventure and travel? Colour me intrigued. The execution? ...ehhhh.
“What kind of an ass sends a lock of his own hair as a gift?”
I don’t know where to begin or end with the characters. It was clear the author did try to make them well-rounded but they still didn’t feel real to me. I didn’t hate any of them but I didn’t love any of them; in fact, I felt very little for any of the characters. I don’t think I would’ve cared if one or all of them died. I appreciated how their animosity towards each other turned to friendship as they endured difficulties together. I can appreciate each of their development throughout the book but it didn’t feel super authentic to me and I couldn’t connect with any of them.
Thankfully, there was no love triangle and not much actual romance, either, it was kept on the very down low. However, that also means I didn’t care. There seems to be a theme.
They were witty while teasing each other, though; that was cute.
“I think she’ll be easy enough to handle. I’ve already sent her a small gift. A silver locket, with a lock of my hair. It’s very fashionable in France.”
The plot was quite interesting and it kept me engaged. I found myself wondering what was going to happen next when I wasn’t reading the book and I got through it quite quickly. However, toward the end, I did find myself skipping paragraphs when they just got too dense and too wordy.
My biggest problem was definitely the writing. It just didn’t mesh well with me. As mentioned, I didn’t like how sometimes the page would be so dense in description that I dreaded reading the whole page. I didn’t like the writing style, it almost felt juvenile in its attempt to sound refined. There were also a few instances where, especially toward the beginning, an event or action would occur and then it would be “explained” in the next paragraph as if everyone couldn’t decipher the meaning of that event or action. Readers aren’t stupid.
Overall, the novel is entertaining but one that is forgettable the minute I finished the last page.
The time period? Beyond interesting. The concept of this Muslim assassin, Christian princess, Christian prince/knight trio? I need. Adventure and travel? Colour me intrigued. The execution? ...ehhhh.
“What kind of an ass sends a lock of his own hair as a gift?”
I don’t know where to begin or end with the characters. It was clear the author did try to make them well-rounded but they still didn’t feel real to me. I didn’t hate any of them but I didn’t love any of them; in fact, I felt very little for any of the characters. I don’t think I would’ve cared if one or all of them died. I appreciated how their animosity towards each other turned to friendship as they endured difficulties together. I can appreciate each of their development throughout the book but it didn’t feel super authentic to me and I couldn’t connect with any of them.
Thankfully, there was no love triangle and not much actual romance, either, it was kept on the very down low. However, that also means I didn’t care. There seems to be a theme.
They were witty while teasing each other, though; that was cute.
“I think she’ll be easy enough to handle. I’ve already sent her a small gift. A silver locket, with a lock of my hair. It’s very fashionable in France.”
The plot was quite interesting and it kept me engaged. I found myself wondering what was going to happen next when I wasn’t reading the book and I got through it quite quickly. However, toward the end, I did find myself skipping paragraphs when they just got too dense and too wordy.
My biggest problem was definitely the writing. It just didn’t mesh well with me. As mentioned, I didn’t like how sometimes the page would be so dense in description that I dreaded reading the whole page. I didn’t like the writing style, it almost felt juvenile in its attempt to sound refined. There were also a few instances where, especially toward the beginning, an event or action would occur and then it would be “explained” in the next paragraph as if everyone couldn’t decipher the meaning of that event or action. Readers aren’t stupid.
Overall, the novel is entertaining but one that is forgettable the minute I finished the last page.
November 10, 2023
Although I found this book contained a lot of the stereotypical tropes that can often be seen in Fantasy (I'm talking multiple tropes occurring at one time), I still enjoyed this read. The story kept me entertained and had me anticipating what was going to happen next.
I will say that I would have preferred this book to be more geared towards Fantasy than Historical Fiction, and that religions and cultures were utilized (and emphasized) heavily within this story. To be honest, I didn't like how each religion was discussed and/or portrayed negatively.
I liked how this book could easily (and happily) be a standalone. I could also see how this story could be developed into a series but with that being said, this story could easily be left alone with readers being content with the conclusion.
***Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review***
I will say that I would have preferred this book to be more geared towards Fantasy than Historical Fiction, and that religions and cultures were utilized (and emphasized) heavily within this story. To be honest, I didn't like how each religion was discussed and/or portrayed negatively.
I liked how this book could easily (and happily) be a standalone. I could also see how this story could be developed into a series but with that being said, this story could easily be left alone with readers being content with the conclusion.
***Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review***
December 31, 2018
I don’t have enough words to express how much I adored this book. It will definitely be one of my 2019 top favorite stories. It’s so lush without being too wordy, the characters are amazing yet flawed, the adventure the unlikely three go on makes me wish I was right alongside them. And I was in equal parts happy and sad when the story ended. Loved it all!
Want to read
May 22, 2018Tentatively interested in this . . .
March 27, 2019
The Sword and the Dagger features an empire, a princess, an assassin and deadly court politics. So obviously it's right up my alley being that it's one of my favorite genres.
Elaine (the princess) is betrothed to Conrad (a prince) and she is not thrilled about it. But she is sworn to do her duty and marry him to unite their kingdoms.
Conrad starts out as my least favorite character. Can we say frail male ego? Seriously, he has a lot of hang ups about being undermined (and I do realize it's the time period as well that contributes to his attitude), but he really bothered me for the first part of the book.
Elaine is headstrong and speaks her mind, which isn't favored by many (particularly the men) as she's a woman. But the idea of being submissive to a man forever and doing his bidding just seems terrible and she definitely has no problem speaking up to voice her opinion on the matter. In fact, she tends to be the brains behind a lot of decisions in this story.
Rashid is our assassin. He is fairly steadfast all the way around, in that he does make some changes in his thinking and behavior in this book but not too much. I thought his friendship with Elaine was sweet.
So, I fully admit that I do not know much of this historical time period we are swept into. The trio of characters go on a journey and end up meeting Genghis Kahn. The descriptions in this story were lush and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the descriptions of the places they traveled and the variety of people they met. After reading this story, I did do some searching on this time period and plan to do more as I found it entirely fascinating.
As far as the plot goes, there is a lot of events that happen. It's a quick paced book that seemed too quick for me. I wish that we could have slowed down and spent more time places. It felt as though we had a lot of ground to cover and there just wasn't time to get to it all without going quickly, if that makes sense.
I also felt that the main characters could have been fleshed out more. They went from being enemies to being friends in basically the blink of an eye, and the same thing happened with the romance. I just didn't feel the feelings often that the characters were and I'm disappointed that I missed out on that
.I absolutely loved the author's note at the end going into detail on the time period that he pulled his story elements from. It was probably one of my most favorite parts, which means I'm starting to realize I love and need more historical fiction books in my life.
Definitely give The Sword and the Dagger a read if you love historical fiction!
Elaine (the princess) is betrothed to Conrad (a prince) and she is not thrilled about it. But she is sworn to do her duty and marry him to unite their kingdoms.
Conrad starts out as my least favorite character. Can we say frail male ego? Seriously, he has a lot of hang ups about being undermined (and I do realize it's the time period as well that contributes to his attitude), but he really bothered me for the first part of the book.
Elaine is headstrong and speaks her mind, which isn't favored by many (particularly the men) as she's a woman. But the idea of being submissive to a man forever and doing his bidding just seems terrible and she definitely has no problem speaking up to voice her opinion on the matter. In fact, she tends to be the brains behind a lot of decisions in this story.
Rashid is our assassin. He is fairly steadfast all the way around, in that he does make some changes in his thinking and behavior in this book but not too much. I thought his friendship with Elaine was sweet.
So, I fully admit that I do not know much of this historical time period we are swept into. The trio of characters go on a journey and end up meeting Genghis Kahn. The descriptions in this story were lush and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the descriptions of the places they traveled and the variety of people they met. After reading this story, I did do some searching on this time period and plan to do more as I found it entirely fascinating.
As far as the plot goes, there is a lot of events that happen. It's a quick paced book that seemed too quick for me. I wish that we could have slowed down and spent more time places. It felt as though we had a lot of ground to cover and there just wasn't time to get to it all without going quickly, if that makes sense.
I also felt that the main characters could have been fleshed out more. They went from being enemies to being friends in basically the blink of an eye, and the same thing happened with the romance. I just didn't feel the feelings often that the characters were and I'm disappointed that I missed out on that
.I absolutely loved the author's note at the end going into detail on the time period that he pulled his story elements from. It was probably one of my most favorite parts, which means I'm starting to realize I love and need more historical fiction books in my life.
Definitely give The Sword and the Dagger a read if you love historical fiction!
June 28, 2019
Roll up, roll up for some good old-fashioned historical fun! We’re going all the way back to the Middle East during the time of the Crusades, for an adventure to the court of Genghis Khan…
This book had all the makings of a historical epic. What it turned out to be instead was something a little different. Hammering the point home on diversity and the importance of tolerance, we are drawn into an adventure involving a knight, a princess and an assassin as they attempt to reconcile their differences and save their homeland.
The premise was great, but in my opinion, it fell a little short. All three characters were strongly drawn- I particularly liked spending time with Elaine, who was definitely a Strong Independent Woman, and Hassan, who probably had the most rewarding character arc of all (Conrad, as far as I’m concerned, was a bit of a non-entity). However, the book itself dragged.
I loved seeing Conrad, Hassan and Elaine get to know each other better, but there were moments where I found myself skipping through the passages, desperate for something more interesting to happen. The gang don’t meet Genghis Khan until over halfway through! Cochran also has a rather oblique writing style (I actually thought the book was written in the 1950s until I double-checked) which makes slogging through the passages a bit of a struggle.
When we do get to meet the great man himself, the book does perk up. Cochran has clearly done a lot of research into his chosen time period, and it really shines through: the setting sings with detail, and you feel like you’re there, trekking over inhospitable mountains or (in one case) being sold into slavery. The historical note also goes into detail about the time period at the end of the book, which I found so interesting. You don’t really see many books written in this time period and reading it felt almost like an education as well as a story.
By the end, though, I felt like I’d run a marathon. The story itself was compelling, but the way it was told make it hard to read; in addition, I definitely have something to say about a character arc in which the strong independent princess who refuses to marry ends up marrying the prince anyway. That stuck in my gullet a little bit. If you want to do anything, at least have the princess fall in love with the assassin!
All in all? Intriguing, but I think this wasn’t for me.
This book had all the makings of a historical epic. What it turned out to be instead was something a little different. Hammering the point home on diversity and the importance of tolerance, we are drawn into an adventure involving a knight, a princess and an assassin as they attempt to reconcile their differences and save their homeland.
The premise was great, but in my opinion, it fell a little short. All three characters were strongly drawn- I particularly liked spending time with Elaine, who was definitely a Strong Independent Woman, and Hassan, who probably had the most rewarding character arc of all (Conrad, as far as I’m concerned, was a bit of a non-entity). However, the book itself dragged.
I loved seeing Conrad, Hassan and Elaine get to know each other better, but there were moments where I found myself skipping through the passages, desperate for something more interesting to happen. The gang don’t meet Genghis Khan until over halfway through! Cochran also has a rather oblique writing style (I actually thought the book was written in the 1950s until I double-checked) which makes slogging through the passages a bit of a struggle.
When we do get to meet the great man himself, the book does perk up. Cochran has clearly done a lot of research into his chosen time period, and it really shines through: the setting sings with detail, and you feel like you’re there, trekking over inhospitable mountains or (in one case) being sold into slavery. The historical note also goes into detail about the time period at the end of the book, which I found so interesting. You don’t really see many books written in this time period and reading it felt almost like an education as well as a story.
By the end, though, I felt like I’d run a marathon. The story itself was compelling, but the way it was told make it hard to read; in addition, I definitely have something to say about a character arc in which the strong independent princess who refuses to marry ends up marrying the prince anyway. That stuck in my gullet a little bit. If you want to do anything, at least have the princess fall in love with the assassin!
All in all? Intriguing, but I think this wasn’t for me.
April 7, 2019
* Thank you Raincoast Books for the advanced copy, in exchange for an honest opinion *
RATING: 4.5/5 ⭐
This novel follows three main characters: Elaine, Christian Crown Princess of Tripoli, her betrothed, Conrad, the Crown Prince of Antioch, and Rashid, a Muslim assassin preparing to kill. They go on a dangerous journey, risking their lives and their kingdoms, for a chance to know the truth, while facing some of most deadliest warriors in the land.
I loved this book, it totally surprised me. I read it in 24 hours, and it got me out of a reading slump. The mixed reviews on it had me skeptical, but I personally enjoyed it. The setting was magical, with lush worlds and a historical twist that was subtle yet relevant. The mix of races and religions was very well written and I liked the diversity it brought to the novel. Royalty in a novel is a guilty pleasure for me, so that aspect was also enticing.
The characters I enjoyed most. Each was easy to connect with, and had strengths that would serve them well throughout the story. Elaine found a newfound confidence and courage that she could not have inside the palace walls. Conrad was physically strong, but throughout the novel his emotional side was tested through challenges, both physical and mental.
The plot was a bit slow or predictable at times, but the novel was a quick read so I did not mind. I do wish the novel had not ended as soon as it did, as I would have liked to see how the kingdoms reacted following all the events that occurred, and the potential dangers that still could threaten the kingdoms.
Overall, I really enjoyed it, and would recommend to fantasy fans looking for a quick read with some historical aspects.
RATING: 4.5/5 ⭐
This novel follows three main characters: Elaine, Christian Crown Princess of Tripoli, her betrothed, Conrad, the Crown Prince of Antioch, and Rashid, a Muslim assassin preparing to kill. They go on a dangerous journey, risking their lives and their kingdoms, for a chance to know the truth, while facing some of most deadliest warriors in the land.
I loved this book, it totally surprised me. I read it in 24 hours, and it got me out of a reading slump. The mixed reviews on it had me skeptical, but I personally enjoyed it. The setting was magical, with lush worlds and a historical twist that was subtle yet relevant. The mix of races and religions was very well written and I liked the diversity it brought to the novel. Royalty in a novel is a guilty pleasure for me, so that aspect was also enticing.
The characters I enjoyed most. Each was easy to connect with, and had strengths that would serve them well throughout the story. Elaine found a newfound confidence and courage that she could not have inside the palace walls. Conrad was physically strong, but throughout the novel his emotional side was tested through challenges, both physical and mental.
The plot was a bit slow or predictable at times, but the novel was a quick read so I did not mind. I do wish the novel had not ended as soon as it did, as I would have liked to see how the kingdoms reacted following all the events that occurred, and the potential dangers that still could threaten the kingdoms.
Overall, I really enjoyed it, and would recommend to fantasy fans looking for a quick read with some historical aspects.
March 24, 2019
--- I received this book through NetGalley against an honest review. ---
This book looked very promising and finally, I was left disappointed with my reading.
One can easily classify the book as historical fiction. Indeed, the author used many historic elements for his story. And in particular Christian crusades and the Mongol invasion in the Middle East. We feel that the author has done rather well his researches and the end notes show it very well. This is for me the only positive point of the book, the researches gives a real side to this novel.
For what I liked least, let's start with the writing style. I have seen critics saying that the novel was well written, and above in terms of vocabulary. Certainly, but that's what has bothered me the most in my reading, I found the omniscient style not very fluid and annoying in the long run. In addition, I had the impression that it created a barrier between the characters and me which prevented me from appreciating them in their true value despite a beautiful construction of the main women character.
Now let's move on to the plot that seems flat to me. The adventures were not innovative and in the end everything was resolved a little easily in my eyes. I find it a shame because the book had potential, but sometimes reading a book is difficult and this is the case here with me.
This book looked very promising and finally, I was left disappointed with my reading.
One can easily classify the book as historical fiction. Indeed, the author used many historic elements for his story. And in particular Christian crusades and the Mongol invasion in the Middle East. We feel that the author has done rather well his researches and the end notes show it very well. This is for me the only positive point of the book, the researches gives a real side to this novel.
For what I liked least, let's start with the writing style. I have seen critics saying that the novel was well written, and above in terms of vocabulary. Certainly, but that's what has bothered me the most in my reading, I found the omniscient style not very fluid and annoying in the long run. In addition, I had the impression that it created a barrier between the characters and me which prevented me from appreciating them in their true value despite a beautiful construction of the main women character.
Now let's move on to the plot that seems flat to me. The adventures were not innovative and in the end everything was resolved a little easily in my eyes. I find it a shame because the book had potential, but sometimes reading a book is difficult and this is the case here with me.
March 24, 2020
See this review and more on Books and Ladders!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and chose to review it. This in no way impacts my opinion.
DNF @ 29%
I was sorta enjoying this one but I'm just not 100% feeling it and I have so many other books I could be reading instead. This is purely historical, not historical fantasy like I was hoping, so I would caution those who are looking for more fantasy aspects in their novels to shy away from this one. As well, it was almost 30% into the book and I was just kinda bored. I think this will appeal to a specific type of person, but it's definitely not me.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and chose to review it. This in no way impacts my opinion.
DNF @ 29%
I was sorta enjoying this one but I'm just not 100% feeling it and I have so many other books I could be reading instead. This is purely historical, not historical fantasy like I was hoping, so I would caution those who are looking for more fantasy aspects in their novels to shy away from this one. As well, it was almost 30% into the book and I was just kinda bored. I think this will appeal to a specific type of person, but it's definitely not me.
August 19, 2022
"«God stayed Rashid's hand and spared your life, then led you to free him. Then He guided the three of you here through grave perils. It was for a purpose»"
LA SPADA, IL PUGNALE E LA FIONDA
Quando ho acquistato "The Sword and the Dagger" non avevo grosse aspettative: era solo un libro trovato a buon prezzo su uno store online. Il mio entusiasmo non è aumentato al momento di iniziare la lettura, vista la trama abbastanza banale e le prime pagine dello stesso tenore. Eppure, pian piano, questo romanzo è riuscito almeno in parte a stupirmi e perfino ad entusiasmarmi, tanto da farmi rivalutare quello che all'inizio reputavo un personaggio terribile.
Prima di passare alla trama, bisogna però fare una doverosa precisazione: questo non è in alcun modo un fantasy! nonostante la cover ed il modo in cui viene targetizzato possano trarre in inganno, si tratta di una storia di avventura ambientata nel Medio Oriente del 1220 e, ad eccezione di qualche semplificazione e un paio di libertà narrative, rimane grosso modo fedele al setting scelto. La narrazione parte dalla città di Tripoli, dove fervono i preparativi per le imminenti nozze della principessa Elaine con il principe Conrad, futuro sovrano della vicina (si fa per dire) Antiochia; ad impedire una cerimonia che comunque non faceva impazzire di gioia neppure gli sposi giunge Rashid, giovane assassino incaricato dell'omicidio di Elaine. Da queste premesse non proprio inedite, parte la missione che i protagonisti intraprendono per scoprire l'identità del mandante.
Questo spunto in realtà copre solo la prima parte di un percorso ben più lungo, che porta i tre a lasciare l'attuale Libano per muoversi nei territori della Siria, dell'Iraq e dell'Iran, arrivando perfino sulle rive del Mar Caspio. Nonostante il pretesto dietro a questo viaggio non sia particolarmente solido, mi è piaciuto seguire le loro avventure, approfondendo un capitolo della Storia forse poco conosciuto dagli occidentali, ma molto importante per capire quali siano le basi dei conflitti attuali in quelle regioni. Il romanzo si focalizza infatti sui contrasti religiosi ed etnici, concentrandosi sia sulle Crociate che sulle guerre di conquista intraprese da Genghis Khan; questi temi vengono trattati con il giusto tono, seppur in termini un po' semplicistici per adeguarsi al target scelto dall'autore.
Altra tematica centrale nella storia è quella della crescita dei protagonisti, in particolare della presa di consapevolezza del loro ruolo come regnanti per Elaine e Conrad, e del valore dell'amicizia per Rashid. Questo aspetto del libro è forse il più convincente, specialmente per quanto riguarda l'arco narrativo di Conrad ed il rapporto che quest'ultimo riesce ad instaurare con Rashid; Elaine invece non mi è andata proprio giù, ad eccezione di una scena sul finale, perché è stata scritta per essere la classica Mary Sue che ormai non voglio più trovarmi come protagonista in un romanzo. È presente anche una vaghissima sottotrama romantica, che mi lascia non poco combattuta: da un lato approvo che sia (giustamente!) marginale e non troppo prevedibile viste le premesse, dall'altro sentir parlare di amore a prima vista in una narrazione in cui l'intento è invece quello di spiegare come le relazioni maturino con il tempo mi è sembrato davvero stonato.
Non mancano alcune piccole forzature di trama -come la scelta di rendere analfabeta il futuro re Conrad e la facilità con cui si risolvono le diverse linee narrative nel finale- e un paio di aspetti migliorabili: ad esempio, si sarebbe potuta spendere qualche pagina di più per caratterizzare gli antagonisti o dare una ragion d'essere ad alcuni dei personaggi secondari dimenticati tra un capitolo e l'altro. Anche motivare le azioni del potente Genghis Khan con qualcosa di più sostanzioso del suo sentirsi annoiato avrebbe reso la trama più solida.
Da ultimo, voglio analizzare due aspetti dell'edizione. Il primo è la mappa ad inizio volume, che risulta tanto utile per seguire il viaggio dei protagonisti quanto spoilerosa su quali ne siano le tappe: non viene indicato solo il percorso, ma anche gli eventi principali, nei luoghi in cui si svolgono! Approvo invece la nota storica a fine lettura, perché rende comprensibili le scelte del caro Robert e fornisce anche qualche spunto a chi fosse interessato a comprendere meglio il contesto.
Voto effettivo: tre stelline e mezza
LA SPADA, IL PUGNALE E LA FIONDA
Quando ho acquistato "The Sword and the Dagger" non avevo grosse aspettative: era solo un libro trovato a buon prezzo su uno store online. Il mio entusiasmo non è aumentato al momento di iniziare la lettura, vista la trama abbastanza banale e le prime pagine dello stesso tenore. Eppure, pian piano, questo romanzo è riuscito almeno in parte a stupirmi e perfino ad entusiasmarmi, tanto da farmi rivalutare quello che all'inizio reputavo un personaggio terribile.
Prima di passare alla trama, bisogna però fare una doverosa precisazione: questo non è in alcun modo un fantasy! nonostante la cover ed il modo in cui viene targetizzato possano trarre in inganno, si tratta di una storia di avventura ambientata nel Medio Oriente del 1220 e, ad eccezione di qualche semplificazione e un paio di libertà narrative, rimane grosso modo fedele al setting scelto. La narrazione parte dalla città di Tripoli, dove fervono i preparativi per le imminenti nozze della principessa Elaine con il principe Conrad, futuro sovrano della vicina (si fa per dire) Antiochia; ad impedire una cerimonia che comunque non faceva impazzire di gioia neppure gli sposi giunge Rashid, giovane assassino incaricato dell'omicidio di Elaine. Da queste premesse non proprio inedite, parte la missione che i protagonisti intraprendono per scoprire l'identità del mandante.
Questo spunto in realtà copre solo la prima parte di un percorso ben più lungo, che porta i tre a lasciare l'attuale Libano per muoversi nei territori della Siria, dell'Iraq e dell'Iran, arrivando perfino sulle rive del Mar Caspio. Nonostante il pretesto dietro a questo viaggio non sia particolarmente solido, mi è piaciuto seguire le loro avventure, approfondendo un capitolo della Storia forse poco conosciuto dagli occidentali, ma molto importante per capire quali siano le basi dei conflitti attuali in quelle regioni. Il romanzo si focalizza infatti sui contrasti religiosi ed etnici, concentrandosi sia sulle Crociate che sulle guerre di conquista intraprese da Genghis Khan; questi temi vengono trattati con il giusto tono, seppur in termini un po' semplicistici per adeguarsi al target scelto dall'autore.
Altra tematica centrale nella storia è quella della crescita dei protagonisti, in particolare della presa di consapevolezza del loro ruolo come regnanti per Elaine e Conrad, e del valore dell'amicizia per Rashid. Questo aspetto del libro è forse il più convincente, specialmente per quanto riguarda l'arco narrativo di Conrad ed il rapporto che quest'ultimo riesce ad instaurare con Rashid; Elaine invece non mi è andata proprio giù, ad eccezione di una scena sul finale, perché è stata scritta per essere la classica Mary Sue che ormai non voglio più trovarmi come protagonista in un romanzo. È presente anche una vaghissima sottotrama romantica, che mi lascia non poco combattuta: da un lato approvo che sia (giustamente!) marginale e non troppo prevedibile viste le premesse, dall'altro sentir parlare di amore a prima vista in una narrazione in cui l'intento è invece quello di spiegare come le relazioni maturino con il tempo mi è sembrato davvero stonato.
Non mancano alcune piccole forzature di trama -come la scelta di rendere analfabeta il futuro re Conrad e la facilità con cui si risolvono le diverse linee narrative nel finale- e un paio di aspetti migliorabili: ad esempio, si sarebbe potuta spendere qualche pagina di più per caratterizzare gli antagonisti o dare una ragion d'essere ad alcuni dei personaggi secondari dimenticati tra un capitolo e l'altro. Anche motivare le azioni del potente Genghis Khan con qualcosa di più sostanzioso del suo sentirsi annoiato avrebbe reso la trama più solida.
Da ultimo, voglio analizzare due aspetti dell'edizione. Il primo è la mappa ad inizio volume, che risulta tanto utile per seguire il viaggio dei protagonisti quanto spoilerosa su quali ne siano le tappe: non viene indicato solo il percorso, ma anche gli eventi principali, nei luoghi in cui si svolgono! Approvo invece la nota storica a fine lettura, perché rende comprensibili le scelte del caro Robert e fornisce anche qualche spunto a chi fosse interessato a comprendere meglio il contesto.
Voto effettivo: tre stelline e mezza
March 30, 2019
I was really into this book for the first 1/3, but somewhere along the line it started to feel very unrealistic (yes, even for fantasy), the character conflict felt repetitive, and the plot fell kind of flat for me.
April 21, 2019
3.5 stars
August 23, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! What a fantastic read! I absolutely loved how the characters developed throughout the story!
February 9, 2020
Engaging and exciting adventure.
May 5, 2022
This book is not it!
June 29, 2019
3.5/5 stars
This was such a fun read! The first line was hilarious and seriously just made me love Elaine!
Also, don't listen to the synopsis you see on the sites. They are seriously just not that great and don't give you a feel for what this book is about.
So speaking of loving Elaine, her strength and just wanting to be independent is goals. She strives to be her own person with her own rules, not "doing her duty" to obey a husband or men, even though she is the princess. The blend of Middle Easten and French themes and characters is so well done, and you do see a battle of Christian vs Muslim beliefs in here as well. I think it was well done, and the characers grow very well throughout. Elaine is a strong female character who doesn't let a man dictate how she behaves or speaks. Conrad is the betrothed of Elaine, and really he's an ass at the start. His character grows so much that, by the end, I actually really enjoyed his scenes and POV. Rashid has to be my fave though. I liked him from the start, and he plays such a huge role between the two different cultures.
The pacing is a bit slow at first, for about maybe a quarter of the way through, but then it picks up once Elain makes a decision to visit a certain someone. It goes uphill from there and was really fun to read! The reasoning for my rating is just that it does drag quite a bit at times, and we start to see POVs by characters I personally had no interest in. Usually side characters that you hardly know much about, and so their POV just doesn't do anything except to say "hey look! This is what I think of XYZ".
Also, why do the chapters not say what POV we're starting with? Like I get that this is all 3rd person, but seriously... Give me SOMETHING so I'm not having to reread the starting page for each chapter over again to make sure I know which character I'm following. This is DEFINITELY my biggest problem with this book.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was such a fun read! The first line was hilarious and seriously just made me love Elaine!
Also, don't listen to the synopsis you see on the sites. They are seriously just not that great and don't give you a feel for what this book is about.
So speaking of loving Elaine, her strength and just wanting to be independent is goals. She strives to be her own person with her own rules, not "doing her duty" to obey a husband or men, even though she is the princess. The blend of Middle Easten and French themes and characters is so well done, and you do see a battle of Christian vs Muslim beliefs in here as well. I think it was well done, and the characers grow very well throughout. Elaine is a strong female character who doesn't let a man dictate how she behaves or speaks. Conrad is the betrothed of Elaine, and really he's an ass at the start. His character grows so much that, by the end, I actually really enjoyed his scenes and POV. Rashid has to be my fave though. I liked him from the start, and he plays such a huge role between the two different cultures.
The pacing is a bit slow at first, for about maybe a quarter of the way through, but then it picks up once Elain makes a decision to visit a certain someone. It goes uphill from there and was really fun to read! The reasoning for my rating is just that it does drag quite a bit at times, and we start to see POVs by characters I personally had no interest in. Usually side characters that you hardly know much about, and so their POV just doesn't do anything except to say "hey look! This is what I think of XYZ".
Also, why do the chapters not say what POV we're starting with? Like I get that this is all 3rd person, but seriously... Give me SOMETHING so I'm not having to reread the starting page for each chapter over again to make sure I know which character I'm following. This is DEFINITELY my biggest problem with this book.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 23, 2021
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
When I first came across this book, I was so excited about the premise. A Christian princess, a Muslim assassin, and a knight on some grand adventure sounded like a promising concoction of diversity to bring about a tension-filled plot. While the book certainly began strongly, I felt like the plot transformed into something very different than I expected. I did like this book. It, however, didn’t quite meet the excitement my mind had initially fabricated.
My Blog ¦ Bookstagram ¦ Twitter ¦ Pinterest ¦ Facebook
When I first came across this book, I was so excited about the premise. A Christian princess, a Muslim assassin, and a knight on some grand adventure sounded like a promising concoction of diversity to bring about a tension-filled plot. While the book certainly began strongly, I felt like the plot transformed into something very different than I expected. I did like this book. It, however, didn’t quite meet the excitement my mind had initially fabricated.
My Blog ¦ Bookstagram ¦ Twitter ¦ Pinterest ¦ Facebook
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews