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Knights Templar #6
The Last Crusade
As Arnau and his battle-weary Templars head home from battle, they face a new, insidious challenge: one seemingly from within the Order of the Temple itself.
Word reaches them that the stronghold of Rourell is under the command of a new preceptor, but why?
Surrounded by old friends, Arnau must now face enemies of his past, and present. This time the rot goes deep – and high. From gilded palace libraries to blood-soaked sieges, this is a fight that will test him like never before…
Word reaches them that the stronghold of Rourell is under the command of a new preceptor, but why?
Surrounded by old friends, Arnau must now face enemies of his past, and present. This time the rot goes deep – and high. From gilded palace libraries to blood-soaked sieges, this is a fight that will test him like never before…
- GenresHistorical Fiction
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 11, 2021
80 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
S.J.A. Turney
93 books497 followersSimon lives with his wife and children and a menagerie of animals in rural North Yorkshire, where he sits in an office, wired on coffee and digestive biscuits, and attempts to spin engrossing tales out of strands of imagination while his children drive toys across his desk and two dogs howl as they try to share a brain cell.
A born and bred Yorkshireman with a love of country, history and architecture, Simon spends most of his rare free time travelling around ancient sites, writing, researching the ancient world and reading voraciously.
Following an arcane and eclectic career path that wound through everything from sheep to Microsoft networks and from paint to car sales, Simon wrote Marius’ Mules and, with help and support, made a success of it. Now, with in excess of 20 novels under his belt, Simon writes full time and is represented by MMB Creative literary agents.
Simon writes Roman military novels in the form of the bestselling Marius’ Mules series based on Julius Caesar’s campaigns, Roman thrillers in the Praetorian series, set during the troubled reign of Commodus, medieval adventures in the Ottoman Cycle, following a young Greek thief around the 15th century world, and a series of Historical Fantasy novels with a Roman flavour, called the Tales of the Empire.
Simon can be found on Twitter as @SJATurney and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SJATurney/ as well as on his website http://www.sjaturney.co.uk
A born and bred Yorkshireman with a love of country, history and architecture, Simon spends most of his rare free time travelling around ancient sites, writing, researching the ancient world and reading voraciously.
Following an arcane and eclectic career path that wound through everything from sheep to Microsoft networks and from paint to car sales, Simon wrote Marius’ Mules and, with help and support, made a success of it. Now, with in excess of 20 novels under his belt, Simon writes full time and is represented by MMB Creative literary agents.
Simon writes Roman military novels in the form of the bestselling Marius’ Mules series based on Julius Caesar’s campaigns, Roman thrillers in the Praetorian series, set during the troubled reign of Commodus, medieval adventures in the Ottoman Cycle, following a young Greek thief around the 15th century world, and a series of Historical Fantasy novels with a Roman flavour, called the Tales of the Empire.
Simon can be found on Twitter as @SJATurney and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SJATurney/ as well as on his website http://www.sjaturney.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 18, 2021
BLURB
As Arnau and his battle-weary Templars head home from battle, they face a new, insidious challenge: one seemingly from within the Order of the Temple itself.
Word reaches them that the stronghold of Rourell is under the command of a new preceptor, but why?
Surrounded by old friends, Arnau must now face enemies of his past, and present. This time the rot goes deep – and high. From gilded palace libraries to blood-soaked sieges, this is a fight that will test him like never before…
REVIEW
I suppose that the Knights Templar coming to an end can be seen, from a certain point of view, to be a good thing. For certainly this will allow the author to concentrate solely on Praetorian and Marius Mules, the other two excellent series that have not come to a final conclusion. But, then again Simon is probably cogitating on three new projects, which seen from a certain point of view is also a good thing. Now, as to The Last Crusade, I can safely assure my fellow legion of Turneyites that it is a more than worthy final act. In this tale we find Arnau fighting uphill battle after uphill battle against forces so evil, so contrary to the Templar world; a world that seems to be crumbling before his eyes. Only his faith, a sorely tested faith, can see him through situations he could never have imagined against enemies that should never have been his foes. Sorry to see it end, but Knights Templar has been a joy to read. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
June 27, 2021
Turney's Crusades
Of all the authors in my library of historical fiction Simon Turney is definitely my favourite. I believe I have read most his novels, from Julius Caesar to this last of the Crusader series. With this last series I have been able to move on to a different novel/era/author whilst waiting for the next in the series then pick up a new story, where the last one left off, and immediately recognise the characters.
This Crusader series was not, originally, what I expected. But Simon is a master-craftsman and I was drawn in from the start. Each of the stories can be read as "stand alone" but better read as a series. And of course each one is historically researched.
Thanks, Simon. Looking forward to the next series.
Of all the authors in my library of historical fiction Simon Turney is definitely my favourite. I believe I have read most his novels, from Julius Caesar to this last of the Crusader series. With this last series I have been able to move on to a different novel/era/author whilst waiting for the next in the series then pick up a new story, where the last one left off, and immediately recognise the characters.
This Crusader series was not, originally, what I expected. But Simon is a master-craftsman and I was drawn in from the start. Each of the stories can be read as "stand alone" but better read as a series. And of course each one is historically researched.
Thanks, Simon. Looking forward to the next series.
September 29, 2021
Unreserved
The heading refers to both my admiration for the prose and story as well as the manner in which the author portrays the gritty reality of medieval warfare. A better understanding of the local geography would have enhanced this reader's appreciation but I was more than satisfied with an exciting and wonderfully concocted tale embedded in historical truth.
The heading refers to both my admiration for the prose and story as well as the manner in which the author portrays the gritty reality of medieval warfare. A better understanding of the local geography would have enhanced this reader's appreciation but I was more than satisfied with an exciting and wonderfully concocted tale embedded in historical truth.
May 7, 2022
Excellent Read
Sorry, no spoilers in this. I would just like to say that, while the period this series is set in is not one that usually draws my interest ( I'm more usually to be found reading Roman era novels.), I was hooked, from the first in the series to the last, and highly recommend it.
Sorry, no spoilers in this. I would just like to say that, while the period this series is set in is not one that usually draws my interest ( I'm more usually to be found reading Roman era novels.), I was hooked, from the first in the series to the last, and highly recommend it.
February 5, 2021
A BLESSED RELIEF
This is the first of the many books I have read by Turney that is not riddled with punctuation and grammar errors, word omissions, interminable fragments, and misused homonyms. Did he finally get rid of Jenny as proofreader? If so, wise choice!
This is the first of the many books I have read by Turney that is not riddled with punctuation and grammar errors, word omissions, interminable fragments, and misused homonyms. Did he finally get rid of Jenny as proofreader? If so, wise choice!
February 21, 2021
Brilliant finale
An excellent final take for Vallbona, a great story line full of intrigue with twists along the way. A surprising end but a just one. Once again a very interesting historical note to complete the picture, thank you.
An excellent final take for Vallbona, a great story line full of intrigue with twists along the way. A surprising end but a just one. Once again a very interesting historical note to complete the picture, thank you.
April 2, 2021
Turney is skilled and imaginative writer. I have read several in this series for entertainment and enlightenment and I was not disappointed. Not exactly a thrill a minute but a valid extrapolation of an obscure period in history.
Better proof-reading than in the earlier novels.
Better proof-reading than in the earlier novels.
July 26, 2024
A good end
Probably the most enjoyable read in the series for me. And only 1 plasm in th3 book of which I can remember, which was good. It had a good build all they way though and in the end a good ending to the book and the series.
Probably the most enjoyable read in the series for me. And only 1 plasm in th3 book of which I can remember, which was good. It had a good build all they way though and in the end a good ending to the book and the series.
April 17, 2025
Revenge
It is a happy thing but yet a sad thing to finish a wonderfully written set of books and stories as this journey has been. I can highly recommend reading and acquiring these books for your own library.
It is a happy thing but yet a sad thing to finish a wonderfully written set of books and stories as this journey has been. I can highly recommend reading and acquiring these books for your own library.
April 18, 2021
Loved the Series. Hope you decide to do another.
Ron
Ron
January 22, 2022
I did find this book quite difficult to get into.
March 12, 2022
A dashing tale of Templar justice.
A fine series of six books.
Enthralling from start to finish.Well delivered and kept me interested till the very end.
A fine series of six books.
Enthralling from start to finish.Well delivered and kept me interested till the very end.
May 7, 2022
riveting
Keeps you wanting more, hard to set down. I love these historical novels. I paints a somewhat picture of what it might’ve been like in that time.
Keeps you wanting more, hard to set down. I love these historical novels. I paints a somewhat picture of what it might’ve been like in that time.
July 4, 2024
The Crusades we don't study much yet drive much of the history to follow. Excellent!
July 29, 2021
Excellent Book
If you enjoy reading books about the Roman legions, then get this book. S.J.A. Turney is one of the best writers in this genre and he doesn’t disappoint with this book.
Joe Corso
Author of Lafitte’s Treasure
If you enjoy reading books about the Roman legions, then get this book. S.J.A. Turney is one of the best writers in this genre and he doesn’t disappoint with this book.
Joe Corso
Author of Lafitte’s Treasure
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews