A Templar's Apprentice

The Book of Tormod #1

by Kat Black

Scotland. 1307. Thirteen-year-old Tormod MacLeod is different. He knows things before they happen. Even his own brother treats him differently, and all Tormod can do is bide his time until he's old enough to leave the village and make something of himself. His chance comes sooner than expected when a Templar knight asks him to deliver a secret message. But Tormod's efforts end up endangering both their lives. What follows is a desperate journey to escape the army of King Philippe le Bel of France. If he is to survive, Tormod must learn to harness the powers within.

Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Historical, Magic, Middle Grade

288 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2009

About the author

Kat Black is an avid reader and writer of young adult literature. Drawn most to ancient times and places of shadow and mystery, she strives to pluck her readers out of the here and now and engross them in the possibility of what once was.

Kat has worked for twenty-two years in the Children’s book industry—more than half of that time as a designer for legendary publishing icon Walter Lorraine. With Caldecott and Newbery Medal winning artist and authors like David Macaulay, Allen Say, Lois Lowry, and Chris VanAllsburg as clients, Kat learned firsthand what it takes to make it in the amazing world of children’s publishing.

Kat lives with her family in Lynn, Massachusetts. A Templar’s Apprentice, her first book came out in 2009. A Templar’s Gifts released in 2011, and A Templar’s Destiny will be out this August.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book to preview it for our school library. I found it to be appropriate for middle school. There are no language issues, minimal hormones, and the violence in the book is typical of the genre and time period in which it is set.

2 stars: I found the story to be interesting; however, in this first book in the series, I found my imagination filling in too many of the blanks. Meaning, the author's descriptions were lacking. Luckily, I have a good imagination. And, I can report that the later books in the series do a much better job with this description issue.

[Hazel West · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoughts on the Overall Book: Overall is was a good read. Not the best thing I've ever read and I had a couple problems with it, but I did enjoy it and it's a good adventure novel with an interesting fantasy twist to it.

Cover--Yea or Nay: I don't really dislike it, but it's not amazing either. I don't think the boy really looks like Tormod, but it's not terrible either. Kind of indifferent.

Characters: Tormod was an okay protagonist. He's wasn't overly cocky, yet he didn't doubt himself more than is expected either and he was genuinely caring. Templar Alexander was a good character too, though not the most epic mentor character I have ever read about. I have always been very fond of mentor character, particularly the sardonic, prickly ones like Halt from Ranger's Apprentice. Alexander wasn't as awesome as Halt, but he was okay. One thing that kind of bothered me about the book was that, while I did like the characters and cared about what happened to them, I didn't fall unconditionally in love with them either as I do in some books. You got their personalities, yet they still kind of more seemed like acquaintances than best friends.

The Romance: There was no romance in this story, yay!

Writing Style: This was the other thing that kind of didn't sell the book to me completely. There was nothing wrong with it, but it wasn't really engaging during action scenes, and in parts it kind of seemed disjointed. I really didn't see where the story was going by the time I finished the book. There was a lot of foreshadowing, but then, nothing really happened. I do understand that this is a series, but I still kind of feel that nothing was really accomplished in this story, at least nothing I expected to be accomplished when I started it. Another thing that bothered me on a technical level was that this is a story that is set, at least in the beginning, in Scotland in the year 1307. I find it very strange that Bruce's rebellion is not even mentioned once. And I really don't know what Philippe of France was doing at this time since I don't really know anything about him after he turned William Wallace away when he came to ask for help, but I don't know if he was doing...whatever he was doing in this story, which I'm not quite clear on either, except he's the bad guy? I did like how Tormod kind of has the Second Sight and other characters have similar powers and stuff. It kind of adds a fantasy flair to a historical based novel. That was a unique part anyway.

Problems/What bothered me: There wasn't really anything else besides the things I have already addressed.

Conclusion: 3 stars. I enjoyed reading it and I will probably read the rest of the series eventually. Not the best book in the world but not the worst either and a quick read.

Recommended Audience: Readers who like historical fantasy and fans of Ranger's Apprentice would probably enjoy this one. It's not as good as Ranger's Apprentice, but if you've finished the series or are waiting for the nest book, this might tide you over. Guy or girl read 13 and up.

[ilikebooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kat Black's, "A Templar's Apprentice" is a fantastic voyage through time and 14th century Europe. Following Tormod from the Highlands of Scotland into the midst of a secret battle waged between the Templars and their enemies, we meet a cast of historical figures (with some creative flair from the author), and enter a world of uncertainty, fear, magic, and hope, perfectly blended to enthrall younger readers.

I've always been a fan of history, especially anything to do with the Templar Knights, and so this novel already appealed to me just from the title. What I especially appreciated is how many characters really existed, and that when I finished the book, I could research the characters and learn more about their lives and legends.

This is hardly the only historical fiction novel out there, but what separates "A Templar's Apprentice" from so many others is how real the characters feel. Kat doesn't whitewash the difficulties of living in the 14th century, and it allows Tormod and the rest of the cast to evolve into three dimensional characters.

I recommend this novel, and the rest of the series, to anyone who loves fantasy, adventure, history, knights, magic, or just a great story. It has something for everyone, and though it is targeted at a younger reader, the story is appealing to all ages.

Robert Davis

[Kyle Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had such a rich voice that I read it every chance I could. At times when I'd normally play on my phone or surf online, I chose instead to follow Tormod through his adventures. The setting is rich and the adventure real, and I found myself turning the pages long into the night. Great read and can't wait to devour the rest!

[Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Templar’s Apprentice

It’s 1307 in Scotland. Thirteen-year-old Tormod MacLeod is strange. He has visions that give him hints of things before they happen. His own brothers treat him differently, and all Tormod can do is bide his time until he's old enough to leave the village and have a chance at doing something. His chance comes sooner than expected when a Templar knight asks him to deliver a secret message. But Tormod's efforts end up endangering both their lives. When he delivers the message and is let into the secret Templar Fortress in the woods, he is secretly hoping to stay and learn the ways of the Templar. His wish is granted, kind of and he is sent to intercept some group of Templar knights and deliver them a message. He is successful and then is asked to accompany the group on a dangerous journey to try and escape the army of King Philippe le Bel of France. If he is to survive, Tormod must learn to harness the powers within to overcome the dangers of his new life with the Templars.

Something that I liked about this book was the constant face paced writing and how all the time something was happening. Personally, I’m not a very patient person so this was a fun, easy and intriguing book to read. Something that I didn’t like about this book was the lack of clarity in certain chapters/scenes. It made me read over certain passages to fully comprehend what was happening in the novel.

The novel takes place in 1307, which was around the time of some major crusades, these crusades aren’t mentioned at all in the novel, but the Templar Knights and army is part of the major storyline. Historically, Templar knights were fellow soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon. They were a Catholic military order and they contributed towards the crusades. They were normally feared as they were very selective with who they trained as their knights and their knights were usually very skilled. In A Templar’s Apprentice, Templar Knights act as the “Hero” or the “All Powerful-All Wise Teacher”. That's my review on A Templar's Apprentice.

[Brynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely fantastic read!
Grabbing attention from the start with a rich Scottish brogue, young Tormod takes readers for a harrowing adventure far from the small village he calls home. Spurred on by visions, Tormod finds his fate intertwined with a Templar's and a nagging instinct pulling him deeper and deeper into a hunt that spans the centuries, and towards a power that could shift the balance of the land itself.

Anyone who loves adventure is going to love this novel. Black's rich and vivid descriptions are blended wonderfully into Tormod's perspective. The story is truly through his eyes, and his and the character's accents come to life on the pages in the dialogue and their thoughts. This sometimes tricky device is expertly handled for stunning results, and I could hear every word spoken as if I was in the story myself. I'm going to get my hands on the next book as soon as I can!

[Kerri Simpson · Rating 2 out of 5]

It just wasn't for me. I mean sure it was an adventure just not one I wanted to read. It was hard to get attatched to the characters. For me that is very much the thing that keeps me hooked on a book. This one isn't for me but someone else may enjoy it more. It definitely caught my attention at first.

[Lanon Carrier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book so far. This book takes place back in the era of knights which makes it interesting. I like how it starts off with Tormod doing his chores then in part two he is on a ship with the Templar and his friends. Overall i enjoy this book and hope other people will decide to read this book too.

[Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an amazing rendition of a templar story. I loved it and wished there was more than three books.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com

Tormod runs home to grab the box of tinder for lighting the Beltane fires. Never mind that he traded jobs with his brother. If the fire doesn't light on time, he's going to be in trouble.

Unfortunately, a Knight's Templar needs a message delivered as soon as possible to the Abbot. Abandoning his task, Tormod runs to the Templar encampment. There he delivers the message, but there are already men with the Abbot. The men swiftly leave, intent on hunting down the Knight. Tormod has a vision of their encounter, and begs the Abbot to allow him to intercept the Knight and lead him across a different path.

Tormod never guesses that his journey to help the Knight will lead him far away from home and on an adventure he never imagined.

A TEMPLAR'S APPRENTICE starts the beginning of an adventurous quest that crosses several countries. Danger always follows the Knight Templar and his companions. Plus, Tormod has hidden talents, creating a blend of religion and supernatural elements that he will need to understand in order to remain alive.

[Cinnamon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tormod is a typical boy living in a Scottish village in the Middle Ages until the day that a Knight Templar comes to his door asking for a message to be delivered. Tormod is quickly pulled into a world of intrigue and magic as he delivers the message and then also saves the knight's life. Tormod becomes the knight's apprentice when it is discovered that he has visions of the future, something that only Templar Knights are able to do. Tormod and Alexander, the knight, are in a race to escape soldiers sent to capture a treasure that they safeguard, a treasure that could determine the success or failure of a plot to destroy the papacy in Rome and the Knights Templar.


This was an okay read. It was a pretty standard Middle Ages knights story, with a little magic thrown in. It didn't engage me nearly as much as the Ranger's Apprentice series or the knightly tales of Gerald Morris. I got lost a few times on where they were in Europe, France or Spain. It was not exiting enough for me want to read the sequel.

[L. C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tormod the Templar’s apprentice has a fascinating and unique story where a Templar knight and a young boy from a modest family is constantly on the run whilst visiting historically similar locations. The book mixes fantasy and history together which makes an educational and entertaining book. The novel does not mention specific events but shows you plausible scenarios of what could or may have happened at that time. I think this is great because it allows the story to be more creative and original. The one thing that I would look out for when picking out this book is the vocabulary used, some of the words are a bit different because you would not speak the same way you speak in the 20th century compared to the 13th. None the less this is an incredible book even if you don’t know older English, I picked this book up even though I had not read a single book that used any sort of moderately older vocabulary. This is a great book for anyone!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quite interesting historical fantasy Y. A. book that takes place in 1307.

A young boy knows he is different because he sees visions that come true. I can't let people know and is afraid of them himself.

He is then befriended by a Knight Templar who is well aware of his gift. They are on a quest that leads them into dire situations.

What I do like is that the boy is not always sure of his destiny or path. He asks questions about himself and his faith. He grows and matures. " I did not believe myself worthy, but I would do my best to ensure that not only the Templar's sacrifice, but that of Seamus and all of the other who had died in its service, were not in vain."(pg. 278)

The author gives information about the time and place in an interesting way. She weaves definitions of common place meanings of the time as something the boy didn't know.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tormod, thirteen, is the seventh of nine children in a poor family from a Scottish village, and doesn't expect to ever be much in his life. By seeming random chance, a Templar knight runs into him one evening and sends him on an errand delivering a message. At that moment, Tormod's life changes as he finds himself caught up in an adventurous, gritty, and dangerous quest helping to protect and deliver an ancient artifact. It turns out his strange ability to see visions of the future is a gift shared by all the Templars, an ability to sense and work with the world's life force. Circumstances keep him with the knight and, before he knows it, he is an apprentice, caught up in an exciting new world and learning a new faith and devotion, trying to do right and help others while fleeing far and wide across Europe.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me personally, this is more like 3 stars, but I think that I'm not really the target audience for this book. I pretty much almost always require some sort of romantic element to a story to keep me interested, and this has absolutely none. In fact, there's a short conversation between Tormod and the Templar he meets at the beginning of the book that goes like this:

"Chastity?" It was not a word I knew.
"Aye. We are not allowed to marry or keep the company o' women."
All women, I wondered? It was not something I'd given thought to. Lasses, so far as I could see, were naught but an ache to the head anyway.

Haha! But it was still an interesting story. I am going to give this book to the 12-year-old boy that I teach piano to. I think he's going to love it!

[Jonathan M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tormod is a boy who is waiting for a chance to leave his home to get away from his brother torquil that he doesn't like and that day came sooner than he thought when someone came to his door and told him to deliver a message to The Abbot. Black, for the most part does a great job at keeping the reader engaged the whole time. I would recommend this to anyone who likes historical fiction

One thing the author did that i really liked was put in the way that they talked back in the 1300s in scotland by saying "ye" instead of yeah, "o'" instead of of, and "an'" instead of and. Those are just a few examples. Things like that and just the style of writing the author uses really set the tone and mood of the book.

[Christina Getrost · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twelve year old Tormod, a lowly peasant boy, gets caught up in politics, intrigue, magic and danger when he agrees to act as guide through the mountains of England for a Knight Templar who is on the run from the soldiers of the king of France. Tormod becomes the Knight's apprentice by default, as it is too risky to send Tormod back home, and as apprentice he begins to learn more about the Templars and his own mysterious visions of the future, which he learns are a special ability of all Knights Templar. Good action story with just the right amount of magical fantasy elements, but be warned, it ends on a cliffhanger for the next book in the series!

[Alice Yang · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll say this, this book wasn't as good as i expected. To be honest, the book almost made me sleep several times but i finished it. If you like historical books then this is one for you, especially since they talk in the old-fashioned way (sorry don't know how to describe it).
13 year old Tormod MacLeod is just a regular boy, son of a fisher. One day he was given a chance to deliver a message from the all-mightly Templar. Throughout the story, Tormod has a special ability that not many have. The Templar took him in as an apprentice. There's goes an adventure waiting for Tormod,one that makes him want to go back to his home.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars Although I enjoyed the premise of the novel, being very interested in the history surrounding the Knights Templar, I found the story somewhat disappointing.

The author has unfortunately made use of repetitive descriptions ('heady pain' was used several times in the space of a few pages) and some of the characters' reactions to various situations is not in keeping with the personalities that have been created for them. At times credibility was overlooked in favour of dramatic effect.

That being said, I still intend to read the sequels.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sent to retrieve the fire that would start his families Beltane fest, young Tormod comes across a Knight Templar who sends Tormod on a quest to a local priory. However in the short journey, Tormod suddenly finds himself becoming the Templar's apprentice, and together the two share a path that twists and turns and leads them over Britain, and down to Spain.
It was a little forced and did not feel as if it flowed naturally. 2 1/2 stars

[Cheryl Verrette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it with my son when it first came out. It's hard to find a good book for a 10 year old but this was right up his alley. Action...swords..history. The language at times was hard for him to understand but he made it through. It was particularly fun for him since he knew who was the author was.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this at least 4 years ago in middle school, and honestly completely forgot about it. I remember really enjoying it and the only things I could recall were templars, and the name Macleod (I wonder why). I intend to find it and read it again soon, so we'll see if I still enjoy it as much as I did back then!

[Ryan Burt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasnt a fan of this one. The story was ok but not great. Want to say the book didnt really end but lead to another book but the ending didnt really leave an impact. Also I hate it when they write the dialoge with an accent. Makes it not fun to read.

[Will The 1rst]

it was kind of hard for me to read the plot was understood but i felt like it was somthing left out of this book like there was a book before this one. Was there one before this one? well anyways besides that i felt the book was very spiritual.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, the only good thing about this book is its cover, which is gorgeous! The story itself was confusing and rather boring. I especially disliked the ending. I will not be continuing on with this series.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

always try no matter what it takes

[Martha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beginning of series, but stands alone. Nothing special, but enjoyable to read.

[Britt, Book Habitue]

"My favorite Author" blog

[Margie McMahon · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book in the series. This is historical fiction with very good detail and accurate facts about the Templar. Good for end of 5th grade and Middle School.

[Brittany Martin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quit reading it. Boring and lame.