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The Celtic Crusades #3
The Mystic Rose
The Barnes & Noble Review
The Mystic Rose, an exciting entry in Stephen R. Lawhead's popular Celtic Crusades saga, chronicles the quest for the Holy Cup, the vessel used by Jesus during his last Passover feast with his disciples. Along with her father and her younger sister, Caitriona travels to the Holy Land to revisit the lands her father had been to so many years before on a holy pilgrimage. While in Constantinople, Cait witnesses the murder of her father by Renaud de Bracineaux, Grand Commander of the Knights Templar. Despite her father's last wishes, she vows to avenge his murder. With the helpful guidance of the White Priest, she steals a note from Bracineaux revealing his plan to remove the Blessed Cup in Aragon from the advancement of the infidel Moors. Cait seizes on this opportunity to squelch the Templars' selfish scheme and seeks to get the holy relic for herself. She stops in Damascus and pays the ransom for four Norse Knights -- for protection -- and continues on to Aragon, seeking her prize. But her travels bring unforeseen perils and obstacles at every turn.
The Mystic Rose, an exciting entry in Stephen R. Lawhead's popular Celtic Crusades saga, chronicles the quest for the Holy Cup, the vessel used by Jesus during his last Passover feast with his disciples. Along with her father and her younger sister, Caitriona travels to the Holy Land to revisit the lands her father had been to so many years before on a holy pilgrimage. While in Constantinople, Cait witnesses the murder of her father by Renaud de Bracineaux, Grand Commander of the Knights Templar. Despite her father's last wishes, she vows to avenge his murder. With the helpful guidance of the White Priest, she steals a note from Bracineaux revealing his plan to remove the Blessed Cup in Aragon from the advancement of the infidel Moors. Cait seizes on this opportunity to squelch the Templars' selfish scheme and seeks to get the holy relic for herself. She stops in Damascus and pays the ransom for four Norse Knights -- for protection -- and continues on to Aragon, seeking her prize. But her travels bring unforeseen perils and obstacles at every turn.
Lawhead has a talent for blending history, Christianity, and adventure into an incredibly moving story -- a great novel and a great series. Paul Goat Allen
469 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
52 people are currently reading
1021 people want to read
About the author
Stephen R. Lawhead
101 books2,744 followersStephen R. Lawhead is an internationally acclaimed author of mythic history and imaginative fiction. His works include Byzantium, Patrick, and the series The Pendragon Cycle, The Celtic Crusades, and The Song of Albion.
Also see his fanpage at Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/stephenlawhead...
Stephen was born in 1950, in Nebraska in the USA. Most of his early life was spent in America where he earned a university degree in Fine Arts and attended theological college for two years. His first professional writing was done at Campus Life magazine in Chicago, where he was an editor and staff writer. During his five years at Campus Life he wrote hundreds of articles and several non-fiction books.
After a brief foray into the music business—as president of his own record company—he began full-time freelance writing in 1981. He moved to England in order to research Celtic legend and history. His first novel, In the Hall of the Dragon King, became the first in a series of three books (The Dragon King Trilogy) and was followed by the two-volume Empyrion saga, Dream Thief and then the Pendragon Cycle, now in five volumes: Taliesin, Merlin, Arthur, Pendragon, and Grail. This was followed by the award-winning Song of Albion series which consists of The Paradise War, The Silver Hand, and The Endless Knot.
He has written nine children's books, many of them originally offered to his two sons, Drake and Ross. He is married to Alice Slaikeu Lawhead, also a writer, with whom he has collaborated on some books and articles. They make their home in Oxford, England.
Stephen's non-fiction, fiction and children's titles have been published in twenty-one foreign languages. All of his novels have remained continuously in print in the United States and Britain since they were first published. He has won numereous industry awards for his novels and children's books, and in 2003 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by the University of Nebraska.
also write under the name Steve Lawhead
Also see his fanpage at Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/stephenlawhead...
Stephen was born in 1950, in Nebraska in the USA. Most of his early life was spent in America where he earned a university degree in Fine Arts and attended theological college for two years. His first professional writing was done at Campus Life magazine in Chicago, where he was an editor and staff writer. During his five years at Campus Life he wrote hundreds of articles and several non-fiction books.
After a brief foray into the music business—as president of his own record company—he began full-time freelance writing in 1981. He moved to England in order to research Celtic legend and history. His first novel, In the Hall of the Dragon King, became the first in a series of three books (The Dragon King Trilogy) and was followed by the two-volume Empyrion saga, Dream Thief and then the Pendragon Cycle, now in five volumes: Taliesin, Merlin, Arthur, Pendragon, and Grail. This was followed by the award-winning Song of Albion series which consists of The Paradise War, The Silver Hand, and The Endless Knot.
He has written nine children's books, many of them originally offered to his two sons, Drake and Ross. He is married to Alice Slaikeu Lawhead, also a writer, with whom he has collaborated on some books and articles. They make their home in Oxford, England.
Stephen's non-fiction, fiction and children's titles have been published in twenty-one foreign languages. All of his novels have remained continuously in print in the United States and Britain since they were first published. He has won numereous industry awards for his novels and children's books, and in 2003 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by the University of Nebraska.
also write under the name Steve Lawhead
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
September 11, 2009
Not as good as the first two, but worth the read to finish out the series. The characters were in general less believable and largely one dimensional and a few plot points and reversals of fortune strained credibility still further. More than in the fist books, the "Crusaders" (in particular the Templars) were presented as black to the more nuanced gray-to-white of other groups such as the Moors. To be fair not all Christians were painted with the same brush: the Cele De continued to "shine" as the protectors of the "Sanctus Clarus" and a variety of important relics.
However, theologically the tale set off even more of my warning bells. One of the sympathetic characters stated straight out that he'd "worshiped" the Grail, and said artifact possesed some frankly magical properties not in keeping with my read of the New Testament. The Cele De sect still smacked of Gnosticism to me as well.
All in all, it could have been a stronger close to a fairly decent series.
However, theologically the tale set off even more of my warning bells. One of the sympathetic characters stated straight out that he'd "worshiped" the Grail, and said artifact possesed some frankly magical properties not in keeping with my read of the New Testament. The Cele De sect still smacked of Gnosticism to me as well.
All in all, it could have been a stronger close to a fairly decent series.
August 4, 2016
"It is in God's good pleasure that all of his many children might sit with one another so that harmony and understanding may increase."
This was the final instalment in the Celtic Crusades series - and I am happy to say that this was the best yet. The vibrant and atmospheric descriptions and a cast brimming with complex and intriguing characters made for a suspenseful climax to the series. Lawhead has shown his mastery of the trilogy by crafting the series so that the final book is even more densely packed with history, messages and character than its predecessors. A brilliant end.
The story begins with Caitriona, daughter of Duncan and granddaughter of Murdo, visiting Constantinople with her father who is murdered by the political potentate and meddler of the previous novel, the Templar Grand Commander Renaud de Bracineaux. Cait is strong willed and resolute, and immediately sets out for revenge. Whilst infiltrating the commander's apartments in the palace in Constantinople, she discovers a letter detailing the whereabouts of a sacred treasure and decides to ruin the murderous Templar by means of getting to the relic first.
I really enjoyed reading Cait's character. She has the headstrong nature of Murdo chastened with an acute and often overwhelming awareness of her own faults. I enjoyed her relationship with her immature sister Alethea which created a successfully ambivalent dynamic - Cait's single-minded competence was often shown as restrictive and cruel when applied to her sister. Alethea is reluctantly roped into Cait's scheme but given very little freedom to be herself.
Fleeing Constantinople, Cait travels to Damascus to ransom some imprisoned Christian knights whom she hopes will serve her in turn for their freedom. I enjoyed the similarity between the commercial, sophisticated materialism of Constantinople and Damascus, highlighting that the age and geography of a civilisation can be uniting even when the chief religions are at war. Here Cait is received with grace by the Muslim governors of the city, and offered a horrifyingly olfactory glimpse of the hostage trade. There is something chillingly routine about her ransom of the five knights she chooses, something very much detached and commercial as opposed to zealous or pious. Once her decrepit and flinching knights have been exhumed, they dine at the same table as Islamic merchants despite the knights having just come from the city's dungeons. I particularly enjoyed this scene and will quote the seer Sinjari: "The future is written in sand, not stone." It was a subtle but profound gesture from Lawhead that the prophecy of Cait's destiny should come not from a priest from a Muslim who was equally able to perceive her spiritual path.
The Norwegian knights themselves were fantastic. Lord Rognvald, grim, suspicious, and always right, was a great foil to Cait's demanding authority. I really enjoyed their dialogue and found their growing respect for each other's unyielding nature through their many conflicts entertaining and more than a pinch romantic. I don't know, maybe there's just something about stern, silent Scandinavian guys.
The Norwegian knights also created a fantastic platform for examining the relationship between medieval Scandinavian Christianity and the deeply-engrained pagan Norse mythology. One of the knights, Dag, introduces himself with a story of colliding with standing stones, the fact that he emerged unharmed is attributed to a delicious melding of Catholic providence and blessing from the factious Norse gods or "Old Ones". The prevalence of fire as an image of the strong spirit is also brought about by this fusion. When four knights and a priest die during the pilgrimage, Lord Rognvald sets up a circle of flaming branches around the central cross of their grave, somehow ringing the fallen spirits in a second layer of protection, both the new and old gods appeased. This is a fascinating period of history and Lawhead excellently brings through the unacknowledged complex in the characters spirituality through subtle and engaging anecdotes.
From Damascus, the characters head to Spain to find the archbishop Bertrano who knows about the mysterious hidden relic. Bertrano himself is a genial, larger than life character. He is strangely endearing in his obsession over the building of the perfect cathedral which only he could possibly orchestrate. Vanity? Reverence? Who can say? He is a fantastic character regardless.
From Santiago, the pilgrim head south and east through the ruins of Roman towns now languishing in the continued conflict between Moors and Christian Spanish. The Morrish threat is greatly exaggerated and barely understood in these locations, the foetal nature of their own civic organisation contrasted by their crumbling aqueducts. Every trader they meet is a colourful and vibrant addition to the story, none less the missionary building a monastery with his own bare hands who offers to guide Cait and her army to the Holy Cup.
Even better, we also get the bad guy's perspective! De Bracineaux is given a distinct narrative voice full of bitterness and bile that his rank is not acknowledged as he sees fit. His demeanour makes enemies of everyone he comes across, yet the sharp edge of his dissatisfaction with his life keeps him oblivious to this. I enjoyed the hardened political mind he displayed, something jaded and ignoble borne from decades of witnessing atrocity after atrocity. He made a fascinating and somewhat compelling villain. I was also entranced by his psychotic travelling companion, the capriciously sinister Baron d'Anjou who could have been a fantastic major villain in his own right. It's a shame the book was packed so densely with great characters, I would have liked to have seen more of d'Anjou's motivations.
After they pick up their guide, Cait and friends' story quickly becomes dominated by the savage scenery of the winter Pyrinees. The relentless cold, wet discomfort of their trek was lavished upon the reader with skill. This is possibly the most evocative setting I have read of this author. When Alethea is stolen by bandits, the terrain quickly eats the soul and vigour out of Cait's narrative, leaving only the naked harshness of the landscape to the reader's delectation.
And then, from nowhere, Cait runs into a handsome Moorish prince who takes pity upon her party. What luck! As it turns out, Hassan Al-Nizar is a manipulative, duplicitous, and aggrieved host. He quickly seduces Cait with his Islamic philosophy and geometric art, all the charms of the knowledge most of Western Europe had lost by the 11th century. "What can be bought with wisdom's coin, that beauty does not already own?" Although I found Hassan an intriguing character, I was not convinced by how quickly Cait fell under his spell, or the rank hypocrisy of her falling for him after chastising Alethea for -horror of horrors- being seen outdoors with someone who looked like an infidel. So that's where the star gets docked. I just wasn't buying the love triange. #teamrognvald From here, Hassan's dishonesty about being unmarried and available is rather clumsily unmasked and his is very contrite. He is moved to help Cait find her sister through a concerningly close relationship with the bandits. I was pleased to see the major Muslim character in the novel redeemed, I think that the suddenly reversal in his motives left a lot of unanswered questions. Also, the bandit's stronghold in a bat-filth streaked cave made a very eloquent point about the degrading nature of a life based around only the pursuit of material things. At this point one of the minor characters from earlier in the book shows up and is killed by bandits. This was sad, and I appreciated the Islamic-Christian ritual melding in his burial scene, but I think the book suffered slightly from being stuffed with too many awesome characters to the point where I had forgotten about him by this point.
There is some dodgy trail following. I'm not particularly bothered with this stretching of reality, I am in favour of the plot moving swiftly rather than a detailed appraisal of the difficulty identifying horse tracks in rainy soil based on clay and the even greater difficulty of guessing how fast the horses were going. But still. Just putting it out there. By this point Cait's desperation to be united with her sister has been slightly lost in all the doe-eyes over Hassan, however I did enjoy her introspection and admission of her own greed and follow in her pursuit of the relic. It turns out Alethea has found her way to the convent hidden in the Spanish hills where the Holy Cup has been guarded. The presence of the Euskari here, a wonderfully mysterious depiction of the Basque Spanish as being somehow more alien than the Moors, added another slice of ancient diversity. Singing Gaelic hymns as well? Why not.
At 84% the Holy Cup finally appears, and I appreciated its depiction as a wooden vessel retrospectively gilded. It added humility and realism which I have not read in any Arthurian depictions of the Grail. Once the Cup is secured the Templars show up for a bloody final showdown in which Hassan's Moors and Rognvald's knights fight alongside each other for the single course of virtue. The ending, with meek Alethea finally freeing herself from her sister's restraints to stab the Templar and show her devotion to her sister, made a poignant ending. I would have liked to have seen more of Cait and Rognvald's final swoon, and whether Hassan could explain why there was a dead bishop in a church on his land, but I suppose that's not really what the story was about.
A lot to think about. The best prose yet as part of the series. More vivid and vital scenes than in any of the previous books and a hoard of great characters. Strongly recommend.
This was the final instalment in the Celtic Crusades series - and I am happy to say that this was the best yet. The vibrant and atmospheric descriptions and a cast brimming with complex and intriguing characters made for a suspenseful climax to the series. Lawhead has shown his mastery of the trilogy by crafting the series so that the final book is even more densely packed with history, messages and character than its predecessors. A brilliant end.
The story begins with Caitriona, daughter of Duncan and granddaughter of Murdo, visiting Constantinople with her father who is murdered by the political potentate and meddler of the previous novel, the Templar Grand Commander Renaud de Bracineaux. Cait is strong willed and resolute, and immediately sets out for revenge. Whilst infiltrating the commander's apartments in the palace in Constantinople, she discovers a letter detailing the whereabouts of a sacred treasure and decides to ruin the murderous Templar by means of getting to the relic first.
I really enjoyed reading Cait's character. She has the headstrong nature of Murdo chastened with an acute and often overwhelming awareness of her own faults. I enjoyed her relationship with her immature sister Alethea which created a successfully ambivalent dynamic - Cait's single-minded competence was often shown as restrictive and cruel when applied to her sister. Alethea is reluctantly roped into Cait's scheme but given very little freedom to be herself.
Fleeing Constantinople, Cait travels to Damascus to ransom some imprisoned Christian knights whom she hopes will serve her in turn for their freedom. I enjoyed the similarity between the commercial, sophisticated materialism of Constantinople and Damascus, highlighting that the age and geography of a civilisation can be uniting even when the chief religions are at war. Here Cait is received with grace by the Muslim governors of the city, and offered a horrifyingly olfactory glimpse of the hostage trade. There is something chillingly routine about her ransom of the five knights she chooses, something very much detached and commercial as opposed to zealous or pious. Once her decrepit and flinching knights have been exhumed, they dine at the same table as Islamic merchants despite the knights having just come from the city's dungeons. I particularly enjoyed this scene and will quote the seer Sinjari: "The future is written in sand, not stone." It was a subtle but profound gesture from Lawhead that the prophecy of Cait's destiny should come not from a priest from a Muslim who was equally able to perceive her spiritual path.
The Norwegian knights themselves were fantastic. Lord Rognvald, grim, suspicious, and always right, was a great foil to Cait's demanding authority. I really enjoyed their dialogue and found their growing respect for each other's unyielding nature through their many conflicts entertaining and more than a pinch romantic. I don't know, maybe there's just something about stern, silent Scandinavian guys.
The Norwegian knights also created a fantastic platform for examining the relationship between medieval Scandinavian Christianity and the deeply-engrained pagan Norse mythology. One of the knights, Dag, introduces himself with a story of colliding with standing stones, the fact that he emerged unharmed is attributed to a delicious melding of Catholic providence and blessing from the factious Norse gods or "Old Ones". The prevalence of fire as an image of the strong spirit is also brought about by this fusion. When four knights and a priest die during the pilgrimage, Lord Rognvald sets up a circle of flaming branches around the central cross of their grave, somehow ringing the fallen spirits in a second layer of protection, both the new and old gods appeased. This is a fascinating period of history and Lawhead excellently brings through the unacknowledged complex in the characters spirituality through subtle and engaging anecdotes.
From Damascus, the characters head to Spain to find the archbishop Bertrano who knows about the mysterious hidden relic. Bertrano himself is a genial, larger than life character. He is strangely endearing in his obsession over the building of the perfect cathedral which only he could possibly orchestrate. Vanity? Reverence? Who can say? He is a fantastic character regardless.
From Santiago, the pilgrim head south and east through the ruins of Roman towns now languishing in the continued conflict between Moors and Christian Spanish. The Morrish threat is greatly exaggerated and barely understood in these locations, the foetal nature of their own civic organisation contrasted by their crumbling aqueducts. Every trader they meet is a colourful and vibrant addition to the story, none less the missionary building a monastery with his own bare hands who offers to guide Cait and her army to the Holy Cup.
Even better, we also get the bad guy's perspective! De Bracineaux is given a distinct narrative voice full of bitterness and bile that his rank is not acknowledged as he sees fit. His demeanour makes enemies of everyone he comes across, yet the sharp edge of his dissatisfaction with his life keeps him oblivious to this. I enjoyed the hardened political mind he displayed, something jaded and ignoble borne from decades of witnessing atrocity after atrocity. He made a fascinating and somewhat compelling villain. I was also entranced by his psychotic travelling companion, the capriciously sinister Baron d'Anjou who could have been a fantastic major villain in his own right. It's a shame the book was packed so densely with great characters, I would have liked to have seen more of d'Anjou's motivations.
After they pick up their guide, Cait and friends' story quickly becomes dominated by the savage scenery of the winter Pyrinees. The relentless cold, wet discomfort of their trek was lavished upon the reader with skill. This is possibly the most evocative setting I have read of this author. When Alethea is stolen by bandits, the terrain quickly eats the soul and vigour out of Cait's narrative, leaving only the naked harshness of the landscape to the reader's delectation.
And then, from nowhere, Cait runs into a handsome Moorish prince who takes pity upon her party. What luck! As it turns out, Hassan Al-Nizar is a manipulative, duplicitous, and aggrieved host. He quickly seduces Cait with his Islamic philosophy and geometric art, all the charms of the knowledge most of Western Europe had lost by the 11th century. "What can be bought with wisdom's coin, that beauty does not already own?" Although I found Hassan an intriguing character, I was not convinced by how quickly Cait fell under his spell, or the rank hypocrisy of her falling for him after chastising Alethea for -horror of horrors- being seen outdoors with someone who looked like an infidel. So that's where the star gets docked. I just wasn't buying the love triange. #teamrognvald From here, Hassan's dishonesty about being unmarried and available is rather clumsily unmasked and his is very contrite. He is moved to help Cait find her sister through a concerningly close relationship with the bandits. I was pleased to see the major Muslim character in the novel redeemed, I think that the suddenly reversal in his motives left a lot of unanswered questions. Also, the bandit's stronghold in a bat-filth streaked cave made a very eloquent point about the degrading nature of a life based around only the pursuit of material things. At this point one of the minor characters from earlier in the book shows up and is killed by bandits. This was sad, and I appreciated the Islamic-Christian ritual melding in his burial scene, but I think the book suffered slightly from being stuffed with too many awesome characters to the point where I had forgotten about him by this point.
There is some dodgy trail following. I'm not particularly bothered with this stretching of reality, I am in favour of the plot moving swiftly rather than a detailed appraisal of the difficulty identifying horse tracks in rainy soil based on clay and the even greater difficulty of guessing how fast the horses were going. But still. Just putting it out there. By this point Cait's desperation to be united with her sister has been slightly lost in all the doe-eyes over Hassan, however I did enjoy her introspection and admission of her own greed and follow in her pursuit of the relic. It turns out Alethea has found her way to the convent hidden in the Spanish hills where the Holy Cup has been guarded. The presence of the Euskari here, a wonderfully mysterious depiction of the Basque Spanish as being somehow more alien than the Moors, added another slice of ancient diversity. Singing Gaelic hymns as well? Why not.
At 84% the Holy Cup finally appears, and I appreciated its depiction as a wooden vessel retrospectively gilded. It added humility and realism which I have not read in any Arthurian depictions of the Grail. Once the Cup is secured the Templars show up for a bloody final showdown in which Hassan's Moors and Rognvald's knights fight alongside each other for the single course of virtue. The ending, with meek Alethea finally freeing herself from her sister's restraints to stab the Templar and show her devotion to her sister, made a poignant ending. I would have liked to have seen more of Cait and Rognvald's final swoon, and whether Hassan could explain why there was a dead bishop in a church on his land, but I suppose that's not really what the story was about.
A lot to think about. The best prose yet as part of the series. More vivid and vital scenes than in any of the previous books and a hoard of great characters. Strongly recommend.
June 15, 2021
The third in a series rarely outshines it's predecessors. The Mystic Rose is a wonderfully written sweeping adventure ending in redemption. I have now read this series twice and, in time, I shall read it again!
August 14, 2014
This is the third and final book in the Celtic Crusade series. I thought it was a good book, overall. It had a nice flow to it; it introduced the reader to other cultures and experiences throughout Europe and parts of the Middle East. It also had some weird leaps and jumps in logic, but c'est la vie. I am not quite sure how much it took away from the story, but the ending was a nice twist.
This one starts out with Duncan and Cait in Constantinople attending the wedding of one of the Emperor's relatives. Duncan is taking his daughters on a trip where he is showing them all of the sites and cities he visited twentysome years previously when he visited the Holy Land.
I liked the ending, how the Moors and the Knights .
I also loved how Alesha came into her own and matured as a character through the course of the story. It truly was not just about Cait and Cait's journey from revenge to redemption; it was also about how Alesha heard the call of God on her life and heeded it. It was an interesting change in character for Alesha, as she was not a primary character so one did not really see it coming. But it was still nicely done. I also liked
It's funny, but the book reminded me of 'Wings of Dawn' by Sigmund Brouwer; both involved a man and a woman heading to the Holy Land and then returning home. Both bicker and argue and fall in love over the course of the novel. It was funny, but I kept applying elements of 'Wings of Dawn' to this novel as I read it [just like I did in reverse while reading 'Wings of Dawn']! lol It kept throwing me for a loop because I would expect one thing to happen and the book would go in a totally different direction. Good times!
I'm kinda glad the author didn't write a fourth book. I think it would have been good, on the one hand. He could have kept the series going by spacing them twenty years [or more] apart from each other. But I am very glad that he did not. This one was definitely a different animal than the previous two; perhaps because this one had the most character development for some of the characters as well as the villain miraculously knowing where and how to find the intrepid heroes. It was engaging and held my interest; I did finish it [again]. But it may be a while before I read this entire series again. I really enjoy the first book, but my level of enjoyment seems to decrease with each subsequent book.
This one starts out with Duncan and Cait in Constantinople attending the wedding of one of the Emperor's relatives. Duncan is taking his daughters on a trip where he is showing them all of the sites and cities he visited twentysome years previously when he visited the Holy Land.
I liked the ending, how the Moors and the Knights .
I also loved how Alesha came into her own and matured as a character through the course of the story. It truly was not just about Cait and Cait's journey from revenge to redemption; it was also about how Alesha heard the call of God on her life and heeded it. It was an interesting change in character for Alesha, as she was not a primary character so one did not really see it coming. But it was still nicely done. I also liked
It's funny, but the book reminded me of 'Wings of Dawn' by Sigmund Brouwer; both involved a man and a woman heading to the Holy Land and then returning home. Both bicker and argue and fall in love over the course of the novel. It was funny, but I kept applying elements of 'Wings of Dawn' to this novel as I read it [just like I did in reverse while reading 'Wings of Dawn']! lol It kept throwing me for a loop because I would expect one thing to happen and the book would go in a totally different direction. Good times!
I'm kinda glad the author didn't write a fourth book. I think it would have been good, on the one hand. He could have kept the series going by spacing them twenty years [or more] apart from each other. But I am very glad that he did not. This one was definitely a different animal than the previous two; perhaps because this one had the most character development for some of the characters as well as the villain miraculously knowing where and how to find the intrepid heroes. It was engaging and held my interest; I did finish it [again]. But it may be a while before I read this entire series again. I really enjoy the first book, but my level of enjoyment seems to decrease with each subsequent book.
March 29, 2024
A nice rose, but it could smell sweeter. (3 stars)
With “The Mystic Rose”, Stephen Lawhead’s Celtic Crusades trilogy ends as it began: good but not great. But perhaps that’s because I have been spoiled by his superb ability in some of his other books. Because this is still a decent historical adventure.
On this occasion the protagonist is Cait, daughter of Duncan and granddaughter of Murdo. After the murder of her father Duncan, Cait uncovers a secret letter with details about the mystic rose, the famed Holy Grail from Christ’s Last Supper. After stealing the letter and armed with a small band of knights, Cait undertakes her own quest to grab the cup for herself. But the ruthless Templar knight Renaud de Bracineaux is close on her heels, and has his own plans for the sacred relic. The holy treasure becomes the object of a race between the two, both with ambitions of selfish greed. The closing stages of the novel feature an unexpected and yet not unsatisfying resolution. The loose ends are finally tied together, including the long awaited connection with the story of Gordon Murray which frames the novel.
Having a heroic feminine protagonist with such determination seemed anachronistic, and it is debatable whether Lawhead was really able to create a female heroine with any degree of real success or conviction. Yet what I appreciated about Lawhead’s characterization is that Cait is a well-rounded character who develops, and that she needs to learn to overcome her lust for revenge, as well as her uncritical passion for a Moorish prince dubious in character.
The repentant Cait is eventually overwhelmed by the enormity of her crimes, and confesses: “I prayed to be God’s instrument of justice. I thought to use the Mystic Rose to lure my father’s killer to his doom. For that, I needed the Holy Chalice, and I came here to take it. You must think me a most brazen and contemptible sinner. The audacity of my deeds amazes even me.” (p414). Lawhead’s main character in this respect is a flawed and very real - just like ourselves - which makes his story all the more convincing and credible. The Holy Grail plays an important role in Cait’s change. As was the case in the other books of the trilogy, coming into contact with the sacred relic leads to visions and experiences of spiritual renewal, sipping from the cup resulting on this occasion in a vision of the Passover Feast.
But while the characterization is quite sound, the plot lacks the suspense and imagination of some of Lawhead’s other efforts, and the series as a whole lacks their intense passion and emotion. Like the rest of the series, “The Mystic Rose” is good, but not great. Here’s hoping that Lawhead will return to crafting the novels in the genre that gained him such great success: the brilliant, imaginative and passionate historical fantasy of “The Song of Albion” trilogy and “Pendragon” cycle.
If not for the brilliance of these other works, perhaps I would be speaking in much more glowing terms of “The Celtic Crusades”. But while this series doesn’t shine so bright when compared with Lawhead’s own work, perhaps it can hold its own against a great deal of other historical fiction today. If you’re a Lawhead fan, you’ll probably enjoy his other work better. But if you’re a historical adventure fan, you might well find “The Celtic Crusades” a rewarding read.
With “The Mystic Rose”, Stephen Lawhead’s Celtic Crusades trilogy ends as it began: good but not great. But perhaps that’s because I have been spoiled by his superb ability in some of his other books. Because this is still a decent historical adventure.
On this occasion the protagonist is Cait, daughter of Duncan and granddaughter of Murdo. After the murder of her father Duncan, Cait uncovers a secret letter with details about the mystic rose, the famed Holy Grail from Christ’s Last Supper. After stealing the letter and armed with a small band of knights, Cait undertakes her own quest to grab the cup for herself. But the ruthless Templar knight Renaud de Bracineaux is close on her heels, and has his own plans for the sacred relic. The holy treasure becomes the object of a race between the two, both with ambitions of selfish greed. The closing stages of the novel feature an unexpected and yet not unsatisfying resolution. The loose ends are finally tied together, including the long awaited connection with the story of Gordon Murray which frames the novel.
Having a heroic feminine protagonist with such determination seemed anachronistic, and it is debatable whether Lawhead was really able to create a female heroine with any degree of real success or conviction. Yet what I appreciated about Lawhead’s characterization is that Cait is a well-rounded character who develops, and that she needs to learn to overcome her lust for revenge, as well as her uncritical passion for a Moorish prince dubious in character.
The repentant Cait is eventually overwhelmed by the enormity of her crimes, and confesses: “I prayed to be God’s instrument of justice. I thought to use the Mystic Rose to lure my father’s killer to his doom. For that, I needed the Holy Chalice, and I came here to take it. You must think me a most brazen and contemptible sinner. The audacity of my deeds amazes even me.” (p414). Lawhead’s main character in this respect is a flawed and very real - just like ourselves - which makes his story all the more convincing and credible. The Holy Grail plays an important role in Cait’s change. As was the case in the other books of the trilogy, coming into contact with the sacred relic leads to visions and experiences of spiritual renewal, sipping from the cup resulting on this occasion in a vision of the Passover Feast.
But while the characterization is quite sound, the plot lacks the suspense and imagination of some of Lawhead’s other efforts, and the series as a whole lacks their intense passion and emotion. Like the rest of the series, “The Mystic Rose” is good, but not great. Here’s hoping that Lawhead will return to crafting the novels in the genre that gained him such great success: the brilliant, imaginative and passionate historical fantasy of “The Song of Albion” trilogy and “Pendragon” cycle.
If not for the brilliance of these other works, perhaps I would be speaking in much more glowing terms of “The Celtic Crusades”. But while this series doesn’t shine so bright when compared with Lawhead’s own work, perhaps it can hold its own against a great deal of other historical fiction today. If you’re a Lawhead fan, you’ll probably enjoy his other work better. But if you’re a historical adventure fan, you might well find “The Celtic Crusades” a rewarding read.
August 19, 2020
In a way this was the most difficult read of the 3 books
I have to admit that I have always had difficulty staying with a story where the protagonist does foolhardy things, despite warning after warning, and despite knowing better. Thisbis took me much longer to finish this book than it did the first two. I had to prepare to go back into following someone who was not just messing with her own life, but doing so with others.
The book starts out with Dincan takingnhis 2 daughters, one by his forst wife and one by Sydoni, the woman he met on his pilgrimage and with whom he fell in love. Sydoni stays behind. The family now owns 3 seagoing ships, 2 that were copies of the original Persephone from the 2nd book, and this is what they take. The Templar c9mmander has received a letter to pick up the Mystic Rose and take it to the Pope. The Temolars were mostly a haughty bunch, led by men who were legends in their own minds in far too many cases, & such is the case with this commander. Having dispatched his old foe who betrayed his alliance with the Fedayeento others, and who took the black rood home , his daughter tries to find a way to exact revenge despite promising her father she would not. While she has snealed into the room, she is confronted by Brother Andrew and asked to serve, and to forego revenge. She doesn't honor her promise to either man, and she bears the consequences despite numerous warnings along the way. Her sister is kidnapped by bandits, 5 of her escort die in the fight, her translator is also taken hostage, and the bandit's men die as well. They find the mystic rose, but the Templar from whose room she took the letter as Brother Andrew pointed it out to her. Only slightly ahead of the Templars because of the need to hire an escort of knights, equip them, provision the ship for the trip. They eventually maoe it to the locale of the Mystic Rose, but by accident. A battle ensues where the combined types of warfare of East and West work against the cruel Templars, allowing the protagonist to get away. It is winter, and they take the body of the bishop who wrote the letter, and who died trying to stop the potential slaughter of the entire village, packed innsnow andnice, back to his seat, to explain how the Templars, not the Moors, killed him and that the Moors won a battle, at great cost, that saved the town from the Templars. This way they hope to spare the townspeople and the Moors from revenge by the Templars, or anyone else.
This is the final book in the series. As with the other 2, a man in the early 20th century is the narrator and his narration ties into the adventures of the main story.
I have to admit that I have always had difficulty staying with a story where the protagonist does foolhardy things, despite warning after warning, and despite knowing better. Thisbis took me much longer to finish this book than it did the first two. I had to prepare to go back into following someone who was not just messing with her own life, but doing so with others.
The book starts out with Dincan takingnhis 2 daughters, one by his forst wife and one by Sydoni, the woman he met on his pilgrimage and with whom he fell in love. Sydoni stays behind. The family now owns 3 seagoing ships, 2 that were copies of the original Persephone from the 2nd book, and this is what they take. The Templar c9mmander has received a letter to pick up the Mystic Rose and take it to the Pope. The Temolars were mostly a haughty bunch, led by men who were legends in their own minds in far too many cases, & such is the case with this commander. Having dispatched his old foe who betrayed his alliance with the Fedayeento others, and who took the black rood home , his daughter tries to find a way to exact revenge despite promising her father she would not. While she has snealed into the room, she is confronted by Brother Andrew and asked to serve, and to forego revenge. She doesn't honor her promise to either man, and she bears the consequences despite numerous warnings along the way. Her sister is kidnapped by bandits, 5 of her escort die in the fight, her translator is also taken hostage, and the bandit's men die as well. They find the mystic rose, but the Templar from whose room she took the letter as Brother Andrew pointed it out to her. Only slightly ahead of the Templars because of the need to hire an escort of knights, equip them, provision the ship for the trip. They eventually maoe it to the locale of the Mystic Rose, but by accident. A battle ensues where the combined types of warfare of East and West work against the cruel Templars, allowing the protagonist to get away. It is winter, and they take the body of the bishop who wrote the letter, and who died trying to stop the potential slaughter of the entire village, packed innsnow andnice, back to his seat, to explain how the Templars, not the Moors, killed him and that the Moors won a battle, at great cost, that saved the town from the Templars. This way they hope to spare the townspeople and the Moors from revenge by the Templars, or anyone else.
This is the final book in the series. As with the other 2, a man in the early 20th century is the narrator and his narration ties into the adventures of the main story.
September 19, 2018
This is the last of the Celtic Crusades. It tells a complete story, while building on the books that come before. This book does tell the reader enough about what came before., except for the modern story, which has reached 1915 does benefit from having followed it in the previous books.
This book is a little different than the first two in that they were almost entirely action related on a adventure quests with token romance thrown in. There was little relationship building in the romances and the books relied more on adventure than character development. But in this book, there is serious character development, especially with Alethea and also Cait. As to romance ...?
I loved the very last line of the big battle.
I found it hard to like Cait. While being a strong, courageous and usually decisive woman, she is too impetuous and short tempered. She grows out of some of that. Rognvald is a quiet hero with integrity, but we don't see as much character development in him as in the women.
The Templar commander, Renaud, is a bad example of traditional Christianity. He is greedy, corrupt, cruel , sadistic and a murderer. This was not apparent in the second book until the end and then it was only ruthless corruption. The other Christians vary but are mostly helpful and charitable.
Like the earlier books, there is some mysticism including several visions which are intended to be viewed as real. One vision in particular is striking.
Other than establishing the setting in Spain/Portugal, there is little history in this one.
Mature themes: there is much killing and fighting. Renaud tortures an innocent with sadistic cruelty, continuing the torture even after the prisoner has given up the desired information.
This book is a little different than the first two in that they were almost entirely action related on a adventure quests with token romance thrown in. There was little relationship building in the romances and the books relied more on adventure than character development. But in this book, there is serious character development, especially with Alethea and also Cait. As to romance ...?
I loved the very last line of the big battle.
I found it hard to like Cait. While being a strong, courageous and usually decisive woman, she is too impetuous and short tempered. She grows out of some of that. Rognvald is a quiet hero with integrity, but we don't see as much character development in him as in the women.
The Templar commander, Renaud, is a bad example of traditional Christianity. He is greedy, corrupt, cruel , sadistic and a murderer. This was not apparent in the second book until the end and then it was only ruthless corruption. The other Christians vary but are mostly helpful and charitable.
Like the earlier books, there is some mysticism including several visions which are intended to be viewed as real. One vision in particular is striking.
Other than establishing the setting in Spain/Portugal, there is little history in this one.
Mature themes: there is much killing and fighting. Renaud tortures an innocent with sadistic cruelty, continuing the torture even after the prisoner has given up the desired information.
June 6, 2020
Of the trilogy, this has to be my favourite. The action leaves the dusty desert of the Middle East and moves to Spain, then still largely under the control of the Moors, but it still has it's contingent of knights, nuns, priests, lords and those naught Templers!
Catriona wants to avenge her father's death, but once again, just like other members of her family, she is called to a higher purpose - to find and rescue the Mystic Rose - or the Holy Grail of the last supper. Prideful and only focused on vengeance, the quest doesn't go to plan, with her Sister kidnapped and their guide killed.
Like the other two volumes, you do kind of get the feeling that events are seeking out the characters rather than the other way round, although Cath comes across a bit feistier and tougher than her ancestors, and does spend a bit more time 'doing' than reacting to what is going on around her. Only the weird interlude in Hasan's castle seemed off, as if the author wanted to fill out some pages and wasn't sure where to take the story.
The framing story also worked well and I'd love to find out more about these modern Cele De - although the whole 'you will live long and be there to see the coming glory' spiel at the end sort of ruined it for me. Not sure why - I suppose I just quite liked the idea of a continuous line of descendants keeping the relics secret, although with Catriona being one of the heroes, it was odd that they were all men!
Anyway, that niggle aside, a really good read that I thoroughly enjoyed, A brilliant trilogy.
Catriona wants to avenge her father's death, but once again, just like other members of her family, she is called to a higher purpose - to find and rescue the Mystic Rose - or the Holy Grail of the last supper. Prideful and only focused on vengeance, the quest doesn't go to plan, with her Sister kidnapped and their guide killed.
Like the other two volumes, you do kind of get the feeling that events are seeking out the characters rather than the other way round, although Cath comes across a bit feistier and tougher than her ancestors, and does spend a bit more time 'doing' than reacting to what is going on around her. Only the weird interlude in Hasan's castle seemed off, as if the author wanted to fill out some pages and wasn't sure where to take the story.
The framing story also worked well and I'd love to find out more about these modern Cele De - although the whole 'you will live long and be there to see the coming glory' spiel at the end sort of ruined it for me. Not sure why - I suppose I just quite liked the idea of a continuous line of descendants keeping the relics secret, although with Catriona being one of the heroes, it was odd that they were all men!
Anyway, that niggle aside, a really good read that I thoroughly enjoyed, A brilliant trilogy.
October 13, 2025
Another Lawhead classic! I was a bit concerened about a male author writing a female lead role but it was not distracting at all once the story commenced. Even more than as typical with Lawhead, there was enough shading of characters and switch the flow of the storylines in just the right spot to never be certain of who was hero, anti-hero, or villian.
The Mystic Rose follows the grandaughter of Murdo and daughter of Duncan on a quest throughout Western Europe for the Mystic Rose aka Holy Grail aka cup of the Last Supper. In my opinion, the pacing was less than The Iron Lance yet more than The Black Rood. I liked the change of venue so-to-speak, and is definately woven with subtle jabs and feints that are likely to be missed by those of an unchurched, or less traditional/more reformed background.
I was frustrated about a few questions left open ended at the end of the main story line. The final "modern" sequence felt quick and rushed. I went back and reread it to see I missed something. Obviously I had - becasue a few days later it clicked and most of my open questions were answered. [4/5]
The Mystic Rose follows the grandaughter of Murdo and daughter of Duncan on a quest throughout Western Europe for the Mystic Rose aka Holy Grail aka cup of the Last Supper. In my opinion, the pacing was less than The Iron Lance yet more than The Black Rood. I liked the change of venue so-to-speak, and is definately woven with subtle jabs and feints that are likely to be missed by those of an unchurched, or less traditional/more reformed background.
I was frustrated about a few questions left open ended at the end of the main story line. The final "modern" sequence felt quick and rushed. I went back and reread it to see I missed something. Obviously I had - becasue a few days later it clicked and most of my open questions were answered. [4/5]
January 18, 2021
Nach "Der Sohn des Kreuzfahrers" und "Der Gast des Kalifen" ist "Die Tochter des Pilgers" der dritte Teil der Trilogie von Stephen Lawhead. Ich mag den Schreibstil von Lawhead und kann ihn wirklich empfehlen. In diesem Buch ist mit Caitrona, genannt Cait, nun die dritte Generation der Familie im Blick, nachdem im ersten Band ihr Großvater und im zweiten ihr Vater die Hauptrollen gespielt haben. Ihre Schwester fand ich als Charakter etwas nervig. Und was ich bis jetzt nicht verstanden habe, ist der Sinn und Zweck der Rahmenhandlung, die Ende des 19ten/ Anfang des 20ten Jahrhunderts spielt. Mir ist klar, der Mann der sie erzählt ist wohl ein Nachfahre, der die Geschichte seiner Familie entdeckt, aber wirklich etwas zu den Büchern beitragen tun die Kapitel eigentlich nicht und wären aus meiner Sicht verzichtbar gewesen.
October 6, 2018
The third descendent of Murdo of Caithness, Catonia unexpectanrly finds herself on a pilgrimage of her own. She knows the stories of her grandfather and father, but didn't think she woukd be on one, until her father is unexpectedly murdered, and what began as a quest for vengeance becomes a holy quest for the Mystic Rose. A fast paced and riveting adventure, I think I enjoyed this book the most out of the trilogy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2018
I enjoyed reading this whole series at the suggestion of a friend. I’m not usually into this genre but I grew to enjoy this series as each book was better than the last. Great characters! Great exposure to different cultures! Plus a history lesson. I’m sure my friend will suggest more by this author.
December 27, 2021
Once again, an enjoyable read that doesn’t live up to the intensity of the first book, The Iron Lance.
My review of this book is essentially the same as my review of The Black Rood, just switch out the name Duncan for Cait. Though, this narrative was not in the first person perspective, the story was very focused which was a good thing!
My review of this book is essentially the same as my review of The Black Rood, just switch out the name Duncan for Cait. Though, this narrative was not in the first person perspective, the story was very focused which was a good thing!
October 31, 2022
This installment of the Celtic Crusades sees an exciting race to find the cup from the last supper and keep it safe. From a church in Constantinople to the hills of Spain and Santiago de Campostella, the book keeps the reader wanting to see what happens next. Lawhead draws from the Crusades, mysticism and Templar intrigue to weave a good story. Worth reading all three of the series.
October 3, 2018
3.5 stars. This whole series was quite a let down for me, however, this book was probably the most enjoyable of the three. As frustrating as it was, I enjoyed the build-up to a potential relationship between Cait and Rognvald, and I enjoyed learning about historical events in a fiction sense.
October 23, 2018
7/10
A satisfying conclusion to the Celtic Crusades trilogy, this pulls you into the past and immerses you through an engaging heroine and plot.
Quote:
"The future is written in sand, not stone."
A satisfying conclusion to the Celtic Crusades trilogy, this pulls you into the past and immerses you through an engaging heroine and plot.
Quote:
"The future is written in sand, not stone."
January 7, 2020
Outstanding
All the pieces of the times of the Templars and Moors are drawn together into one mesmerising whole. Battles, mysticism and very early religious orders create a world worth entering but difficult to live in.
All the pieces of the times of the Templars and Moors are drawn together into one mesmerising whole. Battles, mysticism and very early religious orders create a world worth entering but difficult to live in.
January 10, 2018
My favourite book of the trilogy.
May 20, 2020
Liked it, but it did get a little to religious sounding toward to end.
July 26, 2020
A great final book to an epic saga. Worthy of being read.
October 24, 2021
The last book in this series, very good as well.
June 9, 2022
Excellent end to a fantastic series.
December 15, 2023
a great read
I have enjoyed this series but in some places found the detail not necessary for the story but from a scene setting perspective the descriptions are fabulous.
I have enjoyed this series but in some places found the detail not necessary for the story but from a scene setting perspective the descriptions are fabulous.
July 8, 2024
I loved getting lost in the world
December 3, 2021
This was not my most favorite of this series. I was disappointed. Had hoped for Lawhead to pull this out of my perceived nose dive of a series.
February 14, 2025
4 Stars
The Mystic Rose is the third and final book in The Celtic Crusades Series by Stephen R. Lawhead.
This is an engrossing historical adventure with plenty of action and intriguing developments that will keep you flipping the pages to find out how everything plays out in the end.
Well worth the read.
My full review is still to come.
The Mystic Rose is the third and final book in The Celtic Crusades Series by Stephen R. Lawhead.
This is an engrossing historical adventure with plenty of action and intriguing developments that will keep you flipping the pages to find out how everything plays out in the end.
Well worth the read.
My full review is still to come.
September 10, 2011
A most satisfying conclusion to this stunning trilogy by gifted author Lawhead.The responsibilty for the grail is passed down to the grandaughter of Murdo, the original pilgrim and guardian. Although there isn't as much action as there was in the previous two segments, this final installment nonetheless is simply page turning. Some wonderful characters (especially Cait, and the Nordic contingent), ensure that speculation and twists in the plot are never far away. The more up to date segments imply that this will indeed be the final installment-which is a pity, as the author dealt with his themes with tact and knowledge-the love interests were also wwll handled, and this gave an additional slant to the novel which has been hitherto lacking. All told,I don't think Lawhead could have written a better or more satisfying conclusion-and it's not too often I find myself feeling that way at the conclusion of a long and complex series.
March 26, 2020
Concluding the "Celtic Crusades" trilogy - this book kind of had to be a grail quest really! Better than the second book, Lawhead recovers his sense of storytelling, but still I think the first of the series was the best. Lawhead writes action sequences very well, but the journeying I found a little too long winded.
In this story Cait, daughter of Duncan, son of Murdo Ranulfson, witnesses the murder of her father at the hands of a Knight Templer. She promises not to avenge him, but does not keep her vow - but before she can kill her father's murderer, she discovers an important document and steals it. This then sets in train a grail quest across medieval Europe.
I suppose it was inevitable that we had to have a grail quest.
In this story Cait, daughter of Duncan, son of Murdo Ranulfson, witnesses the murder of her father at the hands of a Knight Templer. She promises not to avenge him, but does not keep her vow - but before she can kill her father's murderer, she discovers an important document and steals it. This then sets in train a grail quest across medieval Europe.
I suppose it was inevitable that we had to have a grail quest.
April 14, 2007
In this last installment we find Caitriona, the granddaughter of Murdo and the daughter of Duncan, embarking on what will be the final relic collected by this family. The "mystic rose" is another name for the Holy Grail, as those of you who've read the Davinci Code probably already know. Lawhead brings this adventurous trilogy to a fine conclusion and if you've made it through the previous two books, this is a must read.
August 6, 2014
This book had great character arcs and a strong villain. While I didn't enjoy it as much as the previous book, it was still a good finish for the series. Lawhead knows how to write, and there were several very poignant scenes in the book that are able to create very clear images in your head about what's going on. Like with the other books, I feel like it exalts "Christian artifacts" too much, however, barring that, it was an otherwise good read.
3.5-4 stars. (Very Good)
3.5-4 stars. (Very Good)
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