2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss The Templar Legacy, the first book in the Cotton Malone series by Steve Berry.

Pages: 511 pages

Length: 1 month (November)

Participants: Lorraine, Kristy, Beth

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Starting tomorrow!

I’ve finished Parts 1 and 2 of the book, and I have to say I was hooked from the first chapter—a rare experience for me these days, as I read so much! I really like the main character, Cotton Malone, and the insights into Templar society are fascinating. I’m curious to see if this series will interest you enough to continue (though I'm unsure about the science angle myself, with a bit over 50% left to read). But no worries if it doesn’t—it won’t be a problem either way!

Whoops! I didn't see the new threads yet and should have looked earlier. I'm still adjusting to finding my notifications in the app. LOL. I miss my emails. I'll figure it out eventually. I'll try to start later today. Sorry i'm behind.

They made many changes. No more emails. And you have to indicate you want to be notify…so I also missed a few notifications last month…

I'm at Ch. 35 so just after the beginning of Part 3. I'm really enjoying the short chapters in this one. Make me feel like I'm moving right along. I really enjoy the Malone character. He has a good complexity to him. Heroic but with flaws.

Even without the science I enjoy the historical/religious history aspects of this. I had read the second book in the series back when it published in 2007 not knowing that it was a series. so that's why it was on my list.

Have you read any Kate Mosse books? I've read her Joubert family series (except for the most recent one). It's a generational family saga that follows a Huguenot family in France. I've also read parts of another series by her that takes place in a similar setting that I haven't finished.

Kristy wrote: "I'm at Ch. 35 so just after the beginning of Part 3. I'm really enjoying the short chapters in this one. Make me feel like I'm moving right along. I really enjoy the Malone character. He has a good..."

The Joubert Family series looks really intriguing! My libraries don’t have the e-book versions, but they do have the paperbacks—except for the latest one, which I think is just now being released. I’m definitely adding it to my TBR list.

(view spoiler)[ I find the religious aspect a bit heavy-handed, but like you, I enjoy the short chapters; they make for a quick read. I’m curious to see if The Master had guessed what will happen at the end...Almost at part 5 (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[I just reached the part where it's revealed that the Seneschal is Mark. I didn't see that coming! (hide spoiler)]

Oh and The Master seemed to see a lot of things coming, so that wouldn't surprise me.

Oui! It looks like he planned a lot of things…does this mean we should not trust anything?

Kristy wrote: "[spoilers removed]"
Me neither!

I should be able to start this one early next week.

I wound up starting this yesterday because it was the only book on my Nov TBR that I have as an audiobook and I had some driving to do. :) Wow, that prologue was intense, wasn't it?

Beth wrote: "I should be able to start this one early next week.

I wound up starting this yesterday because it was the only book on my Nov TBR that I have as an audiobook and I had some driving to do. :) Wow, ..."

I found the beginning quite intense too—it probably hooked me right away! Haha! (view spoiler)[I finished The Templar Legacy a few days ago, and while all the historical details about the writing of the gospels, the events surrounding Jesus's death and crucifixion, and questions of belief felt a bit heavy at times, I still enjoyed the story and would definitely like to read the second one. I can see how readers who love historical novels mixed with action would find it especially compelling. (hide spoiler)]

Just finished this morning. I really enjoyed it. It had a great mix of action, history and a compelling if flawed main character. I have no memory of the second book except a note that I liked it, so I would like to continue the series. I know this was one of the series that started after the popularity of the Da Vinci Code exploded. Still ongoing with book 19 scheduled to release in February.

(view spoiler)[This one was definitely religious history heavy. I enjoyed the author's note at the end about what was fictional and what was previously noted. (hide spoiler)]

Let's do number 2 then! Let's wait to see if Beth wants to join us for number 2 and I will let SarahKat know who is joining and to continue the series.

Lorraine wrote: "Let's do number 2 then! Let's wait to see if Beth wants to join us for number 2 and I will let SarahKat know who is joining and to continue the series."

Sounds good!

Finished today.

I enjoyed the ending a lot. The story dragged a bit here and there, but the author had a lot of background to set up, so I understand why it did.

Cotton is a great character, and the relationship between him and Stephanie was believable and has lots of room for future adventures. I'll be interested to see how much Cassiopeia figures into future books as well.

I'm in for book 2 next month, so I posted it in the thread.

Thanks Beth! Really look forward to book 2!

Beth wrote: "Finished today.

I enjoyed the ending a lot. The story dragged a bit here and there, but the author had a lot of background to set up, so I understand why it did.

Cotton is a great character, an..."

Thanks Beth! Glad you enjoyed it too.