If you just can’t get enough of that Da Vinci Code stuff, then Brethren will keep you up at night, turning pages and wondering what will happen next. A big, splashy debut novel from author Robin Young, this epic adventure tells the story of the Knights Templar, and a few in particular, living amidst a time of religious upheaval and political turmoil. And it does so with powerful and descriptive writing with plenty of style.
The first part of a trilogy, this novel tells the tale of young Will Campbell, who is training to be a knight of the famous order of the Templars. He becomes involved in a world of intrigue and danger when he is asked to retrieve a very special book that is more than it seems on the surface. This book holds an explosive secret, and Will could die if he is found holding it in his possession.
As a backdrop to Will’s adventure and his shaky romantic attempts with a lovely gal named Elwin, we get a full-blown story of an Egyptian commander named Baybars who now controls Egypt and Syria, and who is campaigning for a Holy War against the Christians - you know, the Crusades. The two storylines intertwine to make Brethren a breathtakingly fast-paced novel that you won’t be able to put down. As the Muslim and Christian empires clash and prepare for all out warfare, the author deftly describes the scenes of sultans and priests, knights and assassins, and all sorts of characters with such knowledge. You would think Young lived during the times she seems to grasp so well.
Brethren is an exciting read that stands alone as a single novel but also entices you enough to want to read the next installment in the trilogy. It is both an historical period drama and a thrilling suspense novel all rolled into one.