Knight in Shining Armor

       I am a major sucker for a man who can wield a sword. Something about the way they move just captivates me. So obviously, I had to read The Youngest Templar by Michael P. Spradlin. Templars are pretty much Knights who fight to defend, not kill. This particular series takes place during the reign of King Richard. It all starts with a young orphan boy named Tristan who has no clue to his origins. He is “drafted” by a knight, named Sir Thomas Leux, as his squire. This three book series is all about his journey with Sir Thomas into the Holy Lands to fight in the crusades. But Sir Thomas has a secret; he carries with him a holy relic that is only known to Tristan as a myth. When the regiments of Templars become trapped in Outremer, Sir Thomas entrusts this relic to Tristan and sends him, through a secret tunnel, on his way to deliver it to a priest in Scotland. Sir Thomas also warns Tristan that an evil man named Sir Hugh is after the relic and will do anything to get his hands on it. Along his journey he meets one of the Kings’ archers, Robard Hode, who saves Tristan from a group of bandits. While traveling with Robard, Al Hashshashin* attacks them in the night. Robard wounds one and the rest get away. Tristan treats the wounded assassin and they figure out it is a girl. They quickly become friends. Robard, the wounded girl and Tristan set out for Scotland. Tristan does not tell either of his companions his true reason for going to Scotland. Dangers are around every corner and with the dangers lie secrets, truths, and Sir Hugh.

       I thought this series was just fantastic. The way Michael ended each book, like he was trying to guarantee that I would come back for the next book, was just nerve racking. All I wanted was to find out what happens and then he pulls the “oh I am going to wait to release the next book just so I can annoy people” ploy. Man, I just hate it when authors do that. I recommend this series to the adventurous at heart and the history freaks. That includes myself.

*Al Hashshashin- Holy Killers of Islam, or assassins for Saladin.

I give this series 5 swords out of 5

Vampire Fad

       Vampires are everywhere lately, whether it’s a book, movie, or TV show. I am a victim of this fad, seeing as my favorite TV show is The Vampire Diaries. But enough with that, this is a book blog and I am to write a review on the books I read. So, here goes nothing.

       Last week, I read the book Slayed by Amanda Marrone. I have always been fascinated with Van Helsing*-related books, even though I don’t really know anything about him. So when I read Slayed, I got to know a few of his ancestors. Particularly the young Daphne Van Helsing, a teenage vampire slayer who wants to be anything but. Amanda made Daphne’s life seem realistic in the sense that vampires are not something you want to snuggle with while watching a Gilmore Girls marathon. Daphne spent her life being homeschooled and always on the road. She never had a place to call home because her parents were so dedicated to the hunt. She never ever had a friend or talked to boys. Her life was restricted to hunting vampires, and getting paid for doing it. Everything changes when her parents take her to Maine for a job. She meets Kiki and her life starts to look up. Until an evil she never imagined, arises from the depths of hell.

       This book is full of interesting new twists on vampire lore. Plus, for all those who love a good forbidden romance, we have the hottie, Tyler Harker, the son of a rival vampire slaying family who come to Maine for the same reason that her family did. To slay the creatures of the night and protect the poor towns people they prey on. This book is full of action, romance, and MAGIC!

 

I give this book four and a half stakes out of 5

*Van Helsing- the famous doctor/vampire hunter who killed Count Dracula.