THE MYSTIC ROSE by Stephen Lawhead

THE MYSTIC ROSE by Stephen Lawhead
The Celtic Crusades Book III
Voyager (Harper Collins) - 2001
ISBN: 0002246678 - Hardcover
Fantasy

Reviewed by Rachel Hyde, MyShelf.com
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The story that began with Murdo and continued with his son Duncan now concludes with his daughters Catriona and Alethea who are searching for the Holy Grail, along with the villainous Renaud de Bracineaux with his band of Templars. From the glittering courts of Byzantium where Cait witnesses a terrible personal tragedy to Moorish Spain the race is on for the holy prize. Cait must hire knights to guard her and locals to guide her and will suffer many hardships and have adventures along the way involving a secret village, a Moorish prince and his mysterious castle and the Grail itself.

Although this novel is listed as fantasy it is basically a historical novel with a religious theme. Even if you are not a Christian or have no religion at all you can’t resist getting hooked on this thrilling adventure from the first page. Lawhead has a great storyteller style that draws the reader in and holds them; this is not a short book but it is a quick read and flies along at the speed of an Arab thoroughbred. Exotic, mysterious, exciting and well researched it is a worthy addition to that sadly underrepresented sub genre of the historical novel – adventure. To its detriment just like its two predecessors the story stops once in a while with the not very interesting and only loosely connected narrative told by an early 20th century member of the secret order the protagonists belong to. Rather than adding to the story’s undeniable enjoyment it seems more as though the thrilling TV programme has stopped for the adverts. This minor gripe aside I can’t wait for Lawhead’s next foray into historical adventure. I recommend this one.