Crusade of Fire
Mystical Tales of the Knights Templar
Edited by Katherine Kurtz  

      Katherine Kurtz, author of the classic and bestselling Deryni series, has brought together some of the genre’s best to weave tales of the Knights Templar. These eight tales cover almost a millennium in time, and speculate on some areas of history where all the facts are not known.

      Ms. Kurtz opens this anthology with an introduction that details some of the known history of the Order of the Knights of the Temple. She follows this with her own contribution to the collection, White Knights. This story tells how the Knights might have some into being.

      Seven "interludes" follow, each preceding another story that covers a different area of Templar history. These interludes are important reading, as they detail some of the background history that adds to the enjoyment of the story. The stories themselves vary in content and style, covering the span of time from the founding of the Order to the present. Though the Order was dissolved in 1307, rumors persist even now about the existence of these fabled Knights.

      Harvest of Souls speculates on Saladin’s surrender of Acre to Richard III. In the Presence of Mine Enemies is a dark tale of antisemitism and how one Templar knight rescued a Jewish woman. The Last Voyage tells of the vanishing of the entire Templar fleet in 1307.

      Bones of Contention explores the legend that the Knights aided Robert the Bruce in his conquest of Stirling Castle and winning Scotland’s freedom. Occam’s Treasure is a fascinating murder mystery, while Stella Maris tells of time travel and intrigue in the Templar order. Sleeping Kings is a mystery like no other.

      If you like knights in armor, you will thoroughly enjoy Crusade of Fire. I did, and I look forward to more of these tales.