Today is my stop on the blog tour for Crusade by Richard Cullen!

Here’s the blurb.

Continuing the epic historical adventure series from Richard Cullen, featuring The Black Lion…

Stripped of his birthright, Estienne Wace seeks to prove his worth in the deserts of Outremer!

Egypt 1219AD.

Abandoning the safety of England for the perilous shores of the Levant, Estienne Wace is thrust into the turmoil of the Fifth Crusade. Burning with righteous purpose, he is determined to reclaim the Holy Land in the name of Christ.

War rages along the banks of the Nile as a crusading army besieges the Saracen city of Damietta, certain that the price they pay in blood will return the glory and treasures they crave. But as the Black Lion roars, and the siege grinds on, Estienne’s unwavering faith is tested more and more by the grim reality of this brutal conflict.

As the siege turns on a knife edge, Estienne finds himself thrust upon a journey across the merciless desert. Stripped of everything, and forced into a dangerous alliance, he will grapple with the true meaning of faith, honour, and the price of salvation, in a land where nothing is as he once believed.

Perfect for the fans of Bernard Cornwell, Ben Kane and Conn Iggulden.

Review

We’ve come a long way with Estienne but he’s still trying to find his place in life.

Estienne sets out to show his worth and joins the Fifth Crusade.

War rages and the battles are bloody and brutal but something within Estienne changes. As time progresses and more blood is spilt on both sides, Estienne see’s the true cost of war.

When he first sets out for the cause he was certain it was right and just.. but as he meets the people that many would call enemy he starts to see them in a different light.

Its very much an internal struggle for Estienne.. he sees bad where he should see the righteous.. and good where he thought there was only evil.

Plot wise I loved it, the battles are detailed and exciting but it’s balanced perfectly with the development of Estienne when things don’t go to plan.  There’s a lot that happens to Estienne, but the pace never felt rushed and the character arc never forced.

While Estienne is a massive part of the story what I really felt the author did well was bringing in new characters who you instantly took a shine too. Kashta for example, a fierce warrior..Amalric a loyal companion.. these two especially stood out as being pivotal to the plot and Estienne’s development as his faith is shaking to the core.

For the hardcore fans of battle there’s plenty of blood shed but what I really loved was the emotion added, it’s not just a battle for the sake of it.. there’s real purpose to each thrust and I could easily read this book again and again!

I don’t think I’ve ever read something so perfectly balanced with plot & character development.. I mean..how.. there’s just no way you can improve.

Easy 5*

My thanks go to the author, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for having me on the tour

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/CrusadeRichardCullen

Why not follow the tour?

Author Bio –

Richard Cullen is a writer of historical adventure and epic fantasy. Previously published by Head of Zeus and Orbit Books, his new historical adventure series for Boldwood, Chronicles of the Black Lion, set in thirteenth-century England, will launched in October 2024.

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