Tuesday, September 01, 2009

A Book in Review: The Youngest Templar : Trail of Fate

The Youngest Templar : Trail of Fate (book 2) By Michael P. Spradlin
fiction: young adult adventure, history 222 pages
Book Count: 55

Note: this book is due out in October of this year. This report is based of the reading of an advance galleys of the book.

This is the second book in a series on a young Templar squire. To read our review of book one in the series, click here. This book picks up right where the first book stops. Tristan is shipwrecked in a storm and he ends up on the coast of France, still with the Holy Grail and still with the powerful knight, Sir Hugh chasing him. Luckily his friends Robard, Maryam and the dog also make it to France. In France they meet a group of Cathars, a heretical sect. Tristan falls in love with the leader of the group and his two friends also show that they like each other in the book. They work to help the Cathar group as well as protecting the Grail. We also get more hints on who Tristan really is and more Robin Hood likeness coming from Robard. Overall I really enjoyed the book, and can't wait for book three to be out (in part due to a cliff hanger ending). I almost wish that it followed the trend in young adult fiction and was 600 pages long instead of making me wait! As I am gearing up for the holiday special starting next month I will add that this would be a good gift for a kid that likes history or adventure tales with at least a 5th grade reading level. The main character is about 15 - 16, but the storyline, and writing style could be appropriate for a much younger reader.

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