The Iron Lance

Rating: 2* of five

The Publisher Says: In the year 1095, Pope Urban II declared war on the infidel. Kings, princes, and lords throughout Europe have joined the Crusade. To Murdo Ranulfson has fallen the duty of guarding his family's interests while his father and brothers fight to win Jerusalem. But when corrupt clergy prove enemies rather than protectors, Murdo must leave his native Scotland in search of his father.

In the company of monks and warriors, he journeys far beyond the rolling fields of home, beyond the fabled Constantinople and the brooding walls of Antioch, to the Holy Land and the sword points of the Saracens. There, where blood, suffering, and human evil at its most horrifying are shot through with rays of the miraculous, show more he obtains the relic that will guide his life and the lives of his descendants for centuries. And there he grows from a callow youth to a man, trading cynicism for faith and selfishness for the heart of a leader.

Steeped in heroism, treachery, and the clamor of battle, The Iron Lance begins a remarkable, masterfully woven epic trilogy of a Scottish noble family fighting for its existence and its faith during the age of the Great Crusades -- and of a secret society that will shape history for a thousand years.

My Review: There was a time when I tried, and tried hard, to be a christian. Something alluring about feeling sure you're protected by a bid daddy who loves you. But the problem for me is, I have this logical outlook on life and I need stuff to make sense, to follow the rules of storytelling. This religion don't do none o' that, and plus it's riddled with exclusionary language, "moral" justifications for rotten stuff like slavery and incest, and so on and so forth.

Horrible.

This novel is a holdover possession from that period of my life. It's competently written, it's about a period of history I find enthralling, and I hated every single eyeblink I spent on it. There's persuasion and then there's bludgeoning. This is the latter. Had I paid the slightest attention, I would have noticed that the book was published by Zondervan...a christian publishing house. A foolish error on my part.

This review is my reminder to myself: Openness to change is good, but don't get carried away. Borrow from the library. That way the crap that offends you can go back with no damage to your pocketbook. show less

The Iron Lance is classic Stephen Lawhead. A mix of well researched history and some bare faced fiction. It would be quite wrong to think the medieval world was just as he describes it, but he describes it so well and with such an attention to detail that people might be mistaken for sometimes doing just that.

This book is the first in a trilogy which itself relies on some plot elements set up in the book "Patrick: Son of Ireland". In this story, Murdo Ranulfson's brothers go to fight in the crusade to free the Holy Land, leaving him (the youngest son) to tend the estates with his mother. However political shifts and a scheming bishop leave him dispossessed and the lad finds himself with no option but to travel to the Holy Land to bring show more back his father.

But on the way he meets some monks from a curious celtic order - the Cele De. These monks are on a mission from God to bring back the Iron Lance that was used to pierce the side of the crucified Jesus.

The tensions in this book are deliciously drawn, and Lawhead is very good at the writing of action scenes. This leads to a wonderful story with a great conclusion in a convincing historical setting. show less

Part Conspiracy, part History, and part Fantasy, The Iron Lance is the first book in Lawhead's Celtic Crusades series, depicting the Crusades through the eyes of a Celtic family (surprise!).

Before reading this novel, my only experience with Lawhead was a heavy-handed Christian science fiction novel. Lawhead is much less heavy-handed with the message, though his work is clearly Christian-inspired.

The story is about a young boy whose elder male relatives head off to fight the Holy War. He's left behind with his mother and the servants. Upon returning one day from a holiday feast at a friend of the family's, his mother and he return to find their homestead pillaged.

This, and a vision of St. Peter leads him to join the Crusades, as well as show more to search for the Holy Lance.

The story is well written, featuring detailed characters and events. Lawhead has definitely learned a more subtle approach to writing, as I didn't feel particularly bashed over the head by this one.

You may enjoy it if you like historical fiction, historical fantasy, or Crusades-related fiction. show less

Although I enjoyed the story greatly, and I really liked most of the characters, I found parts of this were slightly dull. I've read various Lawhead books and enjoyed them all to an extent. I did enjoy this and I especially like the monk, Emlyn, though, I was expecting a bit more. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it enough to continue with the next one.

I started this book on a flight from Florida to Michigan and had 3/4 of it completed when I arrived at my destination and than I stayed up the first night late just to finnish it. I think that sums it up. I ran out and had to pre-order book two. Great pacing and story. I will probably reread this one again.

this was excellent!! made me cry for God’s forgiveness for what has been done in the name of Christianity. Gripping.

I was really impressed with this tale! It was deeply engaging, from start to finish, and the historical portions were so compelling that it made me want to read more on the Crusades.