The Black Rood

Second in the "Celtic Crusades" trilogy - but this trilogy also follows on from [Patrick: Son of Ireland] in some ways. The book is Lawhead's usual mix of well researched history and a good dose of fiction filling in the gaps.

Duncan, son of Murdo: Lord of Caithness, sets out on pilgrimage to the Holy Land following the death of his wife in childbirth of their second child. He vows to find and bring home the Black Rood - the true cross of Christ. This book recapitulates much of the former book (The Iron Lance). We have the journey to the Holy Land, broadening of horizons, disillusionment, capture, escape and a little bit of treasure hunting on the side. However the first book was better than this one as it had a more human conflict that show more had to be resolved also in the form of the greedy bishop of Orkneyjar. This book lacked that tension. show less

Delivering lots of action and adventure, The Black Rood is the 2nd book in Stephen Lawhead’s Celtic Crusades trilogy.

Starting in 1132 on the Orkney Islands, this book is narrated by Duncan, the son of Murdo, who was the main character of the first book. Duncan learns some of his father’s story and decides to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Lands. He swears that he will recover a pieces of the holy cross, called the black rood, and bring the relic back to the Orkneys to rest with the Lance of Christ that his father brought home. With a small band of companions he sets off on his quest.

The author includes a lot of information about the different peoples and religions that existed in the Middle East at that time. I also found the early show more parts of the book, the actual traveling through Europe to Marseilles to take ship to the Holy Land very interesting. A well-researched yet still lively read, that both informs and entertains. I look forward to the final volume in the trilogy. show less

Read it, liked it. Finally learned what the word "rood" meant. I'll get the last one. I figure the last should likely be about the Grail. It's a weird three level story though. We have our hero who is living the current story, who is also writing an account of his adventures to date, and then there is a 20th century attorney who is reading the entire completed chronicle, nine hundred years later.

Although I enjoy the topic this series are about as I love reading about history, I didn't find this one to be all that engaging. I felt aspects of it dragged on too much, and the most enjoyable parts for me were the parts about Gordon, rather than Duncan. I am still looking forward to reading the third installment, and I adore Lawhead, but I am unfortunately not enjoying this trilogy as much as I'd like to.

Not as good as the first, that hooked me to the Author and to this story.
Over all a good book and does what most second books do in a series, sets up a third book.
It has a beginning and end but the story is longer and lingers much more then the first book.

Almost couldn't finish this one. Lawhead writes action scenes very well, unfortunately this book is almost entirely lacking in action. Chapter after chapter is spent waiting for something, anything, to happen. It will be a long time before I attempt reading the third book in this trilogy.

These books are completely engaging and also a wonderful addition to anyone's bookshelf who enjoys medieval times.