Robyn Young Brethren

Brethren (The first book in the Brethren series) (2006) "Brethren" is a fabulously rich and exciting novel set on the eve of the last Crusade, at the end of the thirteenth century. The narrative follows Will Campbell as he grows from boy to man, from Sergeant to Knight in the supremely powerful organization of the Knights Templar. Far away, in the Holy Land, we also see the unstoppable rise to power of Baybars, the great general and ultimately Sultan of the forces ranged against the Crusaders. This is a stirring novel of battle and courage, but more, it is also a compelling story of mystery and intrigue: when a notebook goes missing in Paris, Will is drawn into a struggle for control of the Templars - and with it the very course of history. A secret society within the Knights is pitched against the Kings of England and France - not to mention the Saracen armies in the desert heat of Palestine - and discovery will spell disaster. Crusade (The second book in the Brethren series) (2007) The second volume in Robyn Young's internationally bestselling Brethren trilogy, this is gripping historical fiction that reads like tomorrow's headlines--portraying a rising tide of political pressures that led East and West to war in the thirteenth century. The year is 1274, and, after years of bloodshed, peace reigns in the Middle East, in part due to the efforts of a mysterious group known as the Brethren. However, one of their number, Will Campbell, suspects that the Brethren have been betrayed. Their enemies are numerous and powerful: A cabal of ruthless Western merchants aims to reignite war in the Holy Land, in the hope that they can turn a profit--by means of a plan so scandalous that should they succeed the entire Muslim world will rise against the Christians in retaliation. Prince Edward--once a trusted member of the Brethren--has made a promise to the pope: He will take the Cross to Jerusalem and lead a new Crusade. War has come. Meanwhile, in Egypt, Sultan Baybars is caught in a power struggle. His eldest son, and heir to the kingdom, has become involved in the dangerous designs of the insidious soothsayer, Khadir. While Baybars wants to take on the mighty Mongol empire, Khadir and others in the sultan's court want to destroy the Christians once and for all. As the sultan's son schemes against his own family, old scars of the Crusades are quickly uncovered and new wounds appear. To survive the escalating conflict and protect his family, Will must harness all his knowledge and courage. In a world of reckless greed and violence, Campbell may become the people's last hope for peace. Requiem (The Fall of the Templars) (The third book in the Brethren series) (2008) 1295 AD. The Christian empire in the Holy Land lies in ruins. Returning to Paris, Templar Knight Will Campbell is at a crossroads. He has sworn to uphold the principles of the Anima Templi, a secret brotherhood within the Order whose aim is peace - but peace seems ever more impossible. The Temple has forged an alliance with Will's enemy, King Edward of England, vowing to help him wage war on Scotland. This pact against his homeland strikes at the core of Will's faith and allegiances, while his growing estrangement from his daughter, Rose, leads her into a dangerous affair. Will now faces a bitter choice: to stay with the Temple and fight another war he doesn't believe in, or to break his vows and forge his own path to peace - even if that too means fighting - for the Scots. Soon caught up in bloody conflict, Will is unaware that an even more ominous threat is rising, for there is a warrior king on the throne of France whose desire for supremacy knows no bounds and who will stop at nothing to fulfil his twisted ambitions. The fight for the Holy Land has ended. The Temple's last battle has just begun.