ALAMUT

It's well written, not cliched. It shows the Arabs to be just as human as the European crusaders...and more civilized and advanced, as they were during those times.

Judith Tarr is the queen of historical fantasy! Magical creatures and the mundane world blend seamlessly in this novel set in the time of the Crusades: occasional appearances are made by kings, warriors, and even Saladin himself! One can almost believe that the world was once like this, and that we are unimaginably diminished by the loss of the magic and wonder that once was a part of everyday life. This novel has mystery, romance, adventure, and some of the most fascinating and memorable characters in all fiction. I've read this book over twenty times, never tiring of it, and loving it each time more than the last