Religion

Suspend just a bit of disbelief about the "over the top" hero and villain, sexual exploits in a hot tub in the midst of a horrific siege, maybe a few other things, but relax and enjoy a long and gripping narrative about one of the more interesting military episodes of the 16th century. The heroic defense of Malta by the Knights of Saint John deserves an epic retelling and Tim Willocks is up to the job. Take it to the beach or onto the plane, anywhere you can lose yourself for hours. Highly recommended for those who enjoy top-grade action-packed historical fiction -- think Flashman or Aubrey & Maturin.

THE RELIGION is intermittently salacious, frequently overwrought, and utterly bloody-handed. It is, in short, a ripping good yarn. The Booklist review above stating that "readers of unsubtle historical fiction will be hooked" cuts a bit close to the bone, but what redeems this story from being just another cheesy epic is Tim Willock's ability to memorably depict action, and his motley cast of characters. Is the book absolutely unbelievable? Yep. But like the unholy progeny of James Clavell and Robert E. Howard, Willock plunges into this story with so much gusto, it's almost impossible not to just pull in one's oars and get swept up in THE RELIGION's currents. WARNING: The book's prologue is bereft of the humor that redeems much of the rest of the story, so don't judge the book on the introduction's merits alone. I nearly bailed out after reading it, but now I'm glad I did not. WARNING II: Avert your gaze from the most unwholesome spectacle of the author's photo on the jacket sleeve.

I receivd an advance version of the audio. At 21 CD's it was a long listen, but extremely well done. Simon Vance's narration is thrilling. He gives distinct voices to the many characters. I found myself looking for reasons to drive so I could continue the story. "The Religion" is in the great tradtion of swashbuckling adventures with a larger than life lead character, beautiful damsels, and dastardly villains. But Willocks puts his own stamp on this story. He does not shirk from the dreadful realities of siege warfare. The story of a war fought nominally between two great religions does not give the edge to either side. Tannhauser, with a foot in each religion, tends to view it all with a cynic's skepticism. The heights of courage and the depths of depravity are shown on boths sides of the siege. I was reminded at times of the fiction of Dorothy Dunnett. If you enjoy this read her book "The Disorderly Knights" to get another view of the Knights Hospitaler. I look forward to the next installment o fhte Tannhauser Trilogy

After watching his family butchered by renegade mercenaries, twelve-year-old Mattias is abducted by the Muslim leader who will become a father figure and mentor, his future cast with his captors: "War was now his master and his trade". Renamed Ibrahim, the boy is trained as a janissary; as a man, he is a skilled soldier of fortune who has made his wealth in trade with two partners, a Jewish merchant, and Bors, a seasoned Christian soldier. Mattias, who has taken the last name of Tannhauser, is content to avoid war, including the incipient battle at Malta. If the Turks conquer Malta, Europe will be exposed to Islamic terrorists, but Suleiman's greatest ambition is to exterminate the Knights of St. John, healers and monks so devout that they style themselves "the Religion". Mattias and Bors are drawn into the fray through a request to aid a French countess, Carla La Penautier, who is seeking the twelve-year-old son taken from her at birth. Never one to deny a beautiful woman, Tannhauser and Bors agree to accompany the woman and her companion, Amparo, straight into the mouth of hell. Larger-than-life, Tannhauser is thrown into a seething cauldron of fanaticism, faith and political intrigue, the clash of battle paling before the Machiavellian schemes of the father of Carla's son, the Inquisitor Ludovico Ludovici, the two men matching wits to the bitter, bloody end. Mattias must use every skill and deception to survive, while Carla and Amparo create an island of peace in devastated Malta, brief comfort in the eye of the storm. Then the difficult becomes nearly impossible, Mattias finding Carla's son only to leave him behind, Ludovici's machinations threatening at every turn. Perhaps it is Ludovico who is the most fascinating character, serving the God of War and purging the land of heresy, a zealot in the name of religion. Carla is his fatal flaw, lust the beast that stalks him from within, defying his mission as a priest. Surrounded by death, the feelings he thought slaked are reignited on Malta; marked by this bifurcation, Ludovico is a monster, a heartless murderer in the name of God. All is awash in the gore of war and the stench of death, thousands of mutilated bodies, fatal wounds, blood flowing freely from the doomed: "We're surrounded by the Called. They're hacking each other to pieces as we speak." Yet there are moments of serenity, where it is possible to imagine a future without the threat of extermination. Willocks paints his gory portrait on this hellish canvas, religion vs. religion, Malta the battleground. As dense and complicated as the grand ambitions of religious sovereignty, this epic novel captures the spirit of Muslim and Christian belief, mercenary and true believer facing the steady attrition of death, Mattias slashing his way through overwhelming odds and at a terrible price, the subtleties of affection surviving the bloodshed, albeit barely. An ambitious undertaking, The Religion delivers a powerful message of God, war and r

In 1540 in the Fagaras Mountains of Hungary, Muslim scarlet horsemen abduct twelve year old Mattias Tannhauser, the son of Saxon metal-smiths. They train him as a holy warrior whose entrance to heaven is to die in combat. However, he eventually obtains his release and settles in Sicily where Mattias taking advantage of having solid feet in the competing religious camps becomes a successful arms broker. In 1565 widow Contessa Carla La Penautier arrives in Sicily to hire Tannhauser to find her illegitimate twelve years old son Orlandu, whom she reluctantly abandoned at his birth due to uncaring pressure. Unable to resist her siren's call, Mattias agrees to go with Carla to Malta at a time that the Turkish Ottoman Suleiman the Magnificent declares a jihad to eradicate the affluent influential Knights Hospitaller of St. John, a monastic order based in Malta. On the disputed Mediterranean island, Mattias and Carla struggle to survive when the Turks begin their assault on the St. John knights. However, even more dangerous to the pair than the war is the arrival of dreaded Inquisition monk Ludovico Ludovici, working under order of Cardinal Michele Ghisleri, who deviously plans to bring Malta under papal rule after he takes care of a certain twelve year old indiscretion that he sired on a teenage Carla. This is an exciting swashbuckling look at a real sixteenth century religious war mostly from the perspective of the dashing hero who is one of the few people who seems to understand both sides of the conflict. The story line is action-packed, but it is the cast who brings to life 1565 Malta as the prime triangle (Mattias, Carla and Ludovico) seem genuine and the combatants fighting in God's name appear real. Readers will appreciate this terrific historical holy war thriller that grips the audience from the opening kidnapping until the final confrontation with more to follow. Harriet Klausner