Trail of Fate

I read these books after my son did, and they are fun reading, but the first to leave you hanging waiting for the next book...out in October

The Youngest Templar is an intriguing story about a young squire during the Crusades who has been tasked with returning the legendary Holy Grail to England. With no ship to take, he must take the land route with his friends. His friend Robard is a banished archer with great skill. Also, with them is a Hashashin assassin who has great talent in camoflauge. Their amazing journey takes them to meet French outcasts who are running away from someone but not telling who. I thought this book was very interesting. It got me thinking because I had never read a book that took place during the Crusades. To me, it gave a perspective into a world that was more interesting than Star Wars. I ended up buying the first book because I liked this one so much. Reviewed by a young adult student reviewer Flamingnet Book Reviews Teen books reviewed by teen reviewers

Reviewed by Ben Weldon (age 11) for Reader Views (9/09) "The Youngest Templar: Trail of Fate" by Michael P. Spradlin is the story of Tristan, a kind and hard-working orphan raised by monks, who is offered the opportunity to begin a new life when a group of Templar knights bound for the Crusades stops at the abbey for the night. As the squire to Sir Thomas, the leader of the band, Tristan finds himself in the midst of battle. When Acre falls, and Sir Thomas with it, Tristan is entrusted with the Holy Grail and his mission is to bring it safely back to England. Lucky for Tristan, he has his friends Robard Hode, a king's archer, and Maryam, a Saracen assassin. As the brave adventurers travel through rough terrain with danger hot on their heels, this is a very exciting book. Can the trio meet the challenges and make it to safety? Or will they be caught by the despicable Sir Hugh who just wants the Grail for his own selfish reasons? This book, the second in the series, opens when Tristan and his friends are shipwrecked and separated off the coast of France, things are not looking up. Thankfully, they are reunited when they are rescued by a band of Cathars (a religious group at odds with the Church). After learning of the High Counsel and his hatred of the Cathars, Tristan must enter a race against time to warn the Cathars of a pending attack on their mountain citadel. Can Tristan warn them in time? When it is time for Tristan to leave the Cathars, he is sad but his attention will soon be focused on new challenges. Sir Thomas made a good choice choosing Tristan for his squire because he is smart, resourceful, determined, loyal, and has the makings of a wise Templar. Not just anyone would be able to get the Grail to its destination. In his quest to bring the Grail to safety, Tristan, as its keeper, must dodge many dangers such as the vile Sir Hugh who repeatedly tries to steal the Grail. His loyalty to his friends is absolute and he is rewarded with equal loyalty back from his friends. When attacked by king's guards, Tristan tries to warn his friends, but is prevented from doing so by a hand over his mouth. His only chance of warning his friends comes out as a groan. Will his friends understand? Will the guard kill Tristan? This book was set in the time of the Third Crusades in the year 1191. The knights Templar really existed as did most of the places and people such as the Cathars and Saracens. I have seen some other reviews by people that know a lot more than I do about history, and they also said that this book was a great source of historical information. I highly recommend "The Youngest Templar: Trail of Fate" to people who like action, adventure and historical fiction. Totally full of action and adventure, this was a real page turner that I am not going to forget. It sweeps you in from the very first page and you won't want to put it down until you finish it. There were many battles and semi-bloody scenes, but

The tale of Tristan, a young squire of the Knights of the Templar, continues. At the end of KEEPER OF THE GRAIL, the first book in the series, Tristan's fate was in question as he sailed into a horrible storm. Book #2 begins as Tristan wakes to discover that he has survived, but he doesn't know where he has washed ashore or what is in store for him. When he awakes he is surrounded by a half-dozen people with weapons drawn. Tristan is able to use his limited French to determine the leader of the group is a beautiful young woman named Celia, and he has indeed washed ashore along the coast of France. Soon Tristan's partners, Robard and Maryam, make an unexpected appearance and the new adventures begin. Tristan's old friends pledge to defend him as he decides to help Celia and her followers outwit the High Counsel of France. What follows is one trick after another as Tristan attempts to throw the High Counsel off the Cathars' trail. Just when Tristan thinks all he has to do is help the Cathars and then resume his journey to deliver the Grail, his enemy, Sir Hugh, arrives to make things difficult. Sir Hugh has supposedly joined forces with the High Counsel to rid the region of Cathars, but his real objective is to find Tristan and seize the precious Grail for himself. TRAIL OF FATE is filled with enough sword fights, bows and arrows and crossbows, battering rams, and flaming pots of liquid lard to satisfy any teen looking for adventure. Author Michael P. Spradlin takes his readers into a century long ago but makes it seem alive and relevant to today. Tristan is a likeable hero with incredible courage, a clever mind, and a sense of humor one doesn't expect in a character from the middle ages. It is going to be difficult to wait for Book #3 to find out where Tristan's adventures will take him next. Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

In 1191 Templar knight squire Tristan knows he is lucky to remain alive having barely escaped the murderous intent of malevolent Sir Hugh who demanded he give over the Holy Grail if he wanted an easy death (see KEEPER OF THE GRAIL). Tristan comes ashore having lost contact with his allies on the ship Robard and Maryam. He has a lot on his mind for he is unsure what to do or who to go to with his holy relic; Tristan misses his Templar Knight Sir Thomas who would advise him what to do next. He fears for his friends who may be dead or worse help captive. On shore in a land he does not know, Tristan finds himself amidst French Cathars. He is attracted to their leader Celia and wants to help their cause even if she and her cohorts clearly loath Templars for their undying support to the pope whom they deem treacherous cowardly and avaricious. They fight against the religious persecution of the ruthless King of France, but Tristan knows Sir Hugh still pursues him and he must return to England immediately. However, Tristan thinks with his wrong head and offers his assistance to the Cathars thus jeopardizing his mission and the Holy Grail he protects. The second Youngest Templar is a terrific medieval thriller held together by Tristan, who proves brave and loyal although his decisions endanger the Grail he protects. The support cast is solid whether they support or oppose the young champion. Filled with action, fans will enjoy this coming of age entry as the audience knows as does Tristan Sir Hugh is coming for him, but he still stops to abet the Cathars as he believes their cause to be just. Harriet Klausner