Raised by monks, the orphan Tristan never dreamed that he might see the world or discover the truth about his past. But that changes the day that the Knights Templar ride through the abbey on their way to fight in the Holy Land for Richard the Lionheart’s Crusade. Overnight Tristan becomes a squire to Sir Thomas, one of the Templar’s most courageous knights. But he also finds himself entrusted with the most sacred relic in all of Christendom, the Holy Grail. With the chaos of war surrounding him, Tristan teams up with a young archer from Sherwood Forest and a deadly Al Hashshashin warrior. But even with their help, can he safely bring the Holy Grail back to England and escape the evil men who follow in its wake?
Sweet and smooth as English toffee is Paul Boehmer's narration of the first novel in Spradlin's trilogy. The boyish anticipation that Boehmer gives Tristan, the hero of the story, is palpable. But Boehmer falls short in his vocal portrayals of the other characters in this story. His undistinguished depictions of these characters threaten to be confusing for teens and young adults, who may struggle to visualize the story as it unfolds. In the first of the series, the youngest Templar, Tristan, follows Richard the Lionheart into battle in the Holy Land during the Crusades. When the Christians are defeated, Tristan is given the task of returning the Holy Grail safely to England. Along the way, he makes friends, and enemies, as he struggles to fulfill his promise. J.P.D. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine
