School Library Journal Review
Gr 6-9-The action and intrigue start right from the first page in this riveting sequel to Keeper of the Grail (Putnam, 2008). Shipwrecked and on his own, Tristan washes up on a beach on his way home from the Crusades. Instead of coming ashore in England, however, he lands in France, where a group of armed warriors take him prisoner. Celia, the leader of this band, appears to be in trouble, and her earnest desire to help her people, coupled with her pretty face, makes Tristan eager to do what he can for her. Rejoined by his companions Robard Hode and Maryam, a Saracen assassin, he must choose between pursuing his original mission-returning the Holy Grail to Rosalyn Abbey in England-or aiding Celia against corrupt church leaders. In addition, a Templar who wants to claim the Grail for himself is still on Tristan's tail. Covering both action sequences and intrigue with the same brisk pacing, Spradlin gives audiences three appealing and sympathetic heroes to guide them through the strange and dangerous landscape. The interplay between Robard and Maryam lightens the mood at tense moments, and the growing romance between them puts a brilliant spin on the traditional tales of Robin Hood and Maid Marian. Readers can jump into the series at this point, but the story has neither a beginning nor an ending; this second volume is a serial installment in a much larger tale. It will undoubtedly appeal to the sword and sorcery set, and makes a good addition to historical-fiction collections.-Alana Joli Abbott, James Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford, CT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A shipwreck while escaping with the Holy Grail strands Templar squire Tristan in southern France while cartoon villain Sir Hugh remains on his trail. Along with friends Robard Hode and the highly exoticized Saracen maid Maryam, Tristan must return to England posthaste. But what's flight from the forces of evil when there's a blue-eyed girl to help? Tristan is awed by damsel-in-distress Celia, a heretic Cathar (presented here as a kind of medieval Unitarian, instead of more accurately as one of a sect of vegetarian celibate ditheists that inspired the first medieval inquisition). Surely it's the Grail that wants Tristan to help Celia, and not any more base instinct! Good thing Tristan is a military genius, because he successfully defends Celia's mountain fortress from a combined attack by papal and Templar forces. Now if only he can get the Grail back to England beforedarn it, there's the cliffhanger ending. Lightweight adventure, about as historically accurate as The Da Vinci Code, but a relatively harmless time-filler for series-obsessed fantasy fans. (Fantasy. 9-11) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
