This trilogy is among the best historical fiction I have ever read. I am most impressed by authors who leave me wanting more information about the time period and the characters--the real ones especially. This one has led me to add other books to my impossibly long list. I read this one slowly, partly because after reading the first two twice, I didn't want to get to the end. I rarely re-read novels unless I'm teaching them (and I'm retired). But this one I will. I knew very little about who St. George was, when he lived, and whether he was real or not (dragon?). I believe Taylor Marshall satisfies all readers once and for all about the reality of the dragon, and the "armor of God" required to fight him. Marshall also gives us the most appealing images of St. Christopher, St. Nicholas, St. Catherine of Alexandria, Emperor Constantine and his mother St. Helena, among so many others, and you enter this world sharing their impressions, likes, dislikes, fears, etc. in a way that few authors can capture. The villains--Roman Emperor Diocletian and his fawning tribunes--are equally moving. The places and their vivid descriptions are just as vital to the story as its people, and artfully and beautifully captured.
The trilogy is marketed to YA, but I believe it will appeal to any age group.
Since retiring, I'm one of those readers who has to truly care about the characters or put the book away now. I will miss the characters in Sword and Serpent, and truly hope that Marshall will give us similar historical/fictional fare in the future. Thank you for an awesome read!
Product details
- Age Range: 12 - 17 years
- Paperback: 530 pages
- Publisher: Saint John Press; 1 edition (November 16, 2017)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0988442590
- ISBN-13: 978-0988442597
- Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.3 x 8.5 inches
- Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
This is an excellent finish to Dr Marshall's trilogy about St George and friends. It is fine as a stand-alone novel, but is much better if you have read the previous two volumes. "Sword and Serpent" and "The Tenth Region of the Night". Tolkien insisted that "The Lord of the Rings" was not a trilogy, but a single novel being sold in three parts for commercial reasons, and you will enjoy this more if you look at it the same way. If you have not read the first two parts I strongly suggest you read them first.
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