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Standard of Honor (Templar Trilogy) | 
 enlarge | Author: Jack Whyte
Publisher: Viking Canada
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
Buy Used: $1.64
You Save: $24.31 (94%)
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Rating:  13 reviews
Sales Rank: 75800
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st
Pages: 540
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.2 x 2.1
ISBN: 0399154299
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780399154294
ASIN: 0399154299
Publication Date: August 28, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
The second novel in the thrilling historical trilogy about the rise and fall of the powerful and mysterious Templars, from the author of the immensely popular Camulod Chronicles.
In 1187 one of the few survivors of the Battle of Hattin, young Scots Templar Alexander Sinclair, escapes into the desert despite his wounds. Sinclair has learned about the execution of the surviving Templars after the battle, so when he is rescued, he says nothing of his own standing among the Order of the Temple. Sinclair is one of the Inner Sanctum of the Order-a member of the ancient Brotherhood of Sion, a secret society within the secret society.
Two years after the battle, Sir Henry St. Clair is awakened after midnight by a visit from his liege lord, Richard the Lionheart. King Richard is assembling an army to free the Holy Land from the grip of Saladin and his Saracens, and he wants Sir Henry, his first and favorite teacher, to sail with him as his master-atarms. The old man is unwilling to go-he neither likes nor trusts Richard, having found him both a sadist and an egomaniac. But his future, and that of his young son Andr , a rising knight in the order, depends on his allegiance to Richard. Sir Henry knows that Andr worships his older cousin, Alexander Sinclair of the Scottish branch of their family, who has been in the Holy Land for years. Alexander will be an ally in an unfamiliar land. Sir Henry agrees to go despite serious misgivings about Richard, and his motives for war.
From the moment the first soldiers of the Third Crusade set foot in the Holy Land, the story of the three templars unfolds as the events of the campaign and the political and personal intrigues of the Crusade's leaders again bring the St. Clair family-and the Order-to the edge of disaster.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 8 more reviews...
 fabulous historical fiction January 26, 2008
Harriet Klausner
8 out of 15 found this review helpful
Led by Richard the Lionhearted, 50,000 soldiers are ready to do battle to regain the Holy Land from the Saracen chieftain Saladin and his forces. Amongst Richard's army is Knight of the Templar Alexander Sinclair, who is willing to die to see the Christians succeed in this Crusade against the unfaithful. He and the rest of the force believe victory is theirs because God is on their side.
However, to the shock and consternation of the Christian Crusaders, the battle by Galilee turns into a defeat. Richard refuses to quit on his dream of the Holy Land controlled by Christians; he plans to raise another but bigger army. To do so he sails home accompanied by his loyal master-at-arms Henry St. Clair and the armorer's son, Andre, a Templar belonging to the top secret Brotherhood of Sion, a group with their own agenda.
The second Templar tale (see KNIGHTS OF THE BLACK AND WHITE) is a fabulous historical fiction tale that brings alive the Lionhearted Crusade in the Holy Land and the king's efforts to raise money and men. The story line plays out on two levels. First there is throughout all sorts of political shenanigans occurring as everyone has a secret agenda; second there are the battles between the Christian Defenders of the Faith and the Saracens defending their Holy Land. Jack Whyte provides a strong vivid middle tale so picturesque readers will taste the desert dust.
Harriet Klausner
 save yourself, read a good templar book September 1, 2008
j johnny
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Read either "The Sword and the Grail" or "The sign and the Seal" for an enjoyable and insightful read.
Else...ever read a poor short story made worse by the addiction of the story teller to their own voice, you will be hard to find a more poorly written story than this extremely long winded tale by Whyte.
Lacks insight, concise editing, and a passion to spin a good yarn.
First and last book I'll read with him as author.
And the story continues... March 8, 2008
Jody Allen (West Bend, WI USA)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I found this second, in what I hope will be a trilogy, by Jack Whyte to be even better than the first book. The story was much faster, now that we know the story of the mission of the friendly families using the Knights Templar as a front organization.
Andre St Clair was a wonderful new hero to balance off the angst of his cousin hardened Templar Knight, Alec Sinclair . The political intrigue and historical events of the era helped to balance the story with the history. The author doesn't get bogged down with excessive descriptions but one clearly feels that they are traveling with the crusaders as they move toward their destiny in the Holy Lands. My only objections was the story ended so abruptly I was caught off guard, but was beautiful in Andre's dedication to his cousin and his own personal journey. Can't wait for number three!!!
Standard of Honor a winner! March 10, 2008
Claudea M. Treckeme (USA)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Standard of Honor (Templar Trilogy) I am a huge fan of Jack Whyte - he never disappoints. Standard of Honor is terrific - I slowed down for the last pages because I didn't want it to end.
The Crusades As Allegory July 7, 2008
Twain Fan (USA)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
This book does an even better job than did the first in using its historical backdrop to make ethical points. The message is not heavy handed, however, and invites one to consider (although many will not) that there is more than one point of view and no group has a monoply on "the truth".
This is done while still weaving a fine and provcative entertainment. I can't wait for the third book in the trilogy to be available
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