Brethren (novel)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brethren
Brethren first edition cover.
Author	Robyn Young
Cover artist	Larry Rostant
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Series	Brethren Trilogy
Genre(s)	Historical novel
Publisher	Hodder and Stoughton
Publication date	August 24, 2006
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	512 pp (first edition)
ISBN	ISBN 0340839694
Followed by	Crusade

Brethren is a novel written by Robyn Young set on the ninth and last crusade. It was published by Hodder and Stoughton in 2006.

[edit] Plot

The novel describes the fictional story of a young teenager by the name of William Campbell who started out as a sergeant who later was promoted to a full Knight Templar. He was tasked with the search of the Book of the Grail which, if ever in the wrong hands, could potentially result in the downfall of not only the Anima Templi (a secret order within the Temple), but also the Temple itself. However, Will wasn't alone in the search of the book. There were also Prince Edward and The Order of the St John's or the Hospitallers who wanted the Book as part of their plans to bring down the Temple.

The story of Will Campbel ran parallel to that of Baybars Bundukdari, he who rose to be Sultan of the Mamluks motivated purely by his hatred of the Franks. In the earlier parts of the story, Will did not know that his father James Campbell was also part of the Anima Templi (or Brethren) and that there is a contact deep within Baybars' circle of trusted advisors who works with the Brethren to achieve long-lasting peace in the Holy Land and the reconciliation of the three dominant faiths of the West: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.