1242. An immense pyre is being kindled in Europe. A great Christian army is gathering. The King of France, Saint Louis, has decided once and for all to stamp out the heretic Cathar sect. He wants their rich land in the Languedoc, and now they have challenged his authority – both secular and spiritual – for the last time. For the Cathars have something King Saint Louis des 1242. An immense pyre is being kindled in Europe. A great Christian army is gathering. The King of France, Saint Louis, has decided once and for all to stamp out the heretic Cathar sect. He wants their rich land in the Languedoc, and now they have challenged his authority – both secular and spiritual – for the last time. For the Cathars have something King Saint Louis desires more than anything else in the world; a powerful weapon of their own. An ancient shroud that bears the ghostly image of Christ crucified, once the holiest relic of Byzantium, now the so-called ‘Cathar Crucifix’, which is the rallying point of the heretic rebellion. Petroc of Auneford knows the power of this relic, the Mandylion of Edessa, better than any man. After all it was Petroc who, along with the mysterious Captain de Montalhac, stole it from the Pharos Chapel in the ruined city of Constantinople and gave it to the Cathars, Little did he know that all too soon it would be the focus of total war. Now he and the Captain – a Cathar himself – find themselves snared in this horrific struggle and a plot that involves the greatest rulers in Christendom. And as the Captain retreats to the desolate peak of Montsegur to make his final stand, only Petroc can save his friend and the mysterious, sinster shroud; holiest of relics, precious beyond reckoning, but possessed of a deadly, maddening power…
Painted in Blood
1242. An immense pyre is being kindled in Europe. A great Christian army is gathering. The King of France, Saint Louis, has decided once and for all to stamp out the heretic Cathar sect. He wants their rich land in the Languedoc, and now they have challenged his authority – both secular and spiritual – for the last time. For the Cathars have something King Saint Louis des 1242. An immense pyre is being kindled in Europe. A great Christian army is gathering. The King of France, Saint Louis, has decided once and for all to stamp out the heretic Cathar sect. He wants their rich land in the Languedoc, and now they have challenged his authority – both secular and spiritual – for the last time. For the Cathars have something King Saint Louis desires more than anything else in the world; a powerful weapon of their own. An ancient shroud that bears the ghostly image of Christ crucified, once the holiest relic of Byzantium, now the so-called ‘Cathar Crucifix’, which is the rallying point of the heretic rebellion. Petroc of Auneford knows the power of this relic, the Mandylion of Edessa, better than any man. After all it was Petroc who, along with the mysterious Captain de Montalhac, stole it from the Pharos Chapel in the ruined city of Constantinople and gave it to the Cathars, Little did he know that all too soon it would be the focus of total war. Now he and the Captain – a Cathar himself – find themselves snared in this horrific struggle and a plot that involves the greatest rulers in Christendom. And as the Captain retreats to the desolate peak of Montsegur to make his final stand, only Petroc can save his friend and the mysterious, sinster shroud; holiest of relics, precious beyond reckoning, but possessed of a deadly, maddening power…
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saeedeh –
In the bookshop I read the first page and I misunderstood it for a battle scene or an injured general... aaaand when I came home I continued and realized that scene, was a " forging fake relics" scene :| In the bookshop I read the first page and I misunderstood it for a battle scene or an injured general... aaaand when I came home I continued and realized that scene, was a " forging fake relics" scene :|
Mavis Hewitt –
Got this because author lived in same area of Devon as me. Didn't realise it was 3rd in series, would probably have been better (but not imperative) to have read other 2 first. Historically very interesting, slightly slow moving, (hence my 7 days to read), but aim to read the earlier 2. Got this because author lived in same area of Devon as me. Didn't realise it was 3rd in series, would probably have been better (but not imperative) to have read other 2 first. Historically very interesting, slightly slow moving, (hence my 7 days to read), but aim to read the earlier 2.
Adam –
Thoroughly enjoyable romp through mediaeval history. I did rather skip over the battle scenes, but the core story is excellent.
Chris Harvey –
An interesting read that never really gets going. I have not read any of the other Petroc books but that didn 19t seem to matter as what had happened before was woven into the narrative. My main gripe was that there was a lot of talk and the action seemed to be rush or just glossed over. The characterisation was good but sometimes it could have been built with less pages of dialogue as some did not really add to the story. The blurb is rather misleading too as it makes it sound like an action pa An interesting read that never really gets going. I have not read any of the other Petroc books but that didn 19t seem to matter as what had happened before was woven into the narrative. My main gripe was that there was a lot of talk and the action seemed to be rush or just glossed over. The characterisation was good but sometimes it could have been built with less pages of dialogue as some did not really add to the story. The blurb is rather misleading too as it makes it sound like an action packed adventure on a grand scale, however despite the amount of travel the story feels rather low level and the main focus of Jesus death cloth appears as a side story until the end of the book. Interesting enough but not the mystery laden religious intrigue I was wanting. Only just three stars!
Keith Currie –
Historical novel on Louis the saint's 'crusade' against the Cathars of Toulouse and third in the Petroc of Aunesford series. The author is at his best when describing the grit and reality of medieval battles and their aftermaths, and at his worst with rather too much back story and references to previous volumes. I made the mistake some years ago of reading the fourth book in this series first (thinking it was a standalone novel) and discovered that was not a wise thing to do. Historical novel on Louis the saint's 'crusade' against the Cathars of Toulouse and third in the Petroc of Aunesford series. The author is at his best when describing the grit and reality of medieval battles and their aftermaths, and at his worst with rather too much back story and references to previous volumes. I made the mistake some years ago of reading the fourth book in this series first (thinking it was a standalone novel) and discovered that was not a wise thing to do.
Debbi Skeen –
A little slow to get going, but this book left me wanting to read the next one. I'm starting to connect more to the characters more than I did in the second of this series. A little slow to get going, but this book left me wanting to read the next one. I'm starting to connect more to the characters more than I did in the second of this series.
keith mcglynn –
Catriona Taylor –
Rachel Walkley –
Olga Kelly –
Tricia –
Babicka_amalka –
Barry –
Dorothy Latsis –
Fulk Hogan –
Natalie Rix –
Geoff Kayson –
John Plus –
Iona –
Linda Shields –
Renata –
Bedrichus –
Allan –
Louise –
Allie Harmon –
graham woodman –
Jade –
Carrie –
C.S. –
Zhivko Zaev –