Author Jan Guillou continues the story of Arn and Cecilia that he started in "The Templar Knight". Arn is now in The Holy Land as a Templar Knight and Cecilia is confined to a cloister in western Gotaland, without her newborn son. Both have 20 years to serve before they are free.
At the beginning of the story, Arn saves Saladin from robbers, which puts creates a friendship between the two. Back at home Cecilia meets another Cecilia in the cloister who has been put in the cloister for her own protection while war wages between two rival factions trying to gain control of the country. Together they outwit the abbess, yet at the same time manage to bring wealth to the cloister.
Arn is involved in several battles in the Holy Land with the Saracens and he gains their respect. But in his mind, although living the austere life of a Templar Knight, he only wants to fulfill his time and return home to Cecilia and his child. He looks forward to living a life without fighting. One big battle remains against the forces of Saladin. Will Arn survive because of the treachery of those who have come to The Holy Land only to procure riches?
The novelist tells a great story of what life was like in The Holy Land at the time of the crusades and also what it was like back in a country that will someday become Sweden. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and am looking forward to Book Three, "Birth of the Kingdom".
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