Free Book Friday: Templar Traitor giveaway
My new Mongol novel, Templar Traitor, has been out for a week now and to celebrate that milestone, I am giving away one free signed paperback book to a lucky reader (UK-only, I’m afraid; posting abroad is too expensive). The name of the winner will be posted on this site next Friday – September 12. To enter the competition, use the Contact form above to correctly answer to the following literary question . . .
Which 1975 novel by James Clavell – about an Englishman thrown into a brutal and totally alien Asian society many hundreds of years ago – inspired my own book, based on a true but little-known story about the Englishman who fought for Genghis Khan? Send me a message with the right answer and I will pick a winner out of a metaphorical hat next week. And shortly after that a signed paperback copy of Templar Traitor will be winging its way to him/her (just as long as you live in the good old UK!)
An absolutely stonking book review
I received a truly wonderful review of Templar Traitor the other day from historian Sharon Bennett Connolly, which she posted on her website and I thought I would share a part of it with you here:
“My first thought when I heard about Templar Traitor was “ooh, Templars – love anything Templar related. And by Angus Donald, too! Must read.” My second was “a Templar fighting with the Mongols? Yeah, right!” And with those conflicting thoughts in mind, I decided to give it a go. Angus Donald is a great writer, so even if it is more fantasy than reality, he may be able to pull it off. How surprised was I to discover, from the very first pages, that this wasn’t a fantasy. This was a true story!
A clever, original plot is the more remarkable for the fact it derives from the true story of a Templar knight fighting with the Mongol horde, in the army of Genghis Khan, no less!
Templar Traitor gives a unique angle on the Templars, the Crusades and the Mongols. It also gives an insight into events we rarely hear about and rebuffs the Eurocentric view of the Middle Ages. In Templar Traitor Angus Donald expertly portrays the contrast and melding of the different civilisations of the European Christian and the Mongol. The clash of cultures adds an intensity top the story, beyond the warmongering and empire-building. The human toll of ambition and deceit is evident.
I cannot imagine the amount of research that must have gone into recreating the lands the Mongols conquered. Legendary cities such as Samarkand are rebuilt and brought to life. The Nomadic lifestyle of the Mongols means the marauding army takes its own sheep, goats and herds of horses campaigning with it. The women accompany the army, making a home in the encampment wherever they stop.
Angus Donald sheds light on the knight’s story, fleshing out the gaps in the known history to create a remarkable adventure that will leave the reader eager for more. The Templar knight, Robert of Hadlow, has his own secrets, motives and family concerns. Add to this a private feud with a priest, the need to rescue his baby brother and forbidden love, and Robert’s story has all the ingredients for a magnificent adventure.
All in all, Templar Traitor is definitely in my Top 10 of Books of 2025. The originality of the story is refreshing. The attention to detail and the layers of plot make it a gripping, fascinating read. Oh, and there’s enough single combat and vivid battle scenes to satisfy anyone who likes a jolly good battle! From the first page, the story is intriguing. I enjoyed the fact that I didn’t know what the endgame was. This is far from formulaic historical fiction where the hero knight saves the day. There is mystery and deceit throughout – on both sides – with ulterior motives and hidden agendas.
Templar Traitor is probably the best book Angus Donald has written, possibly even better than his Holcroft Blood series – and that was excellent! I cannot recommend it highly enough.”
To read the full review go to History . . . the interesting bits
In other news . . .
I still have a few copies of Robin Hood and the Heretic Prince (Outlaw Chronicles 11) and Robin Hood and the Castle of Bones (Outlaw Chrons 10) if anyone would like me to send them a signed paperback for £20. Get in touch and we’ll sort that out. (That arrangement also is UK-only, I’m afraid.)
Shogun
The excellent Shogun. Blast from the past!
Shogun … Great book and movie
Shogun