I love Jack Whyte's story telling. This is a 900+ page book and it's a FAST read. Nearly a decade of time is traveled in the story, but it's never dragging or repetitive of earlier events. The destruction of the Knights of the Templar is a familiar story to those who enjoy history, but this explores it from another angle along with the Scottish war for independence. The story holds much for the reader. The protagonist, William Sinclair's exploration of his life and its purpose now that the organization to which he's dedicated his life is now fallen, action - great battle scenes, drama - escape from the inquisition, a bit of romance as new lives and rules are explored for these monk warriors and of course adventure as they start to build a new social order for themselves. Highly enjoyable read!