Acre

Hospitaller Saga, Book 1

By: J. K. Swift

Narrated by: Brad Wills

A doomed mission. The Kingdom of Jerusalem hanging by a thread. One Knight Justice must face his greatest fears or die trying.

Brother Foulques de Villaret just wants to stay in Acre and perform his sworn duties. Instead, the young Hospitaller Knight of Saint John must undertake a dangerous journey from the Holy Land to a remote village nestled in the Alps, the 'Spine of the World'. His mission: buy 500 peasant boys and return them to Acre to be trained as soldiers of Christ.

Pursued across the Mid-Earth Sea by slavers, Brother Foulques and his army of children are about to be thrust into a confrontation with the greatest warriors the East has ever known: the Mamluks.

To survive, Brother Foulques must turn to risky alliances and pray that his choices do not lead them all to destruction.

Acre is the first book in the Hospitaller Saga, a series of breathtaking historical novels set in the late 13th century. If you like action-packed adventure and authentically rich fiction, then you'll love J. K. Swift's historically epic masterpiece.

©2016 J. K. Swift (P)2016 J. K. Swift

Hospitaller vs. Mamluk a rare portreyal!

this is one of the ultimate 'grudge match' stories a contest between a knight of Christ and a knight of the Devil. both characters and their cultures are explored in depth required to make each compelling and the and the stakes of the outcome are very high and very human. there is a subtle message about how easily a faithful Christian man can fail. And a less subtle message about the depths of depravity a heathen can reach while firm in the belief that his selfishness is righteous. its never pride that wins on the side of Christ, to be humbled may be the blessing one needs.
I wish the male reader would relax his performance of the female characters. He misses feminine for femmy,

Rape Porn

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The constant gratuitous rape scenes

What was most disappointing about J. K. Swift’s story?

See above

What three words best describe Brad Wills’s voice?

Engaging exciting new

Did Acre inspire you to do anything?

Never purchase any of this man's writing again.

Any additional comments?

I could have dealt with the authors lack of expertise on swordsmanship and weaponry in general, but fact that the story was lack luster compounded by his repellant and constant use of rape as a plot device was disgusting

A terrific prequel to the Forest Knights series!

Acre is a terrific prequel to JK Swift's Forest Knights series. It continues the story of the Swiss children who were bought from their parents by the Knights of St. John at the beginning of Altdorf and is every bit as realistic and compelling.

Perhaps of equal importance is Brad Wills' continued service as the narrator of the series. His remarkable ability and technique greatly enhances the audiobook's overall experience as well.

This series is a must for anyone who enjoys medieval tales of Knights and the crusades, and especially fans of the Hospitallers. Fans of Tim Willock's masterpiece, "The Religion," will enjoy this series which begins with them in the last Frankish fortress city of Acre in the Levant.

Ho Hum

What disappointed you about Acre?

This is a pretty conventional sword and shield saga, with Good Guys and Bad Guys, plenty of gore, good women and evil ones, and so forth. The plotting is good, and the characters are interesting enough. It's not a bad book by any means, just a very conventional and fairly predictable one.

Would you ever listen to anything by J. K. Swift again?

no

What does Brad Wills bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He is a fine narrator, with good diction and timing.