The Iron Lance: The Celtic Crusades: Book I: Bk. 1 (Celtic Crusades S.) - Softcover

At 14 Murdo Ranulfson is too young to go on a Crusade. But when he and his mother are thrown off their own land by soldiers of Prince Sigurd of Norway, who has claimed the Orkneys, Murdo travels to the Holy Land to fetch back his father and brothers, to reclaim their land. He witnesses at first hand the horrors of the Crusade, particularly what Lawhead calls "the rape of Jerusalem".

In common with Lawhead's earlier works, there is a strong Christian element to the story, but here the emphasis is on the Spirituality of the Célé Dé, Celtic monks, in contrast with the venality of the Catholic Church of the time. The main story is framed in the late-19th century narrative of a secret religious order descended from the monks, and from Murdo.

This is a powerful story, well told. Lawhead, better than most American writers, brilliantly captures what feels like the true essence of mediæval Britain and Europe. --David V. Barrett

Praise for Byzantium:

‘Fantasy writing doesn’t get much better than this’
The Express

‘This is a rip-roaring adventure story; the pace rarely flags. There’s scheming, murder and betrayal aplenty’
Interzone

‘Amusing and interesting’
Locus

‘A vivid historical setting and a credible and satisfying plot’
Publishing News