The trilogy of Demetrios Askiates

The Mosaic of Shadows by Tom Harper

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My first story-laced book centred around the crusades. And boy! What a start 🙂

Light hotheadedness apart, the book gives what you would least expect when you start reading it, and that is a suspense thriller set against the backdrop of the first crusade. So the surprise element , the novelty of the concept and the racy tempo add to a gripping story-line. It is also curiosity-inductively new for one who knows less about the history of the crusades.

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Knights of the Cross by Tom Harper

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is more political than its predecessor and the follower. The author tries to squeeze in a mystery sub plot into the main plot but somehow, the flow doesn’t come as naturally as it did in the first part (‘mosaic of shadows’)

Apart from that, its the most stand-alone book in the trilogy if one reads only this and avoids the other two.

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Siege of Heaven by Tom Harper

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A very high and rich depiction of the trilogy’s end. Lacks the mystery of the first part (mosaic of shadows) and the political aura of teh second (knights of the cross). But does make up for it by adapting a straight in-your-face narrative overtone of the final seige of teh holy city.

The theme involved is more military than political or suspense in the third part. Lags a bit towards the end but picks up pace again towards teh gory climax. An interesting read and one that adds variety to the diverse overtone of the trilogy.

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Genesis of the rise

“Where is your son?” the underworld don thundered. “Is he scared?”

“I am not aware of anything under the sun my son is afraid of. He doesn’t usually give his word – but if he does, you can take it for granted that it will be done. He will come, don’t worry.” replied his assistant.

A horde of white Maruti vans screeched to a halt and a parade of henchmen, all bearing guns stepped out and assembled in a V-formation. From the center emerged a young but balding man, with black hair and dark sunglasses, dressed in denim and white sport shoes. His swagger raised many an eyebrow, and the men present felt a chill shudder down their spines.

The moon hid behind a cluster of dark clouds.

He stepped up to the older man and said, “Anthony. This fight is between you and me. Between your men and mine. Either you die, or I die. Your men die, or my men die in this war, but innocent people shouldn’t get hurt. I now realize what a coward you are. Seven days, I tell you today, in seven days, you will be finished.”

“Do you know what you are saying and who you’re saying it to?” cried the distraught father.

“I am speaking the truth to an immoral man, father”

Anthony allowed himself a slow menacing laugh. “You are still new to this business, young man. Seven days? I need just seven seconds. Look over there,” he said, pointing beyond the young man’s back where a sniper stood atop a huge tower, ready to shoot on command.

It was now the young man’s turn to laugh a little. He took off his sunglasses, and said, “Look there a little, dear man” he said, pointing to another tower where three snipers were ready to aim and fire.

With his characteristic baritone laugh, he came close to Anthony and said, “Remember one thing. God toys with the good hearted, but never let’s go of their hand. He will give the bad man a great many things, only to make sure his fall is greater and harder.”

With that he swiveled around and walked away leaving behind a shocked and frightened Anthony as the winds whispered in a crescendo – “Baasha, baasha”

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REFERENCE

For those who want to know further, refer here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badsha to understand & appreciate where this was extracted and translated from.

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CREDITS

Starring: Rajnikanth, Raghuvaran

Director: Suresh Krishna

Extracting, Editing and Translation: El Papa

Publishing : blog owner 😛

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