The Kingdom At The End Of The Road (2015) - Plot & Excerpts
I loved this book. I just loved it.This is not my typical book choice, I'm more into the YA stuff. Yet this book still has a special place in my heart! I read the saga the first time at the age of 14, and I just loved it! I've allways loved history, and this book was just filled with exciting history. I myself, is a Dane and that just makes this story a lot more relatable. My country has a similar weather (If you haven't experienced sweeden or Norway in the winter, you have no idea how truly freezing it can be!) I also know a lot about their culture -New as well as the old- since it is very similar to my own. The occasional mention of the Danes in the story also make it that much easier for me to remember that this in fact is my neighbour that I'm reading about, and a lot closer than the other books that I normally read :)This book was my favourite in this series, trough out the first two books I constantly found myself remembering scenes that I liked from this particular book, and just look forward to finally reading them again. And I must say that it was a happy reunion! I wasn't disappointed :DI simply loved the describing way Jan Guillou wrote this book, that just made the description of Forsvik that much better! (You must forgive me if the names are different in the english version than from the Danish) I loved his idea about building peace. Make one of the sides so strong that no one would dare to cross them. Genious. Another thing that I loved was all the facts that the writer smuggled into the story :) I had no idea that Birger Brosa was an actual Earl!? And his personality that was portrait in the story must be about right since 'Brosa' actually does mean the smiling! I just love that! And another litle fun fact: According to the myths the danish flag named Dannebrog actually did fall from the sky and was therefore portrait as a gift from god! Another fact that he smuggled into the story. Truly amazing!I felt like i got a V.I.P look inside the inner workings of the early chirch, and i just loved that! (By all my statements of love i guess you llready know my attitue towards this book :P) More goodies for the history-nerd! This is one of the feew book that i didn't read for the romance. And that is a very good thing! That just means that it has that much more to offer!If it was possible i woul've given it a lot more stars! Amazing book! A must read! :D
The final book of the trilogy was not as good as the second but still very, very good.My overall rating on the trilogy is a solid 4; the first was good, the second was excellent and the third very good. As I mentioned in the review of the first, I saw the movie (condensed version of the Swedish mini-series) and really enjoyed it; now I am glad that I saw it before I read the series, because it would have been a big disappointment. I hope that they release the mini-series sometime in the future, but even so, it still won't do the writing true justice.Final note on this series is that there is another book that was written by Guillou that features the main character's grandson, who is actually an historical figure of note, although the main character in this series is fictional. This book still has not been translated into English, but hopefully HarperCollins will get on the ball with this sometime soon.
What do You think about The Kingdom At The End Of The Road (2015)?
"BIRTH OF THE KINGDOM" BY JAN GUILLOUThis historic tale highlights the last few years of the life of a Templar Knight named Arn Magnusson. After completing his service to God he returns to his beloved homeland to begin life anew and bring peace to all. Bringing with him craftsmen and doctors from the Holy City of Jerusalem he takes us on his journey to find his beloved Cecilia, learning about a son he has never met, and creating a new society of both Christians and Muslims. This book is the last in an epic trilogy that history lovers will not want to miss. Jan Guillou's writing is wonderful as he paints the picture of life during those times so vividly. This is one I could read again and again.-Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud Book ClubRead more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.probo...
—Kitty Honeycutt
The final part of the trilogy, unlike the first and second was a bit slow paced and monotone. It doesn't feel like much is happening except at the end when they go to battle again and we see the change in rule and the end of the story for Arn. The ending is also a good introduction into the standalone book Arn's Legacy which is about Arn's grandson.In this book we see that Arn is truly extraordinary person, very smart and kind but fierce when needed. I would say he possesses true qualities for a knight. His life with Cecilia continues, he meets his son and their family expands. Arn starts building a church and basically all of his estate and this is much of the book, which to some might be interesting but to others quite dull. I'm not used to this kind of writing and found these long passages a bit dull to read. Overall however, it was a good book. It will especially appeal to those interested in history of Sweden before it was actually created and how influances from other parts of the world affected the people.For the whole trilogy I give it 3 stars. As a whole it was interesting but not amazing, on parts quite boring but essentialy a good trilogy for those who like historical books.
—Ness
I was less involved in this book than the other two. As the ending approached, I found that the characters became more and more flat in order to keep the story moving (i.e., overdone wedding descriptions). There is also a set-up for another book -- the next generation, as it were. It turns out on further research that there is such a book but it is still in Swedish. :-( I'd like to read more about Birgir Jarl and the establishment of Sweden as a country, so I hope it gets translated and printed here soon. It is noted in the Goodreads database as: "Arvet efter Arn" Book 4 of the Crusades Trilogy.
—Geri F
