Scan barcode
english_lady03's review against another edition
4.0
This was actually a remarkably good book. It is set shortly after the fall of Acre (c 1291) and so more than a decade before the events of the Series "Knightfall".
The young Landry, as well as a few of his companions who survive the massacre set out to sea in a small boat. The Infinite Deep covers their adventures and misadventures as they try to get back to France.
I have to say that in the Knightfall series I didn't particularly warm to Landry. I think it was the whole (spoiler alert) affair with Queen Joan plotline. This novel shows a younger Landry, long before he became the Master of the Paris Temple under the leadership of Master Godfrey.
He does emerge as a more sympathetic character here, although he struggles to keep faith amidst all the hardships they face, Godfrey reminds him of what they believe in and are fighting for. Tancrede de Hauteville is still my favourite character though.
We also get to "see" a young Adelina, remember the Jewish woman from the series who Landry and his fellows save from vigilante attacks in the last couple of episodes?
There were a few historical howlers, like the pirate (female) captain using a Spyglass--- i.e a telescope, which werent't invented until Centuries after this is set, and some of the plot was a bit cheesy and contrived.
It wasn't a bad tie in though, some of the needless violence notwithstanding. I do believe there was meant to be a sequel, but I'm not sure what happened to it.
The young Landry, as well as a few of his companions who survive the massacre set out to sea in a small boat. The Infinite Deep covers their adventures and misadventures as they try to get back to France.
I have to say that in the Knightfall series I didn't particularly warm to Landry. I think it was the whole (spoiler alert) affair with Queen Joan plotline. This novel shows a younger Landry, long before he became the Master of the Paris Temple under the leadership of Master Godfrey.
He does emerge as a more sympathetic character here, although he struggles to keep faith amidst all the hardships they face, Godfrey reminds him of what they believe in and are fighting for. Tancrede de Hauteville is still my favourite character though.
We also get to "see" a young Adelina, remember the Jewish woman from the series who Landry and his fellows save from vigilante attacks in the last couple of episodes?
There were a few historical howlers, like the pirate (female) captain using a Spyglass--- i.e a telescope, which werent't invented until Centuries after this is set, and some of the plot was a bit cheesy and contrived.
It wasn't a bad tie in though, some of the needless violence notwithstanding. I do believe there was meant to be a sequel, but I'm not sure what happened to it.
kbaxter21's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
thetarantulalounge's review
4.0
Knightfall is a History channel drama-action show about the decline of the Knight’s Templar. It starts with the Templars being driven out of Acre and loosely follows history from there. It stars the conspicuously handsome Tom Cullen (longtime beau of the great Tatiana Maslany) as the main character Landry. Season two also includes Mark Hamill as an awesome, grizzled old Templar. At the time I write this, it’s not clear whether a season three of the show will happen. Nonetheless, the IP has expanded to now include a book series.
Fantasy writer (and sometimes movie adapter) David B Coe uses this first book, The Infinite Deep, to fill in some lost time between the pilot episode of the series and the rest of season one. As the title suggests, this one is about both a kind of dark knight of the soul and also the depths of the ocean. Landry and his Templar companions escape Acre by ship, but 13th century sailing isn’t exactly safe. This tracks the Templars’ odyssey back home.
This is an action-packed book. It kind of reminded me of the movie The Bourne Ultimatum in that it never slows down. Acre, storms, pirates – it’s all here. Fans of the show will be fans of the book because it’s more time with favorite characters. This wouldn’t be a particularly good jumping on point for the show, as the characters are only sketched out. I think you’d have to know the show to follow who’s who in the book.
My rating of 4/5 stars is based on this book as it relates to the show. It would not be fair to rate a tie-in to a cable show on its own merit.
Fantasy writer (and sometimes movie adapter) David B Coe uses this first book, The Infinite Deep, to fill in some lost time between the pilot episode of the series and the rest of season one. As the title suggests, this one is about both a kind of dark knight of the soul and also the depths of the ocean. Landry and his Templar companions escape Acre by ship, but 13th century sailing isn’t exactly safe. This tracks the Templars’ odyssey back home.
This is an action-packed book. It kind of reminded me of the movie The Bourne Ultimatum in that it never slows down. Acre, storms, pirates – it’s all here. Fans of the show will be fans of the book because it’s more time with favorite characters. This wouldn’t be a particularly good jumping on point for the show, as the characters are only sketched out. I think you’d have to know the show to follow who’s who in the book.
My rating of 4/5 stars is based on this book as it relates to the show. It would not be fair to rate a tie-in to a cable show on its own merit.
More...