Holy Warrior

By: Angus Donald

Narrated by: Graham Padden

Length: 14 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's Summary

Arrows will fly. Swords will swing. Heroes will fall. Legends will survive. And the Holy Land will never be the same.1190 AD: Richard the Lionheart has launched his epic crusade to seize Jerusalem from the cruel Saracens. Marching with the vast royal army is Britain's most famous, most feared, most ferocious warrior: the Outlaw of Nottingham, the Earl of Locksley - Robin Hood himself. With his band of loyal men at his side, Robin cuts a bloody swathe on the brutal journey east. Daring and dangerous, he can outwit and outlast any foe - but the crimson battlefields of the Holy Land are the ultimate proving ground.

And within Robin's camp lurks a traitor - a stealthy enemy determined to slay Christendom's greatest outlaw before the trumpets fade. Blazingly paced and richly imagined, featuring a cast of unforgettable characters and packed with fast, furious action, Holy Warrior is adventure at its thrilling, white-knuckle best.

©2010 Angus Donald (P)2010 Hachette Digital

Critic Reviews

For Outlaw: "A lively and enjoyable book." ( Daily Mail)

"A tale well told via the thoughts of a flawed hero… not a read for the squeamish." ( Nottinghamshire Today)

misleading

overall a good story. However based on the title and the description I was expecting the majority of the book to be about the Expedition and battles to Jerusalem. Not the case. I still enjoyed it.

Love the Robin Hood stories

I have read and listen to most of the Robin Hood store is that available, I am very much enjoying this series it's interesting seeing something from Alan a Dale's perspective

Good book

Slow at times, but still a good book. Enjoy all of his books. This was better than the first. Can't wait to start the third.

A sequel that is even better than the prequel!

I really enjoyed Outlaw, although at times it seemed to drag just a little. Not so for Holy Warrior! Every minute of this book, I found engaging, entertaining and historically informative. I usually listen to these Audiobooks while driving too/ from work. I found myself almost looking forward to my otherwise miserable commute, listening to this book. Well done Angus Donald!

fantastic

I have really enjoyed this book, in fact this is my second time reading it and it gets better and better... great job on the book.

Great continuation of a compelling story!

i really enjoyed the change inn scenery in this 2nd book of the series. in love the author getting more bits and characters from history in there and breathing life into King Richard (believe it's The Lionheart but he doesn't refer to him as that) leading his crusade with Robert of Loxely(Robin Hood) as his right hand general! The main character Alan growing up and making a name for himself and getting right in the middle of all kinds of battles, treachery, conspiracies, assassination plots and finally old enough for women! Alan really grows up fast during this book. keep em coming! oh and just like the first one it helps keep your interest of you speed up the narrator just a tad to 1.05X ;)

A big disappointment after Outlaw

I really liked Outlaw and tried to like Holy Warrior, but after listening for many hours to tiresome depictions of extreme sadism and battlefields slick with the entrails of disemboweled horses, I finally concluded that there was no actual plot here, so I stopped listening. It doesn't work as a travelogue or as a story. I would remember the first book with far greater pleasure if I hadn't moved on to the second.

Good book, mediocre narration

Good story, but some phrasing reused too often. Monotone narration, lowered what could be an exciting tale.

Historical Fiction or Horror story

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed the first book of this series but wasn't prepared for the second. I listen to my books on my commute to work, and continually found my self arriving at work horrified about some graphic description or depressed at the continual march of death through out the plot. I understand the book is about war during a brutal time of history, but it was just a little to much. I did not finish listening. I stopped after approx. 3/4 of the story when there was foreshadowing of something horrific to come. The narrator did an outstanding job, however. I do not envy his having to read some sections.

Donald Delivers a Real Robin Hood!

I was sure after reading the first of this series that I would be following it gradually, savouring each book, and so it seems to be turning out. Donald has brought us a much more credible and complex legend of Robin Hood with the central character being far more complex than Costner and Co would have had us believe. This is no prancing Forest Lord surrounded by his ever-singing merry men, this is grittier and Robin himself is more of an enigma. Without a pair of tights in sight this Robin Hood is told through the memoirs of a slightly embittered Alan Dale. The tale he tells is a ruthless one with Robin summoned to support the King in his crusades. We see even more of the dual nature of Robin, of course he is a charismatic and born leader but there are other much shadier sides to him that feel more befitting of an ex-outlaw. There are tales of music making, loves won and lost, battles and bitter feuds, even assassins. There is nobility and ignominious behaviour in equal measure and indeed one character's story is particularly sad. It's a fabulous mix and especially given the point of view this is written from Graham Padden puts in a fine performance just as he did in the first book. This one hits the bullseye!

My favorite of the series

For reason or another, I think this is my favorite of the series. It might be because the structure of the crusade gives me a linear line over Europe the map the events. In the other books in the series it takes a bit more efforth to locate the story.
Highly recommended series! Note: if you are a new listener, go find "Outlaw" book from the same author. It is the first on this series.

Brilliant historical drama

Great story beautifully narrated. The narrator has a soft Nottingham accent? - others will know better than me but at least not your usual Home Shires accent, and in view of where Robin is from it has an authenticity about it.

Another great adventure...

If you liked Outlaw, it's definitely worth listening to the next chapter. You're listening to the memoirs of Alan Dale who sees the goid, bad & ruthless side of Robin Hood first hand. He loves him, gates him & is loyal to him to the end. I'll listen to the entire series now. Great writing & characters.

Utterly fantastic read/listen

Such a well crafted story, I couldn't possibly write every aspect if praise for this book, without writing a full book to do so! Angus Donald, has a superb skill in story craft, he is very alike to Bernard Cornwell, and Conn Iggulden. I have now bought the next installment, and eagerly await the next chapter in the story of Alan, Robin, John and the other men. from the bottom of my heart, thank you for these books.

Pretty good

Apart from a few bits I thought were gratuitously, misogynistically, violent, I thoroughly enjoyed this. Which is good because I've already bought the next two!

I really like the voice characterisations by Graham Padden and I very often find I'm more likely to buy books with the same voice artist rather than the same author simply because the performance is every bit as important as the story in many cases.

Very, very good!