The Catholic Book Club discussion

1. How did you experience the book? Were you engaged immediately, or did it take you a while to "get into it"? How did you feel reading it—amused, sad, disturbed, confused, bored...?

I enjoyed this right away and thought it was pretty well written. The story engaged me and I found myself staying up to read it. I started reading it on my flight back from Europe, so it was good that it kept me up.

I read it in Europe too! I really couldn't put it down. That's the way it was with all three books in the trilogy

When I started reading Sword&Serpent I was quite surprised. Its beginning was almost identical to the beginning of one of my novels, "The Emerald Tablet."

In this novel, which takes place in the Roman Empire around the year 258 (at the time of the persecution against Christians by Valerianus Augustus (Valerian), the main characters in the novel are a couple of teenager siblings, brother and sister. The sister is called Meriem (Mariam in Sword&Serpent). When their father is arrested, accused of being a Christian, they witness the destruction of their house while hidden in the garden. A Roman soldier sees them, but he does not give them away. They then leave their home and travel on foot to Burdigala (Bordeaux), where they expect to find their father's brother (in Sword&Serpent they go to Rome for the same reason). During the way, while they are in Roncesvalles (they started from Cesaraugusta, in Hispania), they are warned by a mysterious man that they should hide, for they are in danger, as there is a group of barbarians in the neighborhood (in Sword&Serpent it is a group of legionaries who are seeking them).

The beginnings of both novels are strikingly similar. I cannot be accused of having copied Marshall, as my book was published in 2004, and Marshall's in 2014 (:-) Marshall did not copy me, as my book was published only in Spanish and is not well known outside Spain (and not much even there). Plus the remainder of both books, from the point I have reached above, is completely different. So those similarities must be considered an amazing coincidence.

I am rereading the book improve meanwhile you are advancing in the Reading. At the begining i wondered to me as i could rate with five stars, besides it was the best novel with the Juan Manuel de Prada`s novel "Die under your sky". My friend Alfonseca, who knows my affection for Juan Manuel de Prada is an evidence that "The Sword and Serpent" is an awesome novel. I can not say, before the rest of the users of the group write their comments but there is a momento where the novel prove his greatness.
About "Emerald table" by Manuel Alfonseca. It is one of my favorite novels. The authour know that Meriem is one of my favoorite Manuel Alfonseca`s characters. We were speaking because in this novel the autor vindicate the minstreated figure of the emperor Galienus. For instance Valerio Massimo Manfredi is really cruel with Galienus in Empire of Dragons (one of his worst novels).
The interesting of Taylor R. Marshall`s novel is that he told the prosecution of Christian in the orient part of the empire. Chateaubriand, and Wiseman told the prosecution of Christians in the western part of the Empire.

I read it very quickly the first time, could not put it down. I also read advanced copies of books 2 and 3 as I was on the launch team. I have given a set to my father, and to my church Library. Each of the books made my top ten list for the quarter they were read, and for the year.

Manuel,

That is remarkable. I can say under oath, I had never heard of your story before reading this today.

You say your story goes from Cesaraugusta to Roncesvalles? I was recently in Spain (on the Camino of Saint James). The nation is thick with legends. It had me thinking of a potential Sword and Serpent-like story about Queen Lupa and the disciples of Saint James.

Taylor wrote: "Manuel,

That is remarkable. I can say under oath, I had never heard of your story before reading this today.

You say your story goes from Cesaraugusta to Roncesvalles? I was recently in Spain (on the Camino of Saint James). The nation is thick with legends. It had me thinking of a potential Sword and Serpent-like story about Queen Lupa and the disciples of Saint James. "

I never thought you had copied me :-)

In fact, my story takes my characters from Cesaraugusta to Roncesvalles to Burdigala, then to Panonia (Hungary), then to Helvetia (Switzerland), then to the North of Africa. It takes place in the time of Valerian, but the emperor does not appear in the novel. His son and successor Gallienus, however, does have an important participation. So you see, after the coincidental beginning, both novels get completely apart.

I have never thought of writing about Queen Lupa and the body of St. James, so you are welcome to use that plot :-)

This trilogy captured my attention immediately. I had always imagined St. George as an English medieval knight, as he is often depicted that way, so it was a surprise to find that he was contemporary with so many well-known saints who were martyred under Diocletian. This trilogy is without question one of the best fantasy/historical fiction/inspirational books I've ever read and recommend it highly to all ages. I hated to see the story end, but have since been searching for other novels/biographies of the main characters. I recently finished both Evelyn Waugh's Helena, and Louis de Wohl's The Living Wood, both about St. Helena and Constantine. Moving on. Will read this trilogy again, and hope Taylor Marshall is working on another one!!

Madeleine wrote: "This trilogy captured my attention immediately. I had always imagined St. George as an English medieval knight, as he is often depicted that way, so it was a surprise to find that he was contempora..."

Oh you be faster than me Mss. Madeleine :-). I also recomend these novels :-). I regret not having read before this section of this discussion.

Taylor wrote: "Manuel,

That is remarkable. I can say under oath, I had never heard of your story before reading this today.

You say your story goes from Cesaraugusta to Roncesvalles? I was recently in Spain (on..."

Well i am an historian and the thing that it happened. It was that my friend Alfonseca (well really we are friends in Goodreads, althugh we have never met personally our relationship is by letter. His letters are one of the best thing of my life. I want to say thank to my friend Alfonseca).
Well in history the historian (i am an historian) called difusionism. It is when two different civilization invent at the same time the same invention, without any contact between them. This thing it happened in this ocassion.
My friend Afonseca wrote a trilogy of a spanish christian family in different periods. The first part was the Seal of Eolo and it happened in the Marcus Aurelius period, the second tat my friend told previously happened in the Valerian and Gallienus age. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... It is the story of two brothers Lucius, and Meriem that he helped to the emperor Gallienus to defeat his enemies. The interesting of this novel is that my friend prove that Gallienus was a good emperor, and he was not a disaster as some historianss and antichristian authors defend, because Gallienus tolerate to the christian. The antichristian author Kovaliov struggled to the emperor lexander Severus for being tolerant with all cults, even the chrristian, and the thing it is not forgiven by the antichristian historians. Not only happens with the hisstorians this thing happens with writer Valerio Massimo Manfrediis really cruel with Gallienus, and he accussed that for his tolerance the empire will go to the ruin in one of his worst novel. In this novel a group of Legionaries went to China, and they escaped of the persians
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
Gallienus was forced to divide of the empre the Galia was defended by Postumus, and afterwards by Tetricus (both characters appeared in the novel), in the orient part was ruled by Odenath, the husband of the famous Zenobia, both of them would be defeated by Aurellianus. Gallienus was a big period he modernized the armors, and he invented new weapons to defeat the german tribes. I recognized that there are several situartions similar, but they are very different novels.
The thid part of the Eolio`s family happened and the end of Roman Empire and the main haracter must find the Tartessian Crown, in the power of the Vandal king Gensericus, who loted Rome, and the characters have the colaboration of a very important visigoth and i can not say more for not destroying the plot of the novel https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Emerald tablet is one of my favorites novel i recognize as a big fan of Meriem, although i love very much Sabra. I recomend to read to verybody, although it was not the favorite novels of my friend Alfonseca. My favorite nvels are "The Jacob`s ladder" (we spoke about this book in Catholic Book Club), "Under and orange sky" (also we spoke about this book) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
And i loved it the novel "The Zahir`s of Qyuetzalcoatl" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Manuel Alfonseca, and my friend Jorge Saez Criado are excellent spanish catholic writers, although my favorite is Juan Manuel de Prada (for me it is not only the best spanish catholic writer, he is the best writer in Spain) https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
It is very interesting the thing commented by Manuel Alfonseca and Taylor R. Marshall about the apostle Saint James and the Queen Lupa here i have a link with the story http://www.tesourosdegalicia.com/es/l... https://caminosantiagoandalucia.org/h...
Really the grave of the apostle appeared in the ninth century with the king Alfonso II the cast in a crutial moment with the muslims have conquered Spain in 711, and the muslims have the big part of Spain. If you want to know better this period i recomend the novels of the spanish novelist Jose Javier Esparza, although i have the impression that his novels was not translated to English.
If you want to write the novel of Saint James and the Queen Lupa, i recomend to follow the Jesus Sanchez Adalid`s method https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... this author did a very good thing at finally of their novels he includes (although in the last novel did not it :-() an historical appendix speaking about the most controversials historical things in his novels. It would be a very good model.
I only say that i am happy that at finally my friend Alfonseca and Taylor R. Marshall had met. And i hope as Casablanca that it was the beggining of a good friendship. I want to take the chance (although i did it in other section of this discussion) to say thanks to Taylor R. Marshall for participaiting in the discussion of his first novel about Saint George, or i should say Jurian :-).

I just finished the book. I had a bit of trouble at the very beginning getting into it but then progressed rather well. I am glad I read the Kindle version because there were many words to look up as I was reading. Liked the various Saints. Liked the main characters. I especially liked Sabra because I felt she was the more developed character. Madeleine I too thought St. George was an English Legend. The book sent me searching. Can anyone tell me Titles of the other books in the trilogy?

Bice wrote: "I just finished the book. I had a bit of trouble at the very beginning getting into it but then progressed rather well. I am glad I read the Kindle version because there were many words to look up ..."

Really Saint George is the Saint Patron of Catolonia, Greece, and Russia. It is an universal saint.

Bice wrote: "I just finished the book. I had a bit of trouble at the very beginning getting into it but then progressed rather well. I am glad I read the Kindle version because there were many words to look up ..."

Books two and three in the trilogy are The Tenth Region of the Night: Sword and Serpent Book II and Storm of Fire and Blood: Sword and Serpent Book III. If you are planning to read these, you might want to nominate them to see if the group wants to read them with you. (I've been thinking about it, but if I nominate them they won't be up for a vote until sometime next year, at best.)

John wrote: "Bice wrote: "I just finished the book. I had a bit of trouble at the very beginning getting into it but then progressed rather well. I am glad I read the Kindle version because there were many word..."
Very good idea John :-). Ishould have said in my previous message :-(.

Thank you John I will look them up. It appears from some of the comments that books 2 and 3 are very good. Perhaps someone who has read them will nominate.

Bice wrote: "I just finished the book. I had a bit of trouble at the very beginning getting into it but then progressed rather well. I am glad I read the Kindle version because there were many words to look up ..."

After finishing the trilogy, I have been searching for all kinds of books that deal with these characters. I started with Helena and Constantine, and read Evelyn Waugh's Helena, and Louis de Wohl's The Living Wood, both excellent books, but very different in approach and style. In book 2, Aikaterina (Catherine of Alexandria) was my favorite, and not much has been written about her, and what's there isn't easy to find. I'm drawn to read a much older book now, Fabiola, which Fonch mentioned, and I remember from my childhood that we had that book on our shelves at home. It is now online through Openlibrary.org. It is another book set in the time of Diocletian. I think what impresses me about Taylor Marshall's work is his treatment of the different ways people convert to Christianity. (Also read Chesterton's Everlasting Man, and now Bishop Barron's To Light a Fire on the Earth along those lines).

Madeleine thank you for recommendations. Will seek out Fabiola especially.

I have read Fabiola several times. I liked it very much.

Madeleine wrote: "Bice wrote: "I just finished the book. I had a bit of trouble at the very beginning getting into it but then progressed rather well. I am glad I read the Kindle version because there were many word..."

There is other book. The first but i have the impression that it was not translated in United, even in Spain is really dificult to find "The Martyrs: The triump of the christian religion" by Chateaubriand. In the case of "Fabiola" this book was written by Wiseman to reply the antichristian book "Hypatia" was written by Kinsgley. After Newman wrote a spin off or short story "Callista sketch of the third century".