The Sword and the Dagger by Robert Cochran
Set during the Crusades THE SWORD AND THE DAGGER is teeming with action and adventure as three unlikely allies—a Christian princess, her betrothed Knight, and a Muslim assassin—set out on a quest to retrieve a priceless artifact.
Summary
When empires clash,
a Princess, a Knight, and an Assassin
embark on the quest of a lifetime
During the time of the Crusades, an unlikely trio—a Christian princess, her affianced prince, and a Muslim assassin—embarks on a quest to the court of the most fearsome warrior the world has ever known, Genghis Khan.
A rousing tale of adventure and romance about three young people who must grapple with fundamental issues of loyalty, friendship, faith, honor, and courage against the backdrop of conflicts that still resonate today.
Book Details
The Sword and the Dagger by Robert Cochran
Published on April 9th 2019 by Tor Teen
Young Adult Fiction / Historical / Medieval / Action & Adventure
Hardcover, 400 pages
Source: ARC from Publisher / NetGalley
My Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Arranged Marriages, Scared Documents and Genghis Khan
The story opens with an arranged marriage about to take place between Princess Elaine of Tripoli and her future husband, Prince Conrad of Antioch in hope of uniting their kingdoms—last two remaining Crusader states and halt the advancement of the Saracens.
Only things don’t go as planned and an attempt on Elaine’s life set into motion a quest to retrieve a sacred document rumored to be in the court of the most fearsome warrior the world has ever known, Genghis Khan.
Along the way, while trying to avoid kidnappings, deadly battles, and hostile enemies, they will discover unexpected friendship, courage, and honor.
Crusaders, Castles and Assassins
When I first began to read this story, one of the elements that immediately caught my attention was the story’s setting. Rich and dangerous—it is set in the Middle East during a time of knights and castles. Of warriors and assassins—The Crusades.
How a princess, a knight, and assassin find themselves on a quest together was only half the fun. Cochran paints a vivid setting of adventure and danger in the Holy Land while creating multifaceted characters that you come to care about.
A Fiery Heroine Who Uses a Slingshot
Elaine is pretty fierce and definitely spirited and headstrong. She carries a slingshot and is an expert using it—which saves the day more than once in this story. I really liked the fact that she is a heroine that takes matters into her own hands, even if it means defying the norms of what is acceptable for a woman during her time in history.
A Pompous Knight Who Learns a Valuable Lesson
Conrad comes across as snobbish and does not make a good impression to his betrothed, in fact, he ends up humiliating himself by being thrown from his horse in front of Elaine the first time they meet. But, he goes through so much character-transformation and readers are going to see the sweet, if insecure, boy that lies beneath his rough exterior. Protective and loyal, Conrad makes the biggest changes in the story and ended up being something admirable.
The Assassin of Mercy
This story is definitely a richer one for Rashid’s characterization. Trained to be an assassin since the age of Twelve, he knows little beyond his master’s orders, until he meets his enemy, a Christian princess who shows mercy upon him and sets into motion a quest that with have enemies band together in order to fight an even greater enemy.
A Timely Message About Working Through Our Differences
The Sword and the Dagger by Robert Cochran ended-up being an enjoyable read. I appreciated the Historical Note at the end which put the story in context. I enjoyed the positive messages expertly woven throughout. Readers will need to be patient with this read as it moves at a slower pace during the beginning of the story’s set up. Filled with adventure, romance, and an Eastern setting—I’m definitely excited to read more from this author.
