I review everything I read and as a compulsive reader I love to discuss what I read. It is with great pleasure that I stand corrected on my views of Silk Road. Sometimes I jump into another book before the one I finished is even out of my hand. That can be a good thing or a terrible thing. In the case of Silk Road it was terrible. I initially gave this book a less than stellar and very disappointing review and that crushed me because I was so excited to read it.
I am pleased to admit that I was wrong….very wrong about my initial review. Deciding to sit down and give it another go changed my view most considerably.
Since I was a child I have been fascinated with the Silk Roads, their purpose, geography and all around importance to the formation of the ties between East and West. (Thank you Alexander the Great)
Colin Falconer has crafted a story of cultures on the edge during a time when communication and understanding between cultures was pure, raw and brutal. A time when men gave their lives for a pound of salt or any other type of spice or luxury item. Most spoke with the tip of a sword and the word of their God. Silk Road, despite a few editorial gaffes, is an excellent story of courage, devotion, curiosity and ironically love.
The author has taken the Silk Road and put upon it characters that have major depth and personality.
Templar Knights in literature can easily be overdone. As curious and tragic as they are, they are written about ad nauseum. Falconer destroys the stereotype and gives us a very real and layered main character. He is devoted, stubborn and brave yet leans follows his heart which to him is personal damnation.
Over Zealous Monks, Mongolians and the burgeoning empire of Kublai Khan are all part of this adventure. The Geography of the story is second to none. This book is gritty and at times barbaric and sad. The characteristics of the Mongolians, hygiene and their dietary preferences are vivid.
I will take one star off for the layout of the book. I honestly think this is the editors fault. Story wise it is a solid five stars and I am glad I decided to give it another chance. ( )

Mediados del siglo XIII, un caballero templario y un monje dominico emprenden viaje desde Jerusalén hacia Mongolia a lo largo de la Ruta de la Seda. Josseran Sarrazini y Guillermo parten con la misión de transmitir un mensaje del Papa al Gran Khan y fraguar una alianza contra los sarracenos, que amenazan la unidad de los cruzados y también la del reino mogol. En el camino, deberán hacer frente a los más diversos peligros mientras descubren un mundo cuya riqueza, tanto material como espiritual, les fascina y desconcierta a la vez.

This was my first Colin Falconer book, but I don't think it will be my last. I listened to it on audible, and that format really brought it to life. Josserin Sarrazini is a Templar knight. He has been chosen to escort the Pope's emissary to the Mongol region in order to pass on the word of Christ. Father William is one of the most odious men that Josserin has ever met, and he hates him on sight, but he has a duty to perform, so the two start out on a momentous journey. The book is huge in scope and it covers their journey which includes many dangers and various rest stops along the way, that really aren't that much safer the open desert. The two pass through the unforgiving deserts of Persia, and all along the Silk Road to the "Roof of the World" . They come across a princess of a Tatar regime (Futlunes) and daughter to Haidal, a Tatar prince. After many misadventures, and life-threatening battles and catastrophic weather events, they find themselves in Zanzibar, the kingdom of the great Kubiliai Khan. The two paths of this Christian journey, and the Tatar princess are begun near the roof of the world, and their paths continue to cross along the long journey. This book has enormous scope and Colin Falconer is a master at describing his era. It's an action/adventure/romance that will take your breath away. It was great listening to it on Audible read by Emily Woo Zeller. Historical fiction at its best here. ( )

Silk Road by Colin Falconer is a grand historical adventure story that totally engaged me. Travelling up and down the famous trade route, two Western men, one a Templar warrior and the other a fanatical priest, are guided along the caravan passage in order to establish a treaty with the Tatars, who have raided far into the West and are now threatening Christian countries.

The Templar, Josseran, has lived in the Holy Lands for some five years and has mellowed toward infidels. He seeks to understand the Mongol people, but Father William believes they are less than animals and does not attempt to hide his contempt for anything that he deems “un-christian”. When Josseran meets a chief’s daughter, Khutelun, sparks fly. After every parting, destiny brings them back together, even when they ended up on different sides in a civil war, they were drawn back to each other.

High adventure and breathless romance blend together as we travel the Silk Road from Palestine, across the endless deserts of central Asia, over the Roof of the World to Cathay. From trade caravans to fighting the Mongol horde, Silk Road is a rich historical drama that totally captivated me. ( )

I received an advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is an epic tale of a journey along the Silk Road in an attempt to negotiate a union with the Tatars against the Saracens and an attempt to convert the Khan of the Mongolian empire to Christianity during the 13th century Crusades. The author depicts the brutality, violence, and excesses of the era and culture with brutal honesty giving the reader insight into the Mongolian and Chinese lifestyle. The author’s descriptions of the characters and their individual personalities are colorful, vibrant, and believable. Colin Falconer has done a great deal of research in order to depict such an accurate epic tale. As I read this book I was reminded of the writing style of Ken Follett. I found the glossary and the location headings very helpful. This is a fabulous exciting book that I found very hard to put down and I recommend to anyone that wants to read a good book. ( )