As with most books I’ve reviewed, I read this book when I was way too young and didn’t fully appreciate it for all its worth. I read it again in 2019, at the age of 25, and I think I finally properly understand the value of this incredible book.
One of the most important chapters of Maltese history is the Great Siege of 1565. It was a pivotal moment in European history, and a large part of the history of the Ottoman Empire as well. Against all odds, a country that had very little resources and manpower managed to wait out and win against one of the largest empires in history. This book uses this historical event as a backdrop, while it tells the story of three people embroiled in the conflict.
Maria is a young Maltese girl who’s brother, Nico, is captured by Ottoman pirates as a young boy and sold as a slave. He soon earns his freedom, and becomes an important member of the Ottoman Empire’s army, rising through the ranks until he inevitably ends up having to fight against his own people on the soil he once called home. Maria, through the years that Nico has been missing, has gone through her own conflict of sexual assault by the hands of a very powerful member of the community, as well as becoming semi-ostracized for it and for also being very good friends with the Jewish community of her area (as being Jewish was very illegal at the time). The third player in this story is Christian, a man who just wants to be a doctor but who ends up becoming a Knight of St John and, against his Order’s rules, falls in love.
The story is beautifully told through many different points of view, alternating between keeping up with Nico, Maria and Christian and showing us not only how they grow, but also how they think and feel in one of the best ways that I’ve ever seen ‘show, don’t tell’ exemplified in writing. The book also takes on a host of real historical figures from Malta’s history – the names of nobles, bishops, Knights and Grandmasters are all as accurate as can be, with the dates matching up almost exactly to who these people would have been in real life. It is clear that Ball did a lot of research going into this book and actually put a lot of effort into making this book not only historical accurate, but feel as real as it ever could. The characters he invented for the sake of the story feel as real as the characters that actually lived, and that is a feat that isn’t easily accomplished when writing historical fiction that so heavily relies on the truth.
I think my main criticism of this story lies in the fact that the armour and weaponry, as well as the distances he talks about in the novel from one city to another, aren’t the most accurate. However, that is a minor thing when considering everything else. The novel touches on so many different themes – religion, sexuality, slavery, identity, bonds, death, and war. It does so eloquently and without feeling like it’s trying to make a point about any of them because, at the end of the day, what it’s talking about are realities for the characters in the story.
All in all, this book deserves a 4/5, simply missing a star because if it had been a little bit more accurate with the distances between towns, I (as a native of the country) would have been much happier with it.
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A truly historical saga of immense proportions, this novel tells of the adventures of a young surgeon-knight who is caught up in the battle between Christendom and the Islamic world led by the Ottomans. Certainly timely for the gulf between the Christian world and radical Islam is as great today as it was then. ( )

In 1565, the Ottoman launched an attack on the tiny island of Malta. It was a battle whose outcome could have changed our current religious landscape tremendously ... and not currently well-known. Why can't someone look into creating a movie for this courageous, riveting conflict?

During this time Elizabeth I was wrestling with Spain, Mary, Queen of Scots, and even Grace O'Malley .... and this part of history is relatively well-documented. The islands of England were the center of our attention ... center of our universe Not the tiny island of Malta.

The story begins with a sibling pair, Maria and Nico Borg. On one fateful night the two would be separated and cross paths again years later at the Ottoman siege of Malta.

The book intimidates at 688 pages. The first half of the book I was amazed I was able to keep up with all the characters told from four different story lines. We also meet Christien de Vries, the noble knight who wants to be a doctor, and Father Salvago, a priest carrying a dark secret. I was impressed the author gave Father Salvago so much conflicted dimension rather than a bland religious type.

Huge thumbs up to the author for researching so much for this book.

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"A Novel of the Knights of Malta and the Last Battle of the Crusades"

I previously read David Ball's other historical novel, "Empires of Sand" and really liked it, so I had high expectations for this book - which it fully lived up to.
It's a big, long book with a great (in my opinion) mix of sensationalism and good research. Yes, I like to find out my historical facts while being entertained by copious violence, enslavement, piracy, rape, revenge, betrayal, battles, and of course love-that-conquers-all.
"Ironfire" focuses on two siblings with very different destinies. Born on the impoverished, rocky and remote isle of Malta, ruled by the knights of the Order of St. John and the Church, the imaginative and intelligent Maria is traumatized and heartbroken when her little brother Nico is kidnapped and carried off by corsairs. Although they are separated, each of them never forgets the other, as they go through different traumas in their lives. Maria dreams of escape from Malta and a fine life in France, wishing to learn to read, and making friends with a group of people who are secretly Jewish, dealing with the harshness of her father - and of her society.
Nico endures slavery and abuse, but his prodigous memory and natural good looks allow him to survive in Muslim Algiers - but is he truly the boy he was anymore?
The sixteenth century comes vividly (if not entirely believably) to life in this colorful, romantic, sprawling story.
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After what I thought was a weak start and a bit "over the top" especially regarding the character of Nico, I found myself drawn into the time, cultures, and conflicts of the Knights of Malta. Even Nico as he evolved into Asha became a fascinating character and a great look at what becomes of individuals who are torn from their culture and injected into another one especially when they are young. The character of Christien Luc de Vries was especially interesting. His struggles with the expectations of his father, his fascinationg with surgery, and his place among the Knights of Malta make for interesting internal conflicts. And of course, the juxtaposition of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism on one small island gives a great background for the struggles we are still facing. Overall, a great read. ( )