Templar Silks (William Marshal)

Main ideas:

• "The Place of Stones" follows the story of William Marshal, England's greatest knight, as he embarks on a perilous journey to Jerusalem in 1219 to fulfill his vow to the Templars and become a monk of their order.
• Lying on his deathbed, William reflects on his past pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1183 with his brother Ancel, where they were entrusted with the sacred mission of laying a cloak on Christ's tomb in the church of the Holy Sepulchre.
• In Jerusalem, the brothers become entangled in deadly politics, deceitful schemes, and dangerous liaisons with powerful individuals, including Paschia de Riveri, the concubine of a high-ranking churchman.
• As they navigate the treacherous landscape of medieval Jerusalem, William and Ancel face numerous challenges that threaten their lives and their chances of returning home, with their only hope resting on the Templar shrouds.
• The novel explores themes of loyalty, sacrifice, love, betrayal, and the complex political dynamics of the time, providing a captivating and thrilling medieval adventure for readers.

Overall, "The Place of Stones" by Elizabeth Chadwick is a compelling historical fiction novel that transports readers to medieval Jerusalem, immersing them in a world of intrigue, danger, and passion. The story of William Marshal and his brother Ancel unfolds against a vivid historical backdrop, blending romance, political intrigue, and personal struggles in a mesmerizing narrative that appeals to fans of historical fiction.

England, 1219: Lying on his deathbed, William Marshal, England's greatest knight, sends a trusted servant to bring to him the silk Templar burial shrouds that returned with him from the Holy Land thirty years ago. It is time to fulfill his vow to the Templars and become a monk of their order for eternity. As he waits for the shrouds' return, he looks back upon his long-ago pilgrimage with his brother Ancel, and the sacred mission entrusted to them - to bear the cloak of their dead young lord to Jerusalem and lay it on Christ's tomb in the church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Jerusalem, 1183: In the holiest of all cities, the brothers become embroiled in the deadly politics, devious scheming and lusts of the powerful men and women who rule the kingdom. Entangled with the dangerous, mercurial Paschia de Riveri, concubine of the highest churchman in the land, William sets on a path so perilous that there seems no way back for him, or for his brother. Both will pay a terrible price and their only chance to see home again will be dependent on the Templar shrouds.

In this glorious adventure, bestselling author Elizabeth Chadwick sweeps the reader to medieval Jerusalem in a story perfect for fans of Ken Follett and Philippa Gregory.