Like a chain-mail Tom Clancy thriller, The Temple and the Stone is a big, brash story full of political machination, conspiracy, and macho heroes. The forces of good here are the legendary Knights Templar, protectors of the Temple of Jerusalem, and their fearsome opponents are the evil worshipers of the old gods. Katherine Kurtz and Deborah Turner Harris conceive of an alternate history in which the Templars guard the astral manifestations of the Kingdom of God as well as the physical realm. The titular stone is not only the traditional seat of Scottish monarchs but also the cornerstone for a new holy temple. The heroic knights Arnault, Brabant, and Torquil must restore the stone's powers and fight the black-magic designs of the Pictish Comyns--all while fulfilling their knightly duties in the dangerous conflicts between fiercely independent Scotland and an increasingly powerful England. This is richly satisfying historical fantasy, with a magical twist. --Therese Littleton


From Publishers Weekly
Kurtz and Harris's Adept series established the authors as reliable voices in fantasy. Here, as in two story anthologies edited by Kurtz (On Crusade, etc.), the subject is the enigmatic Knights Templar, the powerful religious-military order renowned for its role in the Crusades and medieval world politics. This novel's heroes, Arnault de Saint Clair and Torquil Lennox, belong to le Cercle, an initiated inner order possessed of good magic with Hebrew, Christian and Celtic sources. Their goal is to establish a Fifth Temple in Scotland?but this means Scotland must be free, while King Edward and even fellow Templars seek to institute English rule. Against the magic of le Cercle is set evil, ancient blood-magic, leading to exciting conflicts and a final banishment of the goddess Gruagah and her servants. Yet reviving the Stone of Destiny?seat upon which all true Scottish kings are crowned?demands a sacrifice, though a willing one in imitation of Christ. This seamless combination of historical novel and fantasy offers rich background and, especially in the second half, substantial suspense and adventure. The magic scenes will please fantasy readers, while the atmospheric and well-detailed setting holds promise that the novel might cross over to fans of historical fiction. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Following a vision that foretells the formation of a new Temple of Solomon in Scotland, Brother Arnault de Saint Clair, a member of a secret magical order within the Order of the Knights Templar, becomes involved in the struggle for Scottish independence. The authors of the Adept series (featuring modern-day Templars) vividly re-create one of Scottish history's most compelling periods, as Robert the Bruce and William Wallace share the limelight with fictional, but no less credible, characters. Solidly researched medieval history and legends of Templar magic blend seamlessly in a fascinating tale of faith and high magic that belongs in most fantasy collections.Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
The creators of the Adept series, each a master of historical fantasy in her own right, take up the nightmarish Anglo-Scots wars of the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries. Arnault de Saint Clair and Torquil Lennox, two Knights Templar driven from the Holy Land, are assigned secret work aimed at finding a secure place for their fellowship's fifth temple. That place seems likely to be in Scotland, so the ruthless ambitions of England's Edward I to rule the Scots must be opposed. Meanwhile, the blackest ancient sorcery is working against the survival of Christianity, let alone independence, in Scotland. The tale sprawls more than even its large-scale story quite justifies but is packed with treats for the historical fantasy buff--such things as portraits of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. Kurtz and Harris have lost none of their intensely visual quality, though, leading one to hope that this apparent prequel to the Adept will have a sequel of its own, featuring Robert the Bruce and the epic Battle of Bannockburn. Roland Green


From Kirkus Reviews
Following the recent volume of Knights Templar stories (On Crusade, 1998, edited by Kurtz), here's a Templar novel from this established collaboration team (Death of an Adept, 1996, etc.). As the 13th century draws to a close, the frail child Margaret of Norway, last of the Scottish royal house of Canmore, dies, allowing Edward Plantagenet of England his ambition of grabbing Scotland by force, or by absorption, in order to dictate who the next king of Scotland will be. Meanwhile, on Cyprus, the Templar inner circle accepts that it will never recapture Jerusalem and so will need a safe, secure retreat to build a new temple for housing its treasuresand Arnault de Saint Clair's vision shows him Scotland. It's also no coincidence that Arnault was present when Margaret diedby sorcery. With Torquil Lennox and Luc de Brabant, Arnault travels to Berwick, where Edward is ready to place his lackey, John Balliol, on the Scottish throne. But the Stone of Destiny, upon which the Scottish kings sit to be crowned, has lost its mystical potency. In another vision, Torquil learns that the last king of Scotland, Alexander III, was also killed by sorcery. What the Templars don't yet know is that the Comyn family, which secretly controls Balliol, worships the Pictish old gods and is plotting to overthrow the entire Christian tradition in Scotland. So the stage is set for an intricate power struggle, religious, secular, and sorcerous, connecting William ``Braveheart'' Wallace, Robert the Bruce, Scottish independence, and the fate of the Templars themselves. A skillful and involving blend of real history, speculation, and elements of controlled, credible fantasy. -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Download Description
Scotland, the end of the thirteenth century--and a world at war. As armed conflicts engulf Europe, Africa, and the Holy Land, clans rebel against the tyranny of Edward I of England. Led by mystic visions, Frère Arnault de Saint Clair and a band of fellow Templars enter the deadly Highland insurrection. Their mission: to save Scotland's sacred Stone of Destiny, that its spirit and power may be reborn in the soul of the Uncrowned King, warrior William Wallace . . .For hideous pagan gods of blood have woken in Albion, corrupting, devouring, destroying--and the fate of the entire Christian world will soon depend on the courage of the Highlander known as Braveheart.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

During the 12th and 13th centuries, the order of warrior monks called the Poor Knights of the Temple of Jerusalem became one of Christendom's major armies, amassing vast wealth, landholdings - and knowledge. Led by visions, Templar Frere Arnault de Saint Clair and several of his brethren embark on a dangerous secret mission. They must save Scotland's Stone of Destiny from the English, so that its spirit may be reborn from the brave heart of Scotland's doomed champion William Wallace. For Arnault's visions have revealed that the conflict in Scotland is more important even than the battle for Jerusalem. A Pictish shaman is reviving pagan gods of blood. And the thrones of two lands - and perhaps the Church - have been corrupted by darkness.

SYNOPSIS

Katherine Kurtz, author of the classic Deryni books, and Deborah Turner Harris, coauthor with Kurtz of the bestselling Adept series, present an acclaimed new novel of the Knights Templar: the medieval warrior priests who, according to legend, wielded vast occult powers to guide the course of history.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Kurtz and Harris's Adept series established the authors as reliable voices in fantasy. Here, as in two story anthologies edited by Kurtz (On Crusade, etc.), the subject is the enigmatic Knights Templar, the powerful religious-military order renowned for its role in the Crusades and medieval world politics. This novel's heroes, Arnault de Saint Clair and Torquil Lennox, belong to le Cercle, an initiated inner order possessed of good magic with Hebrew, Christian and Celtic sources. Their goal is to establish a Fifth Temple in Scotland--but this means Scotland must be free, while King Edward and even fellow Templars seek to institute English rule. Against the magic of le Cercle is set evil, ancient blood-magic, leading to exciting conflicts and a final banishment of the goddess Gruagah and her servants. Yet reviving the Stone of Destiny--seat upon which all true Scottish kings are crowned--demands a sacrifice, though a willing one in imitation of Christ. This seamless combination of historical novel and fantasy offers rich background and, especially in the second half, substantial suspense and adventure. The magic scenes will please fantasy readers, while the atmospheric and well-detailed setting holds promise that the novel might cross over to fans of historical fiction. (Aug.)

VOYA - Nancy Eaton

In a novel that reads more like historical fiction than fantasy, Kurtz returns to a familiar theme: the Knights Templar, a military and religious order active during the Crusades. Frere Arnault de Saint Clair witnesses the death of the young heir to the Scottish throne and suspects that forces of evil were involved. This evil, a manifestation of an ancient bloodthirsty Pictish religion, continues to affect the ongoing struggle for power between rival claimants. In addition, the Stone of Scone-here called the Stone of Destiny-has lost its mystical ability to endow the rightful king with power. New monarch John Balliol, supported by Edward I of England in a bid for ultimate authority over Scotland, proves to be a weak ruler. Convinced that someone close to the King has turned his back on Christianity and is working to reinstate the ancient ways, Arnault endeavors to restore both the Stone's flame and an independent Scottish monarchy. Tragic hero William Wallace, of Braveheart fame, plays a Christ-like role in the redemption of Scotland and the Stone so that Robert Bruce may fulfill his destiny as King. Introductory scenes of the young heir's death and the Templars' travels in the East do not move as quickly as the main story, but teens with a taste for intrigue, history, and magic will enjoy this adventurous tale of thirteenth-century Scottish succession. VOYA Codes: 3Q 3P S A/YA (Readable without serious defects, Will appeal with pushing, Senior High-defined as grades 10 to 12 and adults).

Library Journal

Following a vision that foretells the formation of a new Temple of Solomon in Scotland, Brother Arnault de Saint Clair, a member of a secret magical order within the Order of the Knights Templar, becomes involved in the struggle for Scottish independence. The authors of the Adept series (featuring modern-day Templars) vividly re-create one of Scottish history's most compelling periods, as Robert the Bruce and William Wallace share the limelight with fictional, but no less credible, characters. Solidly researched medieval history and legends of Templar magic blend seamlessly in a fascinating tale of faith and high magic that belongs in most fantasy collections.

Kirkus Reviews

Following the recent volume of Knights Templar stories (On Crusade, 1998, edited by Kurtz), here's a Templar novel from this established collaboration team (Death of an Adept, 1996, etc.). As the 13th century draws to a close, the frail child Margaret of Norway, last of the Scottish royal house of Canmore, dies, allowing Edward Plantagenet of England his ambition of grabbing Scotland by force, or by absorption, in order to dictate who the next king of Scotland will be. Meanwhile, on Cyprus, the Templar inner circle accepts that it will never recapture Jerusalem and so will need a safe, secure retreat to build a new temple for housing its treasuresþand Arnault de Saint Clair's vision shows him Scotland. It's also no coincidence that Arnault was present when Margaret diedþby sorcery. With Torquil Lennox and Luc de Brabant, Arnault travels to Berwick, where Edward is ready to place his lackey, John Balliol, on the Scottish throne. But the Stone of Destiny, upon which the Scottish kings sit to be crowned, has lost its mystical potency. In another vision, Torquil learns that the last king of Scotland, Alexander III, was also killed by sorcery. What the Templars don't yet know is that the Comyn family, which secretly controls Balliol, worships the Pictish old gods and is plotting to overthrow the entire Christian tradition in Scotland. So the stage is set for an intricate power struggle, religious, secular, and sorcerous, connecting William "Braveheart" Wallace, Robert the Bruce, Scottish independence, and the fate of the Templars themselves. A skillful and involving blend of real history, speculation, and elements of controlled, credible fantasy.