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Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
Nathaniel Theos’s Bloodline of the Grail is set in 1307, and King Philip IV of France has ordered the arrest of the Knights Templar, a Christian military order. Templar knight Sir Matthieu de Montrose has been entrusted by the Order’s leader, Jacques de Molay, with the Holy Grail, a sacred chalice associated with Jesus Christ. Disguised as a merchant, Matthieu leaves Paris for Portugal, where the Templars still have a foothold. He acquires a neglected estate near their stronghold at Tomar, hoping the property will provide a hiding place for the relic. As his household takes shape, Jacques’s sister, Lady Isabeau de Molay, arrives seeking protection from men claiming her family’s possessions. With suspicion mounting around the growing estate, Matthieu must decide whom he can trust with the secret entrusted to him.
Nathaniel Theos’s Bloodline of the Grail is an outstanding historical novel, with medieval Portugal so beautifully presented that I felt transported into its political world. The author understands what gives a character humanity, which is why Matthieu comes across as a convincing Templar knight. His devotion feels sincere, particularly in the compassion he shows when stitching the wounds of Tomás, a guard beaten by a church official’s men. I was impressed by Isabeau as well, especially her determination in demanding proof from Lourenço Pires after he alleged that Church funds paid for their land. These are people whose convictions mean something, and I found their reactions very true to who they are. The descriptions are wonderful, taking us from a wooded stream slipping over stones to a church where garlands hang beside a doorway darkened by years. Historical fiction readers looking for a new series are in for a treat with this first book of The Last Templar's Oath. Very highly recommended.
