The thrust of politics and greed for world domination certainly hasn’t changed over the centuries. Where ordinary people, and to a great degree women, were mere pawns on the chessboard of power, rulers wielded their might across massive empires. The ongoing quest to free the Holy Land of non-Christian occupiers became religious crusades for many world leaders, including the all-powerful Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick II Hohenstaufen. But, in the decades following the Third Crusade, the greedy, tyrannical Holy Roman Emperor found himself pitted against his own vassals and, in particular, one ruling family that embodied the soul of Outremer: the Ibelins. War breaks out amongst those who fought to free the Holy Land.

Dr. Helena P. Schrader, historian and writer of historical nonfiction and fiction, has recreated these wars in another of her historical fiction novels, The Emperor Strikes Back: Frederick II’s War Against His Vassals. The author gives great attention to detail and historical facts. Like other great historical fiction authors like Sharon Kay Penman, this historian/writer, has created a tableau that invites readers into the world of Middle Eastern politics in the 13th century. Much like Penman, this work is a marvelous addition to any historian’s library and will certainly entice historical fiction lovers to read and savor what it was really like in this time and place in history.

The author provides multiple references to help the reader follow the historical details: family trees to plot connections, a list of characters and their importance to the narrative, maps of the area, layout plans of castles, and at the end is a glossary of terms (many of which twenty-first-century readers may not be familiar with), historical notes (what happened when) and of course sources. Readers are not only transported into the story through the author's descriptive narratives and insightful use of dialogue, but they feel ensconced in the era, the plot and the innuendoes that cause interaction between the characters. This is a riveting tale of historical relevance, an intense read.

The Emperor Strikes Back is a work of historical fiction set in the time of Emperor Frederick II, and was penned by author Helena P. Schrader. Subtitled ‘Frederick II’s War Against His Vassals’, the novel fictionalizes the true events surrounding the Emperor after the success of a Holy Crusade which has restored Christian control of Jerusalem. This is by no means an end to the matter, as the Sultan and his supporters continue their hatred of the Emperor and vow to take back their city. Fighting on all sides and seeking support wherever he can, this is a tale of politics, diplomacy and the powerful will of destruction.

Knowing next to nothing about the Crusades, I was a little intimidated by the depth of knowledge in author Helena P. Schrader’s work. The central action starts with much intrigue and detail, and it takes a little while to get fully into Schrader’s story and understand the many facets of the plot. But like any good drama, these facets soon weave together to create a complex tapestry of military and political implications on levels of the common people and the powerful, influential figures of nobility and religion. I quickly became immersed in the detailed and atmospheric writing, the commitment to bringing emotive psychology to the characters, even those who would do terrible things, and the realism of the fate of the people caught up in the Holy War. Overall, The Emperor Strikes Back is certain to please historical fiction fans everywhere for its accuracy and talented writing style.