The triumphant conclusion to this epic historical trilogy about a Scottish family's rise to power during the Holy CrusadesDuncan has returned with his new wife to the fastness of Banvard, to continue his father Murdo's good work in building a powerful and devout community. Even more precious a gift than his wife, though, is the other item that Duncan has brought to the Scottish clan: the Black Rood, the holy Cross of the Crucifixion that Duncan rescued from the clutches of the Knights Templar.Yet the reach of the Templars is long, and soon Duncan and his loved ones find themselves under attack from the Christian Knights. Duncan's daughter Cait is forced to flee, and soon finds herself on a boat heading for the Moorish strongholds of Spain, where she will find herself mired in a battle for religious supremacy which threatens to leave only corpses in its wake.Cait appears to have little hope of survival, but it seems that the pious devotion of her forebears is about to bear miraculous fruit. And the possibility of her survival becomes intertwined with the discovery of the most holy relic of all...In the final part of this enthralling trilogy of historical adventure, Stephen Lawhead delivers an explosive and revelatory climax to this unique religious fantasy quest.

The Mystic Rose (The Celtic Crusades, Book Three)

Literature & Fiction

LAWHEAD, STEPHEN R.

Genre Fiction

EOS/HarperCollins

From Arthurian legend to ancient Byzantium, from richly imagined worlds to breathtakingly re-created historical epochs, the novels of Stephen R. Lawhead weave a splendid tapestry of mysticism, heroism, adventure, revelation, and faith. Now the acclaimed author brings to magnificent life one of the most revered and remarkable figures of Celtic legend.
He enters the world as Succat Morgannwg, born of a noble Welsh family in the golden age of Britain. But at age sixteen he is violently torn from his family and home by Irish raiders and sold as a slave to a brutal king. So begin seven years of toil, abuse, and servitude -- and an education that will ultimately turn his path toward the extraordinary.
Rescued by the king's druids from almost certain death, young Succat soon learns the arts of healing and song, and the mystical ways of a secretive order whose teachings tantalize and tempt, hinting at a wisdom and faith deeper than he can imagine.
Yet he will not rest until he sheds the yoke of slavery and returns to his homeland across the sea. When the miracle of opportunity appears, he leaps -- pursuing his dream of freedom through horrific war and shattering tragedy, through great love and greater loss -- from a decimated Wales to the bloody battlefields of Gaul to the fading majesty of Rome. In the twilight of a once supreme empire, he is transformed yet again by a divine hand and a passionate vision of "Truth against the world." And from a friend and mentor, he receives the name that will become legend: Patricius.
A magnificent epic that sweeps across decades and continents, Stephen R. Lawhead's Patrick is an exhilarating adventure based on exhaustive research and newly emergent historical discovery -- a masterful and unforgettable portrait of a slave, soldier, lover, hero, and saint . . . a man whose life mirrored the cataclysmic world into which he was born, and whose memory will outlast the ages.

Patrick: Son of Ireland

Contemporary

William Morrow

Slave, soldier, lover, hero, saint,—his life mirrored the cataclysmic world into which he was born. His memory will outlast the ages.
Born of a noble Welsh family, he is violently torn from his home by Irish raiders at age sixteen and sold as a slave to a brutal wilderness king. Rescued by the king's druids from almost certain death, he learns the arts of healing and song, and the mystical ways of a secretive order whose teachings tantalize with hints at a deeper wisdom. Yet young Succat Morgannwg cannot rest until he sheds the strangling yoke of slavery and returns to his homeland across the sea. He pursues his dream of freedom through horrific war and shattering tragedy—through great love and greater loss—from a dying, decimated Wales to the bloody battlefields of Gaul to the fading majesty of Rome. And in the twilight of a once-supreme empire, he is transformed yet again by divine hand and a passionate vision of "truth against the world," accepting the name that will one day become legend . . . Patricius!

HarperTorch

“LAWHEAD KNOWS HOW TO SPIN A TALE.” —Booklist
A story rich in history and imagination, here is the final volume in Stephen R. Lawhead’s magnificent saga of a Scottish noble family and its divine quest during the age of the Great Crusades.
A thousand years after its disappearance, the Mystic Rose—the fabled Chalice of the Last Supper—has been found, and the warrior monks of the Knights Templar, led by the ruthless and corrupt Renaud de Bracineaux, will stop at nothing to possess it. One brave, dauntless, noblewoman stands in their way . . . 
Born among the hills of Scotland, and raised on the Crusader tales of her grandfather, Murdo, and her father, Duncan, young Cait is determined to claim the Holy Cup for her own. Guided by a handful of clues gleaned from a stolen letter, Cait and a small band of knights follow a treacherous trail that leads from the shadowed halls of Saint Sophia into the heart of Moorish Spain and a world long unseen by Christian eyes. A journey whose end means victory . . . or death. 
“THOSE LUSTING FOR THE TRUE PATH WILL EAT IT UP.” —Kirkus Reviews

The Mystic Rose

Religion & Spirituality

Zondervan

In the year 1095, Pope Urban II declared war on the infidel. Kings, princes, and lords throughout Europe took up the cross and joined the Crusade. It was Murdo Ranulfson's duty to guard his family's interests while his father and brothers fought to win Jerusalem. But when a greedy king and corrupt clergy charged with the protection of Orkney become its worst enemies, Murdo must undertake the pilgrimage himself. Driven to the sea, Murdo follows the Crusades in the hope of finding his father and redeeming his family's land. His epic journey leads him to the heart of the civilized world, the Mediterranean, where the Emperor Alexius struggles to fend off the barbarian hordes that would rend Christendom and engulf the world in darkness. Murdo's quest carries him to the fabled city of Constantinople and beyond to the Holy Land, guarded by the sword points of the Saracens. Amidst unimaginable brutality and ambition, he finds the man he seeks. Steeped in heroism, treachery, and the clamor of battle, The Iron Lance begins an epic trilogy of a noble Scottish family fighting for its existence and its faith during the age of the Great Crusades -- and of a secret society whose hidden ceremonies will shape history for a thousand years.

The Iron Lance (The Celtic Crusades #1)

United States

Harpercollins

In the second book in the exciting Celtic Crusades series, Murdo and his family search for a piece of the cross of Christ.

The Black Rood (The Celtic Crusades #2)

“ACTION-PACKED ADEVNTURE.” —Booklist
Scotland, 1095. While his father and brothers follow Pope Urban II’s call to win Jerusalem from the infidels, Murdo Ranulfson stays behind to guard his family’s interests. But when his home is confiscated by greedy usurpers, Murdo is forced to follow the Crusades himself. Hoping to find his father and redeem his family’s land, Murdo sets off on a journey that leads him to the Mediterranean—the heart of civilization now threatened by barbarian hordes—and on to the fabled city of Constantinople and beyond, to the Holy Land. Amidst brutality and ambition, Murdo discovers what he seeks—and obtains a relic that will guide him and his descendants for centuries. 
Rich in heroism, treachery, and adventure, The Iron Lance begins an epic trilogy of Scottish noble family fighting for its existence and its faith during the age of the Crusades—and of a secret society whose ceremonies will shape history for a millennium. 
“INTRIGUING . . . STEEPED IN HISTORICAL DETAIL . . .” —Library Journal

Harper Prism

“LAWHEAD KNOWS HOW TO SPIN A TALE.” —Booklist
In a time of legends and heroes, blood and mystery, one man will carry on his family’s destiny as he sets upon a dangerous and glorious quest.
The Great Crusade is long over, or so Duncan, son of Murdo, believes until a long-lost uncle appears from the East bearing tales of immense treasure. Though the Iron Lance had been won for the emperor, an even holier relic has been found: the Black Rood—the prayer-worn, blood-stained remnant of the True Cross—now endangered by the greedy ambitions of ruthless crusader barons bent on carving kingdoms from the desert sands of the Middle East.
When Duncan’s life is shattered by tragedy, he sets sail on his own pilgrimage to Jerusalem, following in the footsteps of his father. But the gates to the Holy Land are guarded by the warrior priests known as the Knights Templar. These fearsome guardians hold the key to more than just Duncan’s fate—the very destiny of the West is in their hands. 
“HISTORICAL DETAILS BRING THE SETTING TO ROBUST LIFE.” —Publishers Weekly

The Black Rood

Byzantium

Born to rule
Although born to rule, Aidan lives as a scribe in a remote Irish monastery on the far, wild edge of Christendom. Secure in work, contemplation, and dreams of the wider world, a miracle bursts into Aidan's quiet life. He is chosen to accompany a small band of monks on a quest to the farthest eastern reaches of the known world, to the fabled city of Byzantium, where they are to present a beautiful and costly hand-illuminated manuscript, the Book of Kells, to the Emperor of all Christendom.
Thus begins an expedition by sea and over land, as Aidan becomes, by turns, a warrior and a sailor, a slave and a spy, a Viking and a Saracen, and finally, a man. He sees more of the world than most men of his time, becoming an ambassador to kings and an intimate of Byzantium's fabled Golden Court. And finally this valiant Irish monk faces the greatest trial that can confront any man in any age: commanding his own Destiny.

Harper/Voyager

Arthur CDN

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Fantasy

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Books by LAWHEAD, STEPHEN R.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by LAWHEAD, STEPHEN R.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Mystic Rose (The Celtic Crusades, Book Three)

Patrick: Son of Ireland

Patrick: Son of Ireland

The Mystic Rose

The Iron Lance (The Celtic Crusades #1)

The Black Rood (The Celtic Crusades #2)

The Iron Lance (The Celtic Crusades #1)

The Black Rood

Byzantium

Arthur CDN