Shadow of the Swords

The bloodshed of the Third Crusade is vividly portrayed in Pasha’s second novel (Mother of All Believers), an excellent swords and sandals saga that takes in the action from an early Islamic perspective. Richard the Lionheart leads the armies of the European Crusaders, while Saladin commands the Muslim forces in Palestine. Both men are cunning and ruthless, and both are victims of the wiles of a beautiful young Jewish woman’s plotting—one man as her lover, the other as an enemy. Miriam is the niece of Maimonides, Saladin’s trusted physician, and she has the power and will to thwart one man’s plans and save the kingdom of the other. This is a suspenseful, action-packed historical filled with intrigue, treachery, revenge, massive atrocity, and gory scenes of battlefield butchery. Best, however, is Pasha’s clear depictions of Saladin’s and Richard’s astute political and military leadership styles as they rally their forces to fight yet another religious war neither would win. (July)