Storm of Fire and Blood: Sword and Serpent Book III

I started reading Sword and serpent about 2 weeks into Lent. I gave up all social media for Lent & was getting aggravated by how hard it actually was. It took me about 2 days to re-wire my brain & be able to focus on the book. After that I couldn’t put it down! I was THRILLED to learn it was a trilogy! Guys, it’s so, so good!! And it’s “clean” too. I never had to skip chapters or paragraphs from it being too bloody, graphic or sexual. It truly is the perfect mix, & it makes me so sad that 99% of books aren’t like this when they easily could be. Today is Good Friday & I just finished the last book. I think that’s pretty cool. I just got my St. Nicholas book in & I’m eager to start it, but sad it’s so thin that it will take me only 2 days. I hope the Author sees this review & feels my gratitude in his heart for writing these. They are perfect for all ages (I’ll be 40 in June)

This book is a story with epic action, moments of humor, and moments of deep darkness contrasted with great hope. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys historical fiction set in late antiquity, and absolutely for anyone interested in a faithful (in all senses) telling of the story of Saint George. This is the third volume of Taylor Marshall's dramatic retelling of the legend of Saint George. Like the other volumes, it is rooted in a realistic and clearly well-researched view of the time frame. It contains even more sweeping, exciting action. The book picks up immediately after the second volume, The Tenth Region of the Night, and takes the reader back and forth across the Roman Empire as everything set in motion in that volume plays out. The storm referenced in the title is almost upon the characters when the story starts. The first third of the book carries a strong sense of foreboding. The view changes back and forth between Jurian, heading to the farthest reaches of the empire; Sabra, in Cyrene; and Aikaterina, in Alexandria. These early portions of the book will be most enjoyed if you have read the earlier volumes. The action then picks up quite a bit, as the storm comes upon them all. There are battles, political maneuvering, and outstanding character development. The book is truly brilliant in weaving together the accounts of other early saints, the other history of the time, and many elements from Arthurian legend, in a way that seems natural and believable. If you know some of the history, these connections will enrich your enjoyment of the story, but even if you don't, you should enjoy the characters and the storytelling. Jurian wrestles with serving in the military of an empire whose leaders he no longer trusts. Can he fight and kill for a Rome that persecutes those he considers his friends and family? He works to weave an honorable course through these questions. The depiction of what he thinks and feels after battle ring true to me as a combat veteran myself. All said, a worthy conclusion to an excellent series. Sword and Serpent The Tenth Region of the Night: Sword and Serpent Book II

This trilogy is among the best historical fiction I have ever read. I am most impressed by authors who leave me wanting more information about the time period and the characters--the real ones especially. This one has led me to add other books to my impossibly long list. I read this one slowly, partly because after reading the first two twice, I didn't want to get to the end. I rarely re-read novels unless I'm teaching them (and I'm retired). But this one I will. I knew very little about who St. George was, when he lived, and whether he was real or not (dragon?). I believe Taylor Marshall satisfies all readers once and for all about the reality of the dragon, and the "armor of God" required to fight him. Marshall also gives us the most appealing images of St. Christopher, St. Nicholas, St. Catherine of Alexandria, Emperor Constantine and his mother St. Helena, among so many others, and you enter this world sharing their impressions, likes, dislikes, fears, etc. in a way that few authors can capture. The villains--Roman Emperor Diocletian and his fawning tribunes--are equally moving. The places and their vivid descriptions are just as vital to the story as its people, and artfully and beautifully captured. The trilogy is marketed to YA, but I believe it will appeal to any age group. Since retiring, I'm one of those readers who has to truly care about the characters or put the book away now. I will miss the characters in Sword and Serpent, and truly hope that Marshall will give us similar historical/fictional fare in the future. Thank you for an awesome read!

Way out here in the far-flung back waters of Canberra Australia, Amazon.com delivered to me the Sword and the Serpent Trilogy: Sword and the Serpent, The Tenth Region of the Night and Storm of Fire and Blood. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the characters, like they were fellow travellers along The Way. With my busy schedule, I still finished Sword and the Serpent in a week - that is QUICK for me as I'll start a novel and lose it a couple days later, without caring to finish it. The Sword and the Serpent is DIFFERENT! I finished it and thought, "Wow, I am keen to learn what Jurian does next in The Tenth Region of the Night and the new friends and foes he meets along the way." There's no swearing, no fornication or anything that will harm children, but the tight plot and compelling characters drive the fascinating story, set during the extreme Diocletian persecutions of the early Catholic Church, just prior to Emperor Constantine allowing the Church unimpeded unmolested growth. This was a time when the Church of Christ was most fertile and exciting. The worst thing that happens to the Church, on occasions is peace, prosperity and the world allowing it grow too big and plump. The shepherds become too worldly and it becomes impossible for the faithful to differential the wolves in sheep's clothing from the sheep in wolves' clothing. Right now we have entered an extreme time of persecution of the Church, after a wonderful golden age of centuries of expansion. New magnificent saints are being forged in this new persecution, which will worsen greatly, before it subsides. The Sword and the Serpent Trilogy gives me hope that God is raising modern saints on the shoulders of the giant ancient saints, like St George. Thank you Dr Marshall for your inspirational novels and non-fiction works.

Purchased as a gift for my nephew. He loves reading and I wanted to provide good, wholesome, Catholic literature.

I have known of Taylor Marshall for many years through his St. Thomas Aquinas Institute. When he published the first book in this series, The Sword and the Serpent, I was given the opportunity to read a pre-publication copy, and found it excellent, but as I did not finish reading before the actual publication, I never wrote a review. When the second book in the series was published, The Tenth Region of the Night, I purchased it at once, as I was anxious to find out how the story continued. It, also, was excellent. Now, at long last, I have finished the series, and as I read the epilogue, something occurred which has rarely happened to me as an adult—I found myself with tears in my eyes! This is such a wonderful trilogy, and so deserves to be better known. The world Taylor Marshall has brought to life, despite my having a deep love of this historical period, was never real to me before. It was, like so much of the past is to all of us, a foreign land. But after reading Mr. Marshall’s book, I feel I have not just visited—I feel I’ve gone there to live for a while, and come back the richer for having been. Thanks to Taylor Marshall, I have a much greater appreciation for The Martyr, St. George, St. Helena, Constantine, and the world they bequeathed to us. A world we must, once again, be willing to defend, possibly (once again) to the death.

I advise you to get the entire set. Every book has good action and romance. But the ending of the 3rd was not good in my opinion. I

I loved the book. Bought the whole series and they were all good reads. I am not a huge fan of when there are multiple stories told at the same time that only connect here and there, but it is a writing style that is pretty popular by fiction authors. Marshall uses it well, but personally I prefer to just stick with one character. I am probably boring, but jumping around kind of messes me up and puts me on notice that this person and that person will have some kind of interaction at some point.

I love the story. I most related with Sabra the Cyrenian because of her conflicting penitent mind. It was a very good and addictive story but my heart was torn to pieces at the tragic end of Jurian. Maybe it's just me. I'm not a lover of tragic endings. But well done, Dr. Marshall, for that good art work!

This book held me spellbound from the beginning to the end. I will read it again somewhere down the track. It is so good to read a book with a solid story.

Love the way facts are mixed with fiction by Taylor Marshall. Each book is better than the previous one. Marvellous!

I had previously rated four stars to the earlier books, but this rounds up to a five. As an adventure story, it has action, mystery and suspense. The crescendo of the plot is captivating and it leads to a climax in the last chapter. A great page turner! On a deeper level, Dr Marshall has given his faithful audience an insight into the life stories and events of the early Church. He avoids sentimentality and wild speculation...I can actually picture the people as Marshall has described, as he has given legitimate identity and plausible context. This book is a must read for those who want to deepen their understanding of the faith community. Dr Marshall, keep up the good work!!!

A good story based on history of Diocletian empire. Written for an elementary aged audience but as a middle aged reader I thoroughly enjoyed these books. Lots of colourful adventure and interesting characters. I was sorry when I finished. Book four? Constantius winning the battle for Rome?