From Publishers Weekly
The 13th-century French inquisition that targeted the heretical Cathar sect provides the backdrop for Armstrong's action-packed second novel (after The Game), the first in a planned trilogy. Ramon, "last of the Occitan's famous heretical troubadours," and his motley band of allies take on the forces of evil as personified in the witch-hunter known as the Diableteur, whose scarred and burnt face strikes terror in those who behold him. The Diableteur was responsible for the burning at the stake of Ramon's mother decades earlier, and the minstrel's desire for revenge remains strong. Workmanlike prose and superficial characterization make this a less satisfying read than Zoe Oldenbourg's Destiny of Fire, which likewise centers on the Cathar heresy.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
In his follow-up to the excellent The Game (2007), Armstrong takes on a whole new set of challenges, with mixed results. The story (which is set in the mid-thirteenth century) is intriguing: a motley trio of heroes—a troubadour, a Templar, and a beautiful woman—must find the world's most important religious relic before the evil Diableteur, a disfigured witch hunter who is working for the pope, gets to it. At stake: the future of the Catholic Church. The characters are amusing but perhaps a little too cartoony to shoulder the burdens of the elaborate story. Likewise, the dialogue, while entertaining, crosses the line a few too many times between comic and comic book. But despite feeling slightly out of focus, the novel is thoroughly readable and has more than a few moments of near brilliance in which Armstrong blends comedy, parody, and adventure in genuinely innovative ways. A slight misstep, then, but an ambitious attempt all the same from a writer of abundant talent. Pitt, David
Review
"Readers who enjoyed James Patterson and Andrew Gross's The Jester are bound to like this straightforward narrative, and, it should be mentioned, these historical events are a backstory in The Da Vinci Code. Recommended for all public libraries." —Library Journal
"It's a must read, a sizzling blend of satire, adventure, historical romance and comedy. This is as unique as novels come, and it seems Armstrong has found a remarkably distinctive style that crosses genres, a prose signature that is at once unique and approachable. The tarot-based characters are inspired. This is definitely an author to watch." —Films and Books Magazine
"Derek Armstrong is good." —Michael Korda, editor-in-chief emeritus, Simon & Schuster, and author, Charmed Lives and Another Life
"Kudos to Derek Armstrong . . . this is a wonderful work of art, and I highly recommend it to all who are interested in the Tarot, in the history of the 13th century, and in a mystery that crosses many boundaries!" —Aeclectic Tarot, aeclectic.net
"Set in the thirteenth century and blends history and fantasy to create a rollicking good tale of love and intrigue. " —In The Hills
"Weaving the history of the Cathar Crusade with the historical origins of the Tarot deck, this genre-bending epic brings symbols of the Tarot to life through medieval characters to create a richly textured historical fantasy that is suspenseful, humorous, and tragic." —Accent on Tampa Bay
"I have never been so enlightened by a novel inspired by Tarot as The Last Troubadour . . . an adventure for the mind, heart and soul. I loved it!" —The Tarot Channel
"A wide-screen Technicolor adventure worthy of a full Errol Flynn treatment—an adventure for spiritual grownups that educates as much as it delights." —Lon Milo DuQuette, author, Accidental Christ
Book Description
In this historical thriller set against the rich background of the 13th-century Inquisition, the last living troubadour, condemned by the church as a heretic, must rescue a holy Christian relic from a crusading king. Seamlessly weaving the history of the Cathar Crusade with the historical origins of the Tarot deck, this fascinating, genre-bending epic brings symbols of the Tarot to life through medieval characters—Arnot the Knight Templar as the Chariot, Dame Esclarmonde de Foix as the High Priestess, Nevara as the Magician, Pope Innocent IV as the Hierophant, and Ramon Troubadour as the Fool—to create a richly textured historical fantasy that is suspenseful, humourous, tragic, and satirical by turns.
About the Author
Derek Armstrong is the author of The Game and the coauthor of The Persona Principle. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.
