The Mystic Rose [Hardcover]

Having a heroic feminine protagonist with such determination seemed anachronistic, and it is debatable whether Lawhead was really able to create a female heroine with any degree of real success or conviction. Yet what I appreciated about Lawhead's characterization is that Cait is a well-rounded character who develops, and that she needs to learn to overcome her lust for revenge, as well as her uncritical passion for a Moorish prince dubious in character. The repentant Cait is eventually overwhelmed by the enormity of her crimes, and confesses: "I prayed to be God's instrument of justice. I thought to use the Mystic Rose to lure my father's killer to his doom. For that, I needed the Holy Chalice, and I came here to take it. You must think me a most brazen and contemptible sinner. The audacity of my deeds amazes even me." (p414). Lawhead's main character in this respect is a flawed and very real - just like ourselves - which makes his story all the more convincing and credible. The Holy Grail plays an important role in Cait's change. As was the case in the other books of the trilogy, coming into contact with the sacred relic leads to visions and experiences of spiritual renewal, sipping from the cup resulting on this occasion in a vision of the Passover Feast.

But while the characterization is quite sound, the plot lacks the suspense and imagination of some of Lawhead's other efforts, and the series as a whole lacks their intense passion and emotion. Like the rest of the series, "The Mystic Rose" is good, but not great. Here's hoping that Lawhead will return to crafting the novels in the genre that gained him such great success: the brilliant, imaginative and passionate historical fantasy of "The Song of Albion" trilogy and "Pendragon" cycle. If not for the brilliance of these other works, perhaps I would be speaking in much more glowing terms of "The Celtic Crusades". But while this series doesn't shine so bright when compared with Lawhead's own work, perhaps it can hold its own against a great deal of other historical fiction today. If you're a Lawhead fan, you'll probably enjoy his other work better. But if you're a historical adventure fan, you might well find "The Celtic Crusades" a rewarding read. -GODLY GADFLY

The Mystic Rose does the best job of the three in grabbing your attention at the beginning and holding it. Within the first few pages an event happens that sets the tone for the rest of the book. The heroine, Caitriona sets off on a quest to avenge her father's murder and capture Christendom's most sacred relic. In fact, capturing Christendom's most sacred relic is integral to her plan for revenge. This sets up a dicey moral dilemma that is resolved nicely at the end.

I find things like this moral dilemma to be one of Lawhead's strengths. In so much Christian fiction the heroes are cookie cutter Christians who seem to rise above all of the sins and temptations of the common man. Lawhead's heroes, and Caitriona in particular are very earthy, and very sinful people. The upshot of this is that he tells a story that leads one to believe that God, in his mercy, is the real hero of the story, not the protagonist of the book.

At the end of this story, Caitriona is less conquerer and more conquered by the love and mercy of God. This is a very gospel based story line.

All in all, the entire series is a worthwhile read.

The book is not up to Lawhead's usual fare. The plot tends to drag in places, and some of the description becomes tediously overdone. I did enjoy the story, and found myself reading more than I had planned at each sitting(thank God for sunscreen, or I'd have been a lobster!). Cait's quest for the Grail, her desperate search for her sister -- these parts of the book drew me further. Her encounter with both the subjects of her search in the same place and her ... but I will say no more, so as to not give away precious plot points. Suffice to say that the book is well worth the time and effort in reading it. For those who have followed Murdo and Duncan, this book contributes to the BOTH stories that we have been following -- the story of the returning Crusader, and the story of the modern-day Cele De.