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The Religion

Author: Tim Willocks
Publisher: Arrow Books Ltd
Category: Book

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Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars

32 reviews
Sales Rank: 7111

Media: Paperback
Edition: New Ed
Pages: 784
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.1 x 2.1

ISBN: 0099493594
EAN: 9780099493594
ASIN: 0099493594

Publication Date: May 3, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
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Also Available In:

•	Hardcover - The Religion
•	Paperback - The Religion
•	Hardcover - The Religion: A Novel
•	Mass Market Paperback - The Religion (Tannhauser Trilogy)
•	Hardcover - The Religion

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Customer Reviews: Read 27 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Vivid, brutal and full of swagger... June 18, 2008
Like so much of modern pop culture - this book is designed to provoke a reaction from the reader. And it does that in style. The Religion is brilliant but brutal, and not for the faint hearted. More importantly, it is not for those looking for a pleasant read.

It reminds me - in its hard-hitting and brutal view on the world (of sixteenth century Malta) - of Iain Banks' The Wasp factory, or the work of playwright Philip Ridley: there are times when you are reading it that you will feel utterly tense, or physically revolted, as well as intrigued. Such is Tim Willocks' vivid and hard-hitting storyline.

It follows the adventurer Mattias Tannhauser and various colleagues in their mercenary quest to the island of Malta to search for a boy. These characters are both realistic and yet larger than life, and the emotional attachment I developed with them is remarkable.

This is a book to be savoured. Vivid, brutal and full of swagger, there are parts of this book that you will not enjoy at all, and it is in these times that the brilliance of the book is exposed. It is engrossing, though, and not to be missed.

5 out of 5 stars

Superb May 23, 2008
Favourite book of the last few years, the other reviewers have hit the nail on the head, so not a lot more to say. But.. even if the history side doesnt appeal to you the characters, story, etc. will.

4 out of 5 stars

Good but something missing March 28, 2008
OK, this is a great book no doubt about that. Strong story, great action, in fact it comes across a bit like a Wilbur smith novel, only written by his evil twin brother on acid. I am a fan of historical novels and I thought my all time favourite "Gates of fire" by Pressfield was high on the blood and guts score, but Willock's book makes that seem written by enid Blyton in comparison.
Why not 5 stars ?...two things
1) Parts of the novel tend to drift on just a bit too long.
2) Why oh why are there no maps to go with the text. If ever a book is crying out for maps to help orientate the reader its this one.

Apart from that can't wait for the film. deserves treatment a la "300"

5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding, although you'll need a strong stomach... February 11, 2008
Set amongst the chaos and brutality of the Siege of Malta in 1565, this is a great read. Tim Willocks writes with great flair, and uses language to great effect, with some very visceral descriptions and sweeping scenes. The characters are all very memorable, complex, and richly painted - I found myself engaging with them from the get go.

This said, some might find the plot a little too linear, and it tends to be quite clearly divided between the two main strands for much of the book, uniting them at the end. I didn't have a problem with this - it is refreshing to read a novel which focuses on the quality of the writing rather than an overcomplicated plot.

One caveat - the Siege of Malta was evidently not a notably humane fight, and Willocks has certainly not pulled his punches. If you have a problem with graphic violence being explicitly described then you'll probably not be a huge fan of this book.

Thoroughly recommended, I look forward to reading more the author's work.

5 out of 5 stars

Masterpiece January 29, 2008
An excellent masterpiece in terms of the plot, the mixing of historical context with drama, the characterisation, the language - really some very touching wording, and in engaging the reader. Tim Willocks is a great find for me as a reader.