February 2008: Another top ten for Robyn as the paperback of Crusade goes straight into the UK bestseller list.
Crusade has been chosen as ASDA's book of the month. Click here for details.
January 2008: Brethren (in Germany, Die Blutschrift) is named Book of the Year 2007 by Germany's top-selling newspaper Bild-Zeitung.
September 2007: In its first week of sales, Crusade has entered the UK chart at number 2.
May 2007: Robyn is chosen as one of Waterstone's "25 authors for the future." The list, which was announced at an awards ceremony in London, was chosen with the help of agents, publishers and a Waterstone's panel. "This list is as much a celebration of today as of tomorrow, of outstanding contemporary writers to read right now." Kate Mosse. (Read more here)
April 2007: Brethren goes straight into the UK top ten in paperback
Brethren has so far sold to eighteen countries: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UK, and USA.
(Check out the foreign editions at Buy the Books)
Reviews
"Swords clash in the first sentence of Young’s latest and go on clashing throughout...plenty of action...attention to historical detail offset by pacey dialogue’"
The Times
"Intricate but wonderfully written, a romp of a read and an exhilarating ride...[Crusade] evokes the atmosphere of the times brilliantly..."
Birmingham Post
"Crusade is a sweeping historical adventure as well as a cracking sequel."
The Financial Times
"...pacy but intricate...this book will not disappoint those wanting to dive into an epic story of war."
News of the World
"Irresistible...Teeming with spirited characters, treachery and betrayal, Brethren captures a story that grows more relevant by the day."
Raymond Khoury, author of The Last Templar
"Brethren is one of the best historical debuts in recent memory. Exciting and enthralling, it gripped me from the first page and left me waiting anxiously for the next instalment."
John Connolly, author of The Book of Lost Things
"Wonderful ...loaded with medieval atmosphere, action, and intrigue. The Crusades come alive for what they were ---- personal battles of conquest and ambition. Robyn Young is a writer who bears watching."
Steve Berry, author of The Templar Legacy
"Engaging and enjoyable - Robyn Young brings the tumultuous medieval world to life with pace and flair."
Tom Harper, author of Siege of Heaven
"If you love the Templars, the Crusades, and the Middle Ages, this is the book for you. Robyn Young is an exciting new voice that speaks loudly."
Sharon Kay Penman, author of Prince of Darkness
"Pacy and well-written, with vivid, convincing characters, Brethren captures your interest until the last page. I eagerly anticipate the sequel, knowing I will not be disappointed."
Alison Weir, author of Eleanor of Aquitaine & Innocent Traitor
"Writing medieval stories is one of the toughest jobs in historical fiction, because there are so many details we just don't know - how people talked to each other, how they loved each other. But Robyn Young has written an intricate, compelling, captivating and, above all, believable story. Brethren is a brilliant piece of sustained imagination."
David Boyle, author of Blondel's Song: The Capture, Imprisonment & Ransom of Richard the Lionheart
"In a word: Gripping."
The Weekend Gold Coast Bulletin, Australia.
"Young combines historical detail, lively characterisation and strong narrative drive."
Colin Steele. The Canberra Times.
"El Cid meets the Da Vinci Code! Exciting, page-turning fiction."
Boyd Hilton, Heat Magazine (Simon Mayo's book panel, BBC Five Live, 21.09.06)
"Be warned... To open Brethren is to become trapped. Robyn Young's debut novel will ensnare you and will not let go until the final page is turned. As a work of historical fiction, it succeeds in being both an educational read and one that simply bears a very compelling story."
Bookreporter.com Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.
"Richly worked and captivating...an epic story of war, intrigue and heroism."
Good Book Guide.
"Tipped to be the next Da Vinci Code."
Elle.
"A sweeping historical adventure with strong characters and serious verve...hits all the big emotional points...Can't wait for the next two volumes!"
Sarah Weinman: Baltimore Sun, Shots Magazine, Galleycat Blog.
"Debut novelist Young climbs aboard the Templar bandwagon, but sets the bar high in this initial installment of a trilogy on the Knights and the last crusade. Christendom's desperate attempts to maintain a foothold in the Holy Land against a furious Muslim jihad is embodied by Sir William Campbell, a young, idealistic Knight Templar, and the devout Baybars Bundukdari, the sultan of Egypt, determined to rid the region of Western influence. Young shifts between the rival camps; there is plenty of battlefield action, and a romantic interest for William in Elwen, the beautiful young niece of his fallen mentor. There's also a mystery for William to solve: the disappearance of the Book of the Grail, which contains the explosive (and heretical) agenda of a secret group of Brethren within the Knights Templar. Combining rich historical detail, clever plotting and engaging characters, Young has crafted a historical thriller that will have readers turning pages and envisioning the sequel."
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"Robyn Young's Brethren is a truly excellent novel. The thirteenth century is vividly and excitingly evoked, but it's not only that which keeps you reading. Her descriptions are brilliant - the action scenes especially make you gasp - and you really come to care about what happens to her characters (even the wicked ones). I can't wait for the sequel!"