Magic and Religion in the middle ages
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A powerful, ageless, beautiful elf educated as a christian monk - the resulting conflict and inner turmoil is the interesting theme of the trilogy.
Tarr gives a lot of thought to historical detail and atmosphere - this fantasy novel plays in a real historical setting (especially part 2 about the 4th crusade.)
Alf, the monk-elf, is very well drawn as a character, some of the minor characters seem to resemble each other strongly, and I thought I recognized the lady elf from others of Tarrs books - only there she bore different names.
The story is rather slow in flow, but then there's enough along the way worth walking slowly...
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A close-up of the Crusades from a modern fantasy perspective
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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in adifferent time? Tarr, through the eyes of the elf called Alfred, shows a modern reader of fantasy how very little our own perspective resembles the Dark Ages. Through the eyes of Alfred, we learn that true faith is less a matter of religion and more a matter of keeping an open mind...and what can happen when people blinded by religion are also the people in control.
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