Book I. -The War for the Holy City
This novel is about Saladin's Conquest of the Holy Land, the Battle of Hattin, and the coming Third Crusade. King Baldwin IV f Jerusalem dies of leprosy and King Guy de Lusignan is miserably defeated by a terrible loss for the Crusader kingdoms. Pope Gregory VIII calls for a new Crusade. Emperor Fredrick Barbarossa leads a crusade also but dies on the way. In this novel Richard the Lionheart set sails for the port of Acre to join the siege, and along the way he faces enemies in Sicily and Cyprus primarily. Richard meets and marries his fiancee, Berengaria of Navarre, and arrives at the port of Acre in June 1191 to join the siege with Philip Augustas.
Book II. The Journey to Jerusalem
The second book of the series is about The Crusaders as they put siege on the port of Acre and take the city. King Philip leaves the Crusade to return home after quarrels with Richard, as does Duke Leopold of Austria. The novel continues with the battle of Arsuf and as the crusaders take the long march towards the city of David. Grand Master Garnier de Nablus is cautioned with an assault on the city while Duke Hugh of Burgundy pushes for it. Sir Peter de Preaux and his brother William plays a prominent role in the Siege of Acre. King Guy de Lusignan loses more and more popularity. This is the first novel about the campaign for the Holy Land between Richard and Saladin. Many minor battles are fought around Beit Nuba and Jaffa.
Book III. The Storming Rage
The Crusaders began to divide more and amongst themselves and feeling he cannot take Jerusalem, Richard withdraws to Ascalon in early 1192. A battle there soon follows there as the Latin army defeats the Saracens. Richard and the French forces separate. The Crusaders fight amongst themselves. King Guy de Lusignan is removed as king and Lord Marquis Conrad temporarily holds the thrown until his mysterious assassination. The divide between the Crusaders is mostly healed as Henry of Champagne gains the throne and the Kingdom of Acre is set. Richard decides to move towards Egypt in a plan to cut off Muslim supply lines and still gain Jerusalem for Christians. The Siege of Darum then follows.
Book IV. The Final Journey
The fourth book of the series is about the crusaders abandonment from the Egyptian Campaign and second march towards Jerusalem. It is the last part of The Third Crusade Series and is the climax of the story as Richard and Saladin face off the bloody and enlightening surprises by the events. The main focus of the story, which takes up about half of the book is the Battle of Jaffa in July-August 1192. The story ends with Peter de Preaux's pilgrimage to Jerusalem and the treaty of Jaffa, as well as the reconciliation of William de Preaux.
Book V. The Return of the Heroes
The first novel of the series not focused about The third Crusade is now centered around the returning journey of Richard the Lionheart to his country. Saladin dies early on. At home, Prince John is trying to seize the throne for himself, and faces resistance from those loyal to the king, including Sir William Marshall and the famous outlaw, Robin Hood. Sir Peter de Preaux returns to France to fight on the loyalist side to the king. Richard faces pirates along his way home and imprisoned in Germany by Leopold of Austria and not set free from his cell until 150,000 marks are payed by the English for his ransom. He returns to England in Mid 1194, and takes his rightful throne back, defeats the rebels in Nottingham by help of the Scottish, and restores England. He then set sail for France, to avenge Philip Augustas whom has seized his lands in Normandy.
Book VI. Crusade to the South
Richard and Philip now face off a war in France as The French lose brutally to the English at the battle of Angouleme and other battles. John still plans to get the throne for himself as Peter de Preaux faces many traitors to the English side, and Robin Hood again fights an old enemy in northern England. Al Adil strugles to restore the divided Ayyubid world after Saladin's death. New characters are brought into this story, as the series begans shifting more and more from the Holy Land to focus on France and England. The novel sets the stage for later, more major events.
Book VII. The Lionheart Trap
This is the last book of King Richard the Lionhearted of England. This book covers the war in France from 1196-1212, as it ends with the reign of Richard I and begans the reign of his wicked brother, Prince John. This novel is about how England lost it's power from France in the late 12th century and how Philip regained the lands of Normandy. Most pivotal to this novel is the death of Richard I. The response is the darkest novel of the series as John ascends to the throne. I have just begun this novel, and so I know not yet what all will be in it. Meanwhile, Peter de Preaux loses friends to join Philip of France while some stay to fight for John against the French. Peter turns out siding with England.
Book VIII.
The last book of the series is the only one that does not have Richard I. Hardly any of the original characters are in this book as it is set over a decade after Richard's death. The novel follows now King John of England, King Philip Augustas of France, Sir William de Preaux, Sir William Marshall, Prince Henry III of England, and former Queen Berengaria of England. As Philip invades England, the English are losing the war and John does not submit to the decisions of the English lords, until the barons force him to write a document called the Magna Charta which weakens the authority of the king. This novel is about how John died and lost his power to his more noble son, Henry III, whom becomes the next king, and leads the English forces to drive The French out of the country, as Prince Loius VII returns to France by defeat. England is restored by victory as better days are ahead under the new king. I have not began this novel yet and have decided not yet to title it as I wish to keep that as a surprise later. I have also not give it an image for it as a cover for the same reason. This last book is part of the series but kind-ave a stand alone novel as most of the characters in it are completely new. It is the last book of the Kings and Crusaders Series.
