The author of this novel seems to be a dedicated historian, but not, unfortunately, a talented storyteller. The characters are so unsympathetic that I had a hard time caring what happened to them. They lead very dreary lives (yes, even the Crusades are dreary in this novel) and they seem almost completely unable to communicate with each other. It is almost unheard of for me to leave a book unfinished -- even if the book is bad, I usually feel compelled to find out what happens -- but I quit this 491 page book on page 227. I tried, I really did, but I was unable to maintain any interest in these characters.