Crusade of Fire: Mystical Tales of the Knights Templar    Editor Katherine Kurtz Order:  USA  Can Warner, 2002 (2002) Paperback Read an Excerpt    Reviewed by Hilary Williamson This 3rd collection of Templar tales includes: White Knights by Katherine Kurtz, Harvest of Souls by Deborah Turner-Harris, In the Presence of Mine Enemies by Susan Schwartz, The Last Voyage by Patricia Kennealy-Morrison, Bones of Contention by Richard Woods, Occam's Treasure by Robert Reginald, Stella Maris by Scott Macmillan, and Sleeping Kings by Debra Doyle & James D. Macdonald. Stories are in historical order, separated by Interludes written by Katherine Kurtz to put them in context. The editor's own (rather dull) contribution tells a story of the Templars' beginnings in the Holy Land, with a mandate to protect pilgrims. In Harvest of Souls, Turner-Harris uses black magic to account for King Richard's slaughter of Saracen prisoners. I enjoyed Susan Schwartz's In the Presence of Mine Enemies, which carries on from Ivanhoe to set the scene for a final encounter between an ageing, but still vital, Rebecca and her one time nemesis, Templar Brian de Bois-Guilbert. Kennealy-Morrison's offering, The Last Voyage, also stood out, and deals with the disappearance of a Templar fleet after mass arrests and killings of the Order in Europe - but then I always enjoy a tale of Keltia. Woods' story is one of stealth and the attempted theft of a Templar relic; Reginald gives us a mystery in 1325 Avignon, solved using Occam's Razor; MacMillan plays a time travel trick on a submarine officer, whom he sends to forge documents on a Templar ship; and Debra Doyle & James D. Macdonald's Sleeping Kings brings back Peter Crossman in a playful tale of a modern Templar who foils bad guys hoping to raise dead heroes - with a little help from Sister Mary Magdalene and the Wandering Jew. Though they have their moments these stories are not extraordinary, and are recommended only for serious fans of Templar fantasy. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Fantasy books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews