The powerful coming-of-age stories of Will and Gavin de Granville are intertwined with Kamil’s, a young ward of Saladin in this suspenseful histori cal novel. Will and Gavin set off from Hartslove with King Richard on a cru sade to the Holy Land in 1185. The author conveys the themes of the futility of war, romance, and the meaning of loyalty and friendship, and describes the roots of hostility between cultures in this fast-paced, authentic historical novel. The sequels are Green Jasper (2006) and Blaze of Silver (2007). 2006

You need three things to become a brave and noble knight:
A warhorse.
A fair maiden.
A just cause.

Will has a horse-a small chestnut stallion with a white blaze in his brow. Ellie is a fair maiden, but she's supposed to marry Will's older brother, Gavin. And as for the cause, King Richard is calling for a Crusade. The Knights of England must go to the Holy Land to fight.

Will and Gavin will go. Blood will be shed. Lives will be taken. But through it all, two things will be constant-Ellie, and a blood-red horse called Hosanna. . . .