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Peter Darman
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As Dust to the Wind (Crusader Chronicles Book 6) Kindle Edition

by Peter Darman (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 1,073 ratings
Conrad and the Sword Brothers are now masters of all they survey. The crusader state they have created by the sword is strong and prospering but peace is only temporary. The riches of Novgorod, now threatened and weakened by the Mongols, is an irresistible target for Bishop Hermann and the Papacy, leading to a new and bloody crusade against the Russians.
For Conrad the appearance of an enemy from his past will reawaken old wounds and a thirst for revenge. But his actions will have a catastrophic effect on the Sword Brothers and will set in train a sequence of events that will lead to a final confrontation between East and West on the frozen surface of Lake Peipus. This battle will be a defining moment not only for Conrad Wolff and the Sword Brothers but also for European history.
This, the final volume in the Crusader Chronicles series, sees Conrad and the Army of the Wolf embark upon their final, fateful campaign.
Maps of Livonia and northern Russia in the thirteenth century, the Lithuanian kingdoms and the tribal lands of Estonia can be found on the maps page of my website: www.peterdarman.com
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  1. Book 6 of 6
    The Crusader Chronicles
  2. Print length
    469 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    April 13, 2016
  5. File size
    3.4 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01E8XK6GM
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 13, 2016
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.4 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 469 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 6 of 6 ‏ : ‎ The Crusader Chronicles
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 1,073 ratings

About the author

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Peter Darman

Peter Darman

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Born in the great county of Lincolnshire and educated at the King's School in Grantham (where Sir Isaac Newton was also educated, though not at the same time!), I began writing over 25 years ago. You can find out all about me and my books by taking a look at my website;

www.peterdarman.com

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,073 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers thoroughly enjoy this novel as the final chapter in the Crusader Chronicles series, praising its suspenseful narrative and well-developed characters. Moreover, the book receives positive feedback for its historical interpretation, with one customer highlighting its detailed look at the Crusades in the Baltic. Additionally, customers appreciate the writing quality, with one noting it's an easy read.

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28 customers mention "Story quality"28 positive0 negative

Customers praise the story quality of the book, describing it as a great series with a good ending and a consistently suspenseful narrative throughout.

"...I am sad to see the series end, this final book in the series tied up the storylines and characters perfectly...." Read more

"...road for the Sword Brothers and a series extremely well written and worthwhile. I enjoyed it more than the Parthian series...." Read more

"...All of these books were nonstop action and intrigue." Read more

"...It is insidious, it is also covered up. Darmen has created a sweeping narrative with heros we love. Hero's often change sides...." Read more

9 customers mention "Historical accuracy"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the historical accuracy of the book, with several noting its interesting interpretation and one highlighting its detailed portrayal of the Crusades in the Baltic region.

"...A good ending novel, that follows history fairly well (according to WIKI)." Read more

"...Throughout, Darman has created wonderful battle scenes and introduced us to history Many of us didn't know...." Read more

"This was an interesting look at the Crusades in the Baltic, with an introduction to the lives of the people in that area...." Read more

"...Nevertheless a thoroughly good series a an important period of history in that part of Europe" Read more

9 customers mention "Series"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the series, with one noting it provides a fitting end to the story.

"This is the final book in the series and arguably one of the best...." Read more

"What a way to finish out an excellent character and series. All of these books were nonstop action and intrigue." Read more

"This was the final book in this series and I have really enjoyed reading about how Estonia came about...." Read more

"loved the series" Read more

6 customers mention "Character depth"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the depth of the characters in the book.

"...end, this final book in the series tied up the storylines and characters perfectly...." Read more

"What a way to finish out an excellent character and series. All of these books were nonstop action and intrigue." Read more

"...'s enjoyable series the "Crusader Chronicles." I have enjoyed the characters and the exciting battle scenes depicted in all six of these..." Read more

"...So many characters that come and go to pop up again and continue in the story line. Had a hard time putting it down...." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well written, with one mentioning it's an easy read.

"...The well-crafted writing puts you in the center of the action at all times...." Read more

"...been a long and tortuous road for the Sword Brothers and a series extremely well written and worthwhile. I enjoyed it more than the Parthian series...." Read more

"...in all six of these books and am sad to see and end to this very well written series...." Read more

"...The writing was good, storylines fine. The series incorporates many interesting and different places & peoples for this genre." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Maria
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner from Peter Darman!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Though I am sad to see the series end, this final book in the series tied up the storylines and characters perfectly. The well-crafted writing puts you in the center of the action at all times. I highly recommend this series and all the other series by Mr. Darman if you enjoy historical fiction. If you do, his books are not to be missed!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Bob Jarvis
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good closure to a great series.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This is the final book in the series and arguably one of the best. The style and presentation of the book is the same as the others in respect of character performance, action sequences and political shenanigens, but there is a great feeling of closure at the final chapter. It's been a long and tortuous road for the Sword Brothers and a series extremely well written and worthwhile. I enjoyed it more than the Parthian series. However, both would have been very much improved if the Kindle versions had included a few clear (or any) maps.
    I wonder if Mr. Darman is taking us on another historical epic any time soon.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Series
    Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    What a way to finish out an excellent character and series. All of these books were nonstop action and intrigue.
    Helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Immortal?
    Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This series is full of adventure, heart ache and treachery. Within the push for dominance the history of the militant stand the Catholic Church spreading Christianity, lurks evil. It is insidious, it is also covered up. Darmen has created a sweeping narrative with heros we love. Hero's often change sides. The best remain true to their beliefs and even in death are victorious. I cried as each one met his/her end. Thank you for your gift of Conrad and his fellow Sword Brothers.
    One person found this helpful
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  • G Holmes
    4.0 out of 5 stars As Dust to the Wind, finale
    Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This is the sixth book in the series about the Northern Crusades, where Conrad Wolf is the remaining Sword Brother, Marshall of Estonia and a highly experienced knight. A good ending novel, that follows history fairly well (according to WIKI).
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  • James E. McDaniels
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The real title should be, Wow! This is my first introduction to the northern crusades. I thoroughly enjoyed all the books of the series. The author is at the top of all historical fiction writers. He should be awarded the title of Master. Thank you for all your research
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  • David Crowder
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good ending for the series
    Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Ok. Good ending for the series.
    Helpful
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  • Wayne Turmel
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fitting end to the series
    Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    The Sword Brothers series comes to an end. Throughout, Darman has created wonderful battle scenes and introduced us to history Many of us didn't know. If you've read this series, the ending is satisfying, indeed.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Suspense
    Reviewed in Canada on January 1, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Very good couldn’t put the book down
    Report
  • KK
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
    Reviewed in India on April 23, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    A fitting end to an enjoyable and gripping series taking us back in time.

    Thanks for a wonderful journey with Conrad and his friends.
    Report
  • Tasje
    5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting tale
    Reviewed in Australia on July 8, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I really love this series, interesting to read the crusader history in east Europe for a change, well written felt I was there!
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  • JPS
    5.0 out of 5 stars The last of the Sword Brothers
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 19, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This the sixth and last book of the Sword Brothers’ series, and it also covers their last years and historical defeats at both Saule in 1236, where half of the Order was killed along with its Grand Master, and lake Peipous six years later, where most of the second half of the Order that had by then merged with the Teutonic Knights, perished.

    As usual, the author mixes up historical events with fiction and comes up with a rather superb and heroic novel, full of clashes and high sentiments such as duty, honour, loyalty and pride. There is, of course, quite a bit of license introduced if only because the Sword Brothers may not have been as “nice” and honourable as the author’s portrays them to be. In fa ct, most of them may have resembled the fierce, ruthless and cruel Henke more than the “nice” Rudolf, as the author acknowledges in his historical note by mentioning that the historical Rudolf Kassel was a troublemaker.

    Also well shown is the extent to which the Sword Brothers and their Teutonic successors in Livonia and Estonia were stretched and beleaguered, especially during this period. This was because of the Mongol onslaught which deprived them of the usual Crusader reinforcements that would arrive to help each year. The author is also perfectly correct to mention as part of the story that several hundred of Teutonic Knights and sergeants were present at Leibnitz alongside Templars and other Christians and were cut to pieces by the Mongol onslaught, just as the Russians had been a couple of decades ago. As mentioned at one point in the book, the Sword Brothers, and their Teutonic successors to perhaps a lesser extent, were almost always short of manpower and “one defeat away of disaster” to quote the vivid – if slightly exaggerated – comment that the author attributes to one of his characters.

    What is perfectly true and also well shown in the book, however, is that the Military Orders, following these defeats, never got to conquer Lithuania or Novgorod. An open question, which is also more that hinted at by the author, is whether they could have conquered and held the newly conquered territory had they been victorious, given how increasingly overstretched they had become. Another great feature is to show the expansion of Riga and Livonia, and of Reval and Estonia to a lesser extent, through trade across the Baltic with Germany, especially once the preying Osselians had been conquered and their piratical kingdom destroyed. However, as also shown, while Riga got richer, the Military Orders defending the borders and trying to expand them did not seem to have benefited from increased support and resources to the same extent.

    The characterisation is also interesting, although some of the main characters tend to be drawn up in black and white. One of the most fascinating ones is the King of the Kurs who allies with the Germans and becomes (at least superficially) a Christian. A remarkable feature is the way he transforms his army into an unbeatable force by adopting the Orders’ heavy cavalry and crossbow infantry in addition to their existing fearsome features, such as their double handed battles axes and javelin throwing infantry. Also interesting in what is a very successful integration and a “success story” is the way he finances this by building himself a commercial fleet to sell his own goods into Germany and out of Riga. I do not know if and to what extent any of this is historical or just the author’s license. Even if the latter, however, it does help explain how the Kurs held out for so long, and better than many of their neighbours against the German invaders.

    A related element is that I found that the characterisation had somewhat evolved and even improved over time and throughout the Series. In particular, the exiled Prince of Ugania that seeks vengeance against the Sword Brothers is not entirely the “baddie” that he was shown to be previously. A similar comment can be made for the Major of Pskov who did indeed meet his fate more or less as described in the book. A further nice touch is that the book also includes a bit of fantastic magic along with the Suzi story – the mythical wolf and protector of Estonia

    Another valuable feature throughout the book is the mixture of nostalgia, sadness and looming doom as the word changes that pervades the thoughts of “Suzi”, the fictitious Conrad, Sword Brother and Marshall of Estonia. The nostalgia and sadness is shown through the memories he has of his wife and son and of his four lost sword brothers, all killed before him over the past twenty-five years, and of the words they use to come up with before each battle and which make up the title of this book. The sense of doom comes largely as undeserving Crusader Lords and newly arrived haughty, arrogant and ignorant Teutonic Knights lord it over those that have been successfully fighting for over two decades and lead them to disaster.

    All in all, a great, exciting and entertaining adventure story which I thoroughly enjoyed. Five stars.
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  • Andrew G
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great finish
    Reviewed in Australia on August 26, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Thank you for a excellent series, that addressed a place and time in history that I had never thought off. Great read.
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