This book starts off with two different stories. It starts with Adam, a young boy whose mother has recently died being taken in by the lord of the manor as the dog boy. When the recruiters for the Crusade come to town Adam signs up and gets carted off to the holy land in the Frankish army. At the same time, in alternate chapters, the book tells the story of Salim, a lame boy who lives in Acre. The city of Acre is coming under siege from the Frankish crusaders. Salim’s father gives him to a doctor and they leave the city leaving his family behind.

The story unfolds and the two boys' stories intertwine more and more as the book progresses. After many encounters and an interesting incident of a Jewish doctor entering the Frankish camp they finally meet. Due to the boys' being on opposite sides they cannot officially befriend each other but you get a good felling that they like each other. With a twist turning one of the boys' lives on its head, and the learning of the other, they come to realise that their enemy is actually human like them.

With a satisfying ending the book doesn’t leave you hanging but it gives the feeling that the facts of the Crusades were quite well researched. With no venturing into the paranormal it is a very believable read, and suspense is built well. My one criticism of the book is the way that it takes a long time to set the story and then all the action really happens in the last 150 pages of the book.

This style of writing may suit some more than me;  I would give this book 7 out of 10.