5 out of 5 stars
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The Travels of ibn Thomas by James Hutson-Wiley is a historical fiction book that is part of a sequel. Ibn Thomas is the son of an English man and an Arab mother who passed away shortly after his birth. His father is a merchant who disappeared on a secret mission leaving Thomas in the care of his extended family made up of both Jews and Moslems, as well as the church on whose behalf this mission was being done. The book is a true reflection of life during medieval times, through the eyes of ibn Thomas. It is about a time when religion determined most, if not all of the people's decisions. It's about the struggles between the Christians, Moslems, and Jews. Thomas is on a quest to find out what happened to his father who was last seen somewhere in Jerusalem. This book follows him on this journey through Europe, Asia, and even Africa as he navigates through these hostile environments as a baptized Christan with Moslem and Jewish roots.
This book is fast-paced and filled with a lot of adventure and humor. For the main character to navigate this world, he finds himself having to employ many tactics while at the same time avoiding being displeasing to God.
What I liked most about this book was the sense of humor possessed by the narrator. It made this captivating book amusing. I also liked that the author did a lot of research on this era. For example, he referred in detail to the countries, cities, and towns as they were named during those times and mentioned the natural remedies used then to treat ailments, including what they were called in their local dialect. More so, I appreciated that the author formed the story around actual happenings in history, hence making the story more relatable.
I did not dislike anything about the book except that many unfamiliar words in the local dialect were used to describe the areas, and people which I found hard to follow. Thankfully the glossary at the end helped me to understand their meanings. A few grammar mistakes were made but this did not affect my enjoyment of the book.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 because the story was satisfying in more than one way. It was very entertaining, as well as educational. I rate it this in appreciation of the talent and effort put into writing it.
I would recommend this book to any adult who does not mind some gruesome scenes. I also recommend it to anyone interested in history because it is very educative in that sense. I do not recommend it however to anyone who is offended by religion.
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The Travels of ibn Thomas
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