The Religion: A Novel Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Tim Willocks (Author), Simon Vance (Narrator), Macmillan Audio (Publisher)

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May 1565. Suleiman the Magnificent, emperor of the Ottomans, has declared a jihad against the Knights of Saint John the Baptist. The largest armada of all time approaches the Knights' Christian stronghold on the island of Malta. The Turks know the Knights as the "The Hounds of Hell." The Knights call themselves "The Religion."

In Messina, Sicily, a French countess, Carla la Penautier, seeks a passage to Malta in a quest to find the son taken from her at his birth 12 years ago. The only man with the expertise and daring to help her is a Rabelaisian soldier of fortune, arms dealer, former janissary, and strapping Saxon adventurer by the name of Mattias Tannhauser. He agrees to accompany the lady to Malta, where, amidst the most spectacular siege in military history, they must try to find the boy - whose name they do not know and whose face they have never seen - and pluck him from the jaws of Holy War.

The Religion is Book One of The Tannhauser Triology, and from the first page of this epic account of the last great medieval conflict between East and West, it is clear we are in the hands of a master. Not since James Clavell has a novelist so powerfully and assuredly plunged readers headlong into another place and time. Anne Rice transformed the vampire novel.

Stephen King reinvented horror. Now, in a spectacular tale of heroism, tragedy, and passion, Tim Willocks revivifies historical fiction.

Listening Length

25 hours and 17 minutes
Author

Tim Willocks
Narrator

Simon Vance
Audible release date

May 8 2007
Language

English
Publisher

Macmillan Audio
ASIN

B071LCFD6G
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	25 hours and 17 minutes
Author	Tim Willocks
Narrator	Simon Vance
Audible.ca Release Date	May 08 2007
Publisher	Macmillan Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B071LCFD6G
Best Sellers Rank	#100,038 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #6,457 in Historical Fiction (Audible Books & Originals) #40,339 in Historical Fiction (Books) #47,842 in Action & Adventure Fiction (Books)

Customer reviews

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4 star		13%
3 star		7%
2 star		4%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from Canada

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Gregory P. Smith, author of Seeking Courage

Great History with Colourful Characters, Disturbing Delivery

Reviewed in Canada on October 30, 2018

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i read this novel because I wanted to understand the the most important period of history of Malta before I traveled there. While it was extremely well researched with great character development, it was way too long (for example the battle scenes were made unnecessarily complex and difficult at times to follow). But perhaps the most disturbing is Willock's obsession with guts and gore, and within that subject, the unnecessary reliance on scatology to get the horror across.

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Paul-Émile Monfette

Fiction mixed wirh history

Reviewed in Canada on January 26, 2019

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Very good description. ¨People some realistic.

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Albert Farthing

makes me feel like throwing up at times

Reviewed in Canada on August 28, 2016

A barn-burner of a novel -- shocking, grotesque, makes me feel like throwing up at times, with the shocking descriptions of what probably happened --and worse -- in the tumult of the era known as the Middle Ages. As well as graphically illustrating the power of Religion , at its very best, and very worst. If you can stay with it to the bloody yet glorious end, it will alter your perceptions and feelings about Religion, War, Human Nature, and all sorts of other things. Not for the squeamish , or for those who need to look at the world through rose coloured glasses.
Al Farthing

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Amazon Customer

Sublime

Reviewed in Canada on March 1, 2017

I read a lot of historical fiction but few books have stayed with me like this one. If you love Bernard Cornwell for his moment by moment battle scenes, you will love this book. These characters remain epic like few others, utterly driven by the rich and painful moment in history into which they find themselves driven.

I read the second in this series and liked it better than most books, but it lacked the rawness of the first. Still, a big enough fan to be seeking the third Tanhauser book

Otherwise, Tim Willocks seems quite scattered in his approach to writing. Dunno... If I could write like this guy, guess I'd write whatever I felt like, too...

But in my opinion, his ability to make you live through a battle in real time is rare and I would love to read more from him in this genre.

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Denise Rootenberg

Well written and enthralling

Reviewed in Canada on August 25, 2007

I totally disagree with the bad Booklist review. I found the book fascinating and even though I am a female and very squeamish about descriptions of blood and gore I didn't skip one word of it. It was so vivid I felt like I was at the scene or at least that the writer had witnessed what he was describing. It was extremely well researched and the historical detail was very interesting. I am not normally a fan of this genre but thoroughly enjoyed this book. Like the other Amazon reviewer, I look forward to the other two books of the trilogy.

2 people found this helpful

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Paul D. Leney

Not a masterpiece but a Solid Read

Reviewed in Canada on September 26, 2007

It may be because alot of current historical fiction hitting the shelves is concerned with the Templar knights, but this novel wasn't anything new in subject.

That being said, you are transported into the battle for Malta. I am curious to learn a little bit more so I would say this book both educates and entertains.

I wasn't entirely pleased with the moral tone of the novel in that it is anit-war in many ways with a "be true to yourself" message underlying the story line.

Worth a read but I can't help but think you may be deflated at the end of the novel.

One person found this helpful

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John K. Sullivan

Journey of Faith

Reviewed in Canada on August 16, 2007

Tired of all the serial Templar vs. the Catholic Church books? Meet the Knights of St. John the Baptist of Jerusalem, the "Hospitaliers" or "The Religon". Tim Willocks provides the reader with an amazing story of the siege of Malta and a cast of characters who deal with all their losses and quest for redemption among the horror of a brutal war. This book was so good that I actually stopped on certain occasion just to imagine what it must have been like at the Siege of Malta.
I cannot wait for the next two installments of this story line.

3 people found this helpful

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Michael Roberts

What a blast!

Reviewed in Canada on January 23, 2008

This is an extradinary novel. The hero and his friend Bors are both larger than life and just so brave! The journey on which they take you with them is just amazing and the descriptions of the battles and deprivations are wonderfully done. There is a good dose of romance and sex thrown in to spice things up quite nicely. What a yawn!

If you've read and enjoyed the novels of Jack Whyte & Ken Follett - trust me you'll love this.

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

angus

Prefer his contemporary stuff.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 5, 2019

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I’m not sure about Willocks foray into historical material. He has clearly researched many aspects of the 16th century conflict chosen for setting, but there are, for me, problems. This is a simple story and feels padded out with page upon page of descriptive narrative, fraught religiously motivated dialogue and lovelorn dialogue. The visceral battle scenes are in stark contrast to this and that’s fine - Joe Abercrombie is my favourite author in this genre, although his stuff’s pure fantasy, which brings me to the style of the dialogue and maybe everyone did talk like Yoda, but it’s not particularly easy to read, being really lengthy, convoluted and quite tortured with characters taking an age to say the simplest thing. Let’s be honest, sometimes simple is best.
I’ve still got 300 of the 700 odd pages to go and I might even read the sequel if I can get it second hand at a really low price.
Willocks earlier stuff is probably some of the finest contemporary fiction I’ve read and Green River Rising is in a class of its own. If you’ve not read Willocks try it first.

mikeyb

For those who enjoy their history told with relentless action

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 3, 2018

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For those who enjoy their history told with relentless action, heroism, brutality in the extreme and an underlying love story this is a must read. I bought 'The Religion' when it was first published and this purchase was my second copy. Mattias Tannhauser's (AKA Ibrahim) early years are enforced into the ranks of the Ottoman Turk. His departure from servitude and subsequent business interests take him to Malta, where his martial prowess and knowledge of the invading Sutan's army makes him invaluable to the Hospitallier Knights who will do battle with a foe many times their number. De Valetta with his knights and Mattias need to survive or Christian Malta will become an Islamic Country. I have read a number of books that tell the story and even music recounts St Elmo's fire, but in reading this a second time I cannot think of a better one. It saddens me to think of all those who have perished in the name of Religion and this epic tale of 1546 certainly adds to that. Brilliant

2 people found this helpful

Alprev

The novel is excellent. Being French

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 2, 2015

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The novel is excellent. Being French, I first read it in French a few years back and I had then literally devoured the book. I then took up Tim Willocks' "Twelve Children of Paris" that I personally enjoyed less. The problem with "The Religion" is that the geography of Malta is complex and difficult to imagine if one really wants to understand the different phases of the Grand Siege. ...So I went to Malta for eight days and then got a clear idea of what the entire area looks like. Then I picked up the book and read it again this time in English. It is a fabulous novel, well written, alive with characters that really come to life. The apparent gore of the battles is something one does not really imagine unless one is confronted to it. When Willocks describes the stench of death, I tend to believe this underlines the savageness of the Siege, the heroism of both parties but also the pure idiocy behind such concepts as "the glory of Battle". Times have indeed changed and so has our views on War... Nevertheless, this novel recounts one of the major events that has changed the turn of History in Europe in a most vivid way. I recommend whole-heartedly: a definite "must read". One small critique: I would have wanted more specific maps so as to better understand the unwinding of events during those fateful four months.

One person found this helpful

Rebekah

Brilliant Story, but Very Long

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 8, 2016

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The characters in this are complex and simple at the same time. We got the most insight into Mattias and Carla, and I liked both in different ways. Tannhauser was by far the most dynamic character. His past really intrigues me, he's so complex and, to be honest, it's a wonder that he turned out as good a man as he is after everything that happened. I could probably read a whole other novel about the things we found out about in The Religion, never mind all of the things we didn't hear about. Carla wasn't quite as interesting and she's a woman of fairly simple tastes, but I enjoyed her perspective. I can understand why she was so desperate to find her son, and the way she reacted to danger was really quite admirable.

I adored Orlandu and Bors. I have a soft spot for both types of character. Orlandu is spunky and young, he's ready to take on the world and I actually thought he was quite funny. Bors is a bloodthirsty Englishman with a love of good food and drink. I'm quite indifferent to Amparo. She was a strange woman, and for most of the novel I kept thinking of her as a girl because despite everything she's been through she seems fairly naive and simple. (view spoiler) Ludovico Ludovici was an awful man, and while I did dislike him for what he did I didn't feel much other than that towards him. The side characters were also really well done. If I was to go through them all we'd be here all day.

Tim Willocks doesn't hold back with The Religion. There's blood and guts smeared throughout the pages. The war isn't romanticised, it's disgusting and graphic. Willocks' writing is insane. The prose is beautifully crafted and woven together. I can't fault it at all. He painted gory pictures of religious war from both sides of the battle lines. We got an insight into the workings of the leaders of both the Christians and the Muslims, and listened as each side declared each other destined for Hell. If you want a real picture of war and sieges and the lives thrown into it without a care, this is the book for you.

A lot of people seem to have a problem with the romance in this but it didn't bother me much. Mattias is a very charming and disarming person, and for both women to warm to him quickly wasn't a surprise. I was surprised when Amparo was the one he fell for, but ultimately I think it made his relationship with Carla very interesting to watch develop.

All in all I loved this novel. What brings it down is that it's just. so. long. In total my edition of The Religion is 771 pages long. It felt like it was 1000 pages long. While I enjoyed reading it and the pacing was good for the vast majority of the book, I just felt like it was taking forever to read. Every time I thought something was going to be wrapped up it just kept going for another couple of hundred pages. One observation or encounter managed to span pages and pages, sometimes a whole chapter, and it did take me out of the experience a little bit. Other than that I can't really fault this novel at all, and I definitely recommend it to people who like this type of story, because it'll be one of the best you read

One person found this helpful

Plucked Highbrow

Long but solid

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 31, 2015

Verified Purchase

Mattias Tannhauser is a soldier of fortune, joining the elite Janissary of the Ottomans as a boy he rose through their ranks before leaving. He makes his way through life buying and selling but reserves a hatred for the Inquisition who killed his mentor. Carla is a noblewomen, rich and beautiful, who wants to return to her homeland of Malta to find her illegitimate son. Malta is an island about to be besieged by the full might of the Turkish forces and the Knights of Malta, the Religion, need all the help they can get and Matthias is the man they want. Set during the Siege of Malta in 1565, this book explores religion, loyalty and love.

I actually really enjoyed this book but found it a little too long. There are many sections devoted to battle and these are florid and gruesome but after a while they become repetitious - there is only so much 'gore' or descriptions of 'gobbets of flesh' that one can take. Having said that it is an exciting story and Tannhauser is a likeable anti-hero. In the same way the anti-villain has clear motives for his actions and the lesser cast of characters are quite well-drawn.

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The Religion: A Novel Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

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