Title: Beloved Pilgrim, 2nd edition
Author: Christopher Hawthorne Moss
Genre: Transgender//European/Historical
Length: Novel (304 pages)
ISBN: 9781627985390
Publisher: Harmony Ink Press, Dreamspinner Press (January 23rd, 2014)
Heat Level: moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Eric
Blurb: At the time of the earliest Crusades, young noblewoman Elisabeth longs to be the person she’s always known is hidden inside. When her twin brother perishes from a fever, Elisabeth takes his identity to live as a man, a knight. As Elias, he travels to the Holy Land, to adventure, passion, death, and a lesson that honor is sometimes found in unexpected places.
Elias must pass among knights and soldiers, survive furious battle, deadly privations, moral uncertainty, and treachery if he’ll have any chance of returning to his newfound love in the magnificent city of Constantinople.
First edition by Nan Hawthorne published by Shieldwall Books, February 2011
Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4515
Review: There is so much to say about this novel. It is amazing, sentimental, personal, surprising, and then some. Once the reader starts going for it, they won’t be able to stop reading it. There is too much to like for someone to not like it. I couldn’t stop reading it once I started.
Elizabeth has a lot on her hands. Everything from the longing to be a male, to the fact she is loving family. She wants nothing more than to be like the boys. To fight in a battle that can very well take her life with no issue. When she does something that is less than acceptable, she dives into what her brother with the intentions of showing the honor and courage he did.
The storyline remained a constant surprise, amazement and never a boring moment. The more I read, the more I liked this novel. And I could tell the author put everything he could into writing this book. He had a clear knowledge of what he wanted and went for it. And it shows through the novel.
Altogether, I found this novel to be beautifully written, strongly executed and a perfect novel if there ever is. I would highly recommend this novel to everyone that wants to read a strong novel that shows a sense of care and the courage one needs to keep going when times get bad.