Excellent, if a little jerky and occasionally pulls you up to go back a few pages, particularly to develop Ismail's part, but on the whole, pretty good. First novel that bodes well for the future. I like the way it pulls in the Templars and Round Table, as inheritors of an ancient duty that goes on to this day. The character Michael reminds me of Aragorn from the Tolkien legendarium, books, not films, though they were good as they brought Tolkien to a wider audience. Weilding Excallibur rather than the Sword of Elendil that was Forged Anew, but the same uniting emblem. So on balance, a 9 of ten. I hope John writes more, I'll be buying again. Oh, btw, as an old biker i loved the heroic cover. Still dress like that now an always have! Book is high fantasy made modern. Can't see the PM as anyone but Blair too. Indecision. Recommended.