Ironfire

A Novel of the Knights of Malta and the Last Battle of the Crusades

By: David Ball

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 31 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Best-selling author David Ball has won widespread critical and popular acclaim for his sweeping novels, including Empires of Sand. With Ironfire Ball delivers a stirring historical epic of the Crusades. In the 16th century, only the Knights of Malta stand against the Ottoman Empire of Suleiman the Magnificent and his 40,000 brutal warriors.

©2004 David Ball (P)2004 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

“Ball brings the tail end of the Crusades to life in a substantial piece of historical fiction that sizzles with action, romance, and drama.” ( Booklist

Phenomenal

The story is excellent. There are several characters that are well developed and transitions from one subplot to another is extremely clear. The story is told from the point of view of several people and each tale is extremely captivating. David Ball is an excellent writer and George Guidall...... well, you can't go wrong listening to ANYTHING that he reads.

Historical fiction based on fact... Excellent

This was one of the best books I have listened to in a long time. I write very few reviews but had to for this. It is an epic story in a little known part of history. Some have complained about the pedophilia and the homosexuality in the book. In that time it was super common and is only a very small part of the book. This book was good the way a good Terry Brooks book is and epic like Ben Hur was. If you are at all interested in history this is a great book. It was a very rough time in history and the Battle for Malta was especially brutal. The many perspectives given in the book are fantastic. I cannot recommend the book enough. George Guidall is fantastic as usual. A great epic story.

I love this so much I’ve read twice

If anyone is interested in history. Read this book. If the events/characters are based on real events, the lives they lived are truly inspiring. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know!

Other side of the world

To hear and understand the happenings of history so far from my own is astonishing and educational. Yo better understand the total history of this now small world we reside is priceless.

This is the 15th Century UGLY

War is truly ugly in the 21st century, it was even more terrible in the 15th. This David Ball did his research, This was a bloody brutal siege There were the families living on Malta that were crippled and destroyed. People were chattel for the "Church" whether it was the Christians or the Muslims. Fundamentalist fanatics only encourage bloodshed. Anyone who wishes to read another great Historical Novel about Malta at this time read "The Religion". Both this and "The Religion" made me realize how much the human race is dependent on "Religion" to function. Almost every war, through the ages was fraught for a secular cause. This was one of the most horrific battles of "The Crusades" at one point they used human heads for cannon balls. If you have a strong stomach, and want to understand the inhumanity, of war, read these books. Let's not forget the 20 century's Holocaust, and Joe Stalin who killed over 20 million of his own people. "The evil that men do.........." Knowledge will keep us from letting these things happen again. . .

Mostly a soap opera

There wasn't a whole lot of Knights of Malta in this story supposedly about them. The author seemed more concerned with soap operaish side stories. Save your money.

Worth the time and the credit!

Fascinating novel of a time in history I did not know much about. Quite evenhanded when portraying both Christian and Muslim powers at that time, and the characters were strong ( especially the women) and well defined.

And I would purchase any book that allowed me to listen to George Guidell for 20+ hours, no matter what the topic was!

Excellent

What did you love best about Ironfire?

The gripping story woven into the historical events.

What did you like best about this story?

The fast paced story told in detail that just engrosses you.

What about George Guidall’s performance did you like?

George Guidall did an excellent job .. brought out the emotion and the mood of the moment..

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Oh yes.. I nearly did except for the inevitable time that I had to sleep, work for a living etc..

Any additional comments?

What more can one say except that it is just wonderful.

A MUST READ!

Would you consider the audio edition of Ironfire to be better than the print version?

Yes, this book is extremely well read. I loved every minute. The story line never dragged.

Awesome

I don’t listen to many books this long and this one was fantastic.
But it