Publication Date: October 20, 2013Katy Crossing Press
Paperback; 334p
ISBN-13: 978-1490426341
Brash and brilliant, twenty year old Mathis Zieglar, Professor of Languages, faces an agonizing choice: should he fight the Turks who take his family hostage and move to destroy Vienna? Or should he betray his army to save his kin? Vienna’s Last Jihad is an historical novel set against the 1683 siege of Vienna.
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Publication Date: October 20, 2013
Katy Crossing Press
Paperback; 334p
ISBN-13: 978-1490426341
Brash and brilliant, twenty year old Mathis Zieglar, Professor of Languages, faces an agonizing choice: should he fight the Turks who take his family hostage and move to destroy Vienna? Or should he betray his army to save his kin? Vienna’s Last Jihad is an historical novel set against the 1683 siege of Vienna.
Europe is balanced on a knife’s edge while Mathis, the man who holds its fate in his hands, struggles against powerful enemies: Father Sistini, a Jesuit who brands him a heretic and drags Mathis’ fiancée off to the Inquisition; a xenophobic city mob, who wants him dead for protecting a Hungarian soldier; but most dangerous of all, Captain Tyrek, a Muslim chieftain who will kill Mathis’ family unless he spies against his own army. One by one, Tyrek’s agents murder Mathis’ closest associates in an attempt to isolate him. As 138,000 Turks grind down Vienna’s 11,000 defenders with no relief in sight, Mathis’ only chance to save family and country is to use his wits, the ability to speak Tartar and the knack he learned as a child to leap, whirl, and strike.
My review:
Four Stars
Copy received from Historical Fictional Virtual Book Tours for an honest review.
There are some books that after reading them I feel smarter
and some I feel… not as smart. “Vienna’s
Last Jihad” falls into both categories! I loved the wealth of information that
Dawson provided in this book. I did feel
a little overwhelmed with it because I was not aware of this pivotal moment in
history. I thought that using Mathis, a
Professor of Languages, to personalize this battle was very clever and made the
struggle between the invading Muslim Turks of Vienna more relatable. The writing was engaging and
interesting. There is a great balance of
history and action. The author was able
to make the story informative and at the same time quick pace. I also really liked the character, Matias. He was street and book smart, which seemed a
great combination for the struggles and difficult decisions he was faced
with. After reading, “Vienna’s Last
Jihad” I want to learn more about the Ottoman Empire, which is the mark of a
great book. I also
loved that the author portrayed a moment in history where religion and
political motivation where interwoven… it makes for an interesting discussion
on the fusion of the two! I recommend and enjoyed this book.
READ AN EXCERPT.
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About the Author
He was an Adjunct Professor of History for ten years at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California, where he created the Chautauqua program. There, he enlisted scholars, government officials and activists to discuss and debate social policy before the student body and the media.
In 2009, the students of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society honored him with the Glaux Mentor Teacher Award for bringing the Chautauqua program to Mt. SAC.
He currently lives in Georgetown, TX with his wife and two dogs.
For more information please visit C. Wayne Dawson’s website. You can also connect with him on Facebook and Twitter.
Virtual Book Tour Schedule
Monday, May 19Spotlight & Giveaway at Bibliophilic Book Blog
Friday, May 23
Review at Book Nerd
Thursday, May 29
Review & Giveaway at Closed the Cover
Friday, May 30
Review & Giveaway at Bibliophilia, Please
Friday, June 6
Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views
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