Orphan of Destiny

Gr 6—9—Tristan's journey with the Holy Grail comes to its thrilling conclusion in the final title (Putnam, 2010) in Michael Spradlin's trilogy. Tristan, Robard, and Maryam make their way back to England on their journey to Scotland to deliver the Holy Grail to Father William. On arriving in England, they realize Sir Hugh's villainy beat them home. Tristan learns of the destruction of St. Alban's and his beloved monks, while Robard Hode comes home to discover Sherwood in shambles and the country in need of a hero. Tristan finally finds out about his noble birth and its role in his life's chain of events. The two must put aside their grief and anger to fulfill Tristan's duty or die trying. Paul Boehmer's emotion-filled narration makes the grief of the characters palpable. His use of accents and different voices helps listeners easily distinguish the characters. The story includes just the right amount of action, history, and suspense to keep listeners on edge and help them understand the time period. Listeners will enjoy recognizing the characters from the story of Robin Hood, and boys especially will enjoy this tale of knights, fighting, and legends. This trilogy has something for everyone—a wonderful twist on the Robin Hood tale and on the Knights Templar, light romance, humor, and plenty of action.—Sarah Flood, Breckinridge County Public Library, Hardinsburg, KY