12:50 PM PDT, March 20, 2008
Review in January 2008 issue World Tarot Magazine by Beth Owl’s Daughter
Derek Armstrong’s novel, The Last Troubadour, is an historical thriller that brings to life its main characters by assigning them the attributes of fifteen of the Major Arcana cards. Set during the rise of the Inquisition in southern France during the 13th century and loosely based on real events, we follow the fortunes of Ramon, the last of the Occitan’s famous (and recently declared heretical) troubadours. Ramon is also a jester and an acrobat, not to mention a formidable opponent when he wields his spear-staff, and is always accompanied by his little white dog, Mauri. Yes, you guessed it — Ramon is The Fool.
Likewise, we have characters like the Devilish and debauched Archbishop Peter Amiel of Narbonne and Dame Eslcarmonde de Foix — the High Lady of the Cathar Christians — known as “the Jewel,” whom the reader will recognize as the High Priestess.
In this mesmerizing tale of adventure and chivalry, Ramon and his friends of th Baug Balar “circus” have come to the great walled city of Carcassonne, to rescue the Silver Dame of the Cathars, whose brand of Christianity has been declared heresy. But she must be treated with some care, as she also possesses the holy relic of Montségur, upon which the selection of the next Pope may depend.
Filled with courtly intrigue and compelling characters, Derek’s outstanding style makes the complexity, accuracy and historical depth easily accessible and enjoyable. And while the novel’s events center on an extremely bleak period of the Inquisition, and there are grim details that will certainly haunt you, I will attest to the author’s promise that “Rather than spin a dark tale of glory and death, I fancifully retell thess momentous events with your reading pleasure as my goal…”
For anyone who enjoys fast-paced, intelligent fiction, reading pleasure is certainly what you will get. Even better, the role of the Tarot in the story is tantalizing. As Derek explains (in the foreword) “Many legends (and half-baked histories) associate the development of the Tarot cards with the Cathar heresies and this period of history. In The Last Troubadour, you will meet my ‘inventor’ of the first tart deck, Nevara of the Baug Balar… and the characters from history that inspired her deck.”
The only criticism I have is that I hated for this book to end. But wait! There’s more! The Last Troubadour is but the first of a trilogy, “The Song of Montségur Cycle.” Promised for autumn of 2008, “The Last Quest” will resume this tale of love, hate, revenge and hope. Meantime, I invite you to savor the stories of these characters that are as familiar, yet mysterious, as those who we see every day in our favorite cards.
The Last Troubadour: Song of Montsegur
]]>Derek Armstrong’s novel, The Last Troubadour, is an historical thriller that brings to life its main characters by assigning them the attributes of fifteen of the Major Arcana cards. Set during the rise of the Inquisition in southern France during the 13th century and loosely based on real events, we follow the fortunes of Ramon, the last of the Occitan’s famous (and recently declared heretical) troubadours. Ramon is also a jester and an acrobat, not to mention a formidable opponent when he wields his spear-staff, and is always accompanied by his little white dog, Mauri. Yes, you guessed it — Ramon is The Fool.
Likewise, we have characters like the Devilish and debauched Archbishop Peter Amiel of Narbonne and Dame Eslcarmonde de Foix — the High Lady of the Cathar Christians — known as “the Jewel,” whom the reader will recognize as the High Priestess.
In this mesmerizing tale of adventure and chivalry, Ramon and his friends of th Baug Balar “circus” have come to the great walled city of Carcassonne, to rescue the Silver Dame of the Cathars, whose brand of Christianity has been declared heresy. But she must be treated with some care, as she also possesses the holy relic of Montségur, upon which the selection of the next Pope may depend.
Filled with courtly intrigue and compelling characters, Derek’s outstanding style makes the complexity, accuracy and historical depth easily accessible and enjoyable. And while the novel’s events center on an extremely bleak period of the Inquisition, and there are grim details that will certainly haunt you, I will attest to the author’s promise that “Rather than spin a dark tale of glory and death, I fancifully retell thess momentous events with your reading pleasure as my goal…”
For anyone who enjoys fast-paced, intelligent fiction, reading pleasure is certainly what you will get. Even better, the role of the Tarot in the story is tantalizing. As Derek explains (in the foreword) “Many legends (and half-baked histories) associate the development of the Tarot cards with the Cathar heresies and this period of history. In The Last Troubadour, you will meet my ‘inventor’ of the first tart deck, Nevara of the Baug Balar… and the characters from history that inspired her deck.”
The only criticism I have is that I hated for this book to end. But wait! There’s more! The Last Troubadour is but the first of a trilogy, “The Song of Montségur Cycle.” Promised for autumn of 2008, “The Last Quest” will resume this tale of love, hate, revenge and hope. Meantime, I invite you to savor the stories of these characters that are as familiar, yet mysterious, as those who we see every day in our favorite cards.
The Last Troubadour: Song of Montsegur 
Booklist Review, Sept 2007: