Maggie Blackbird

Today, author Joshua Lange is guesting. He’s talking about his latest release With God We Burn, a historical romance. Be sure to read my review. And don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

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Joshua’s inspiration for creating a romance around religion:

For me, it came right from the heart: I was in a long-term relationship with a Muslim. It was also a long-distance connection, so, much like Julien, the main character, travels thousands of miles to end up meeting Zahra, I did the same when I went on my journey, in my relationship.

My former partner still means the world to me, even if things didn’t work out between us. I think about her often, about how she brought the best out of me and inspired me, and how she encouraged me when I was writing my first book, called The Sleeping Sun.

Getting back to religion; it’s a sensitive and delicate subject, understandably so, and it’s one that, I feel, has united us almost as much as it has divided us. But the book, as I mentioned, is a mirror to my life, and my relationship. And it got me thinking – having a bridging between the faiths, a love story between them, happened to me, so it must’ve happened before too.

I’m certain, in fact, that it happened many times in our history. So, ultimately, the possibly of a unity between the faiths gave me hope for the world, and that hope is what my book is all about, even if does go to some dark places at times.

My goal with writing this book was that I want to inspire people to believe that we can do better, in terms of loving ourselves and others, and why not fall in love with someone from another faith?

Sometimes it’s the things that we think are impossible that are not at all — in fact, I say nothing is impossible.

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Title: With God We Burn
Series: N/A
Author: Joshua Lange
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: 248 pages
Release Date: December 5, 2023
Publisher: Self-Published

Blurb: Julien Allais, a French Catholic, prays for only one thing: to kneel before God in the Holy Land of Jerusalem, far from his home in Constantinople, the capital of the Christian world in AD 1096. Joining the silver-clad Crusaders arriving from the west to free the Holy Land seems like the answer to his prayers.

Young and untrained, Julien is soon captured, abandoned by the knights he had trusted. Despite what he was told, his Muslim captors are not Godless fiends. Ahtmar, a boy near his own age, is among his captors, and Ahtmar’s sister Zahra tends to Julien’s wounds. As Julien’s feelings for Zahra and respect for Ahtmar grow, he questions everything he thought he knew. The Jerusalem they describe is a bustling city ruled by the Turks for the sake of all residents, no matter their faith. It doesn’t need to be freed – it needs to be protected from the Crusaders who will destroy it in the name of their faith.

As Julien and his captors travel to Jerusalem, a forbidden love between Julien and Zahra is born. This love will change them both. Will it have the power to change a world at war?

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The water glittered on this sunny day, and this new perspective sparked my adventurous thoughts. Who’s coming from the west? I wondered. Is there anyone from France? I wonder if I could go outside the gates to meet them…

I reflected on my view from the other side, when I had first arrived about a year ago. Constantinople had looked like a giant monster sprouting out of the sea, and the gates were like its massive jaws. I couldn’t imagine how anyone could topple this place.

Alexios and his guards stopped about a hundred feet away from those jaws, under the protective range of the towers. Archers above pulled back their bows and notched their arrows. I heard the strained bowstrings. I didn’t notice this detail at the time, but Alexios had called the soon-to-be visitors ‘guests,’ yet his army had prepared to fight.

In the meantime, the Byzantine soldiers, both outside the city and within, waited patiently with shields held high. Then, a pair of men appeared on the horizon, and raced towards us on horses. They were Byzantine, marked by their armor, and they approached the emperor to relay some news. I couldn’t hear what they said. Minutes later, as the anticipation had my body wound up tightly, I thought I heard distant thunder.

And then, the horizon darkened.

It was an army.

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I loved the sounds of the blurb, so I was in.  First, this is a young adult novel.  Not adult.  Julien is fifteen at the start of the story.  Also, I would class it as a coming-of-age story over romance since the novel focuses on Julien for a good chunk of the time, until he encounters Athmar and Zahra.  This is told in first person point of view.

The novel opens with Julien and his father.  Julien wishes to make his pilgrimage to the Holy Land, most important Jerusalem.  He is a boy of faith.  A strong faith.  But he is also confused about the direction of his life and feels he’ll find his answers in Jerusalem.

When his father sets off to fight in the Crusades, Julien is left at home.  He is befriended by a knight named Raymond who teaches Julien the skills of battle.  Julien is a peaceful boy.  He is not a warrior.  And as he leaves with the army led by Raymond, he’s unsure of his place in life.

This book is a deep look into battle and war through the eyes of a boy.  The author does a great job presenting what those in battle see, and the many differences within an army encampment.  Some have sympathy for the Turks.  Others don’t.  Julien’s mentor Raymond is firm in his beliefs and intent on his goal—taking back Jerusalem for the pope.  Julien, on the other hand, sees humans as humans.  He possesses sympathy for the Turks and is not comfortable with killing or hurting others.

When Julien encounters Athmar and Zahra, Athmar shares the same mindset as Raymond—intent on his goal of protecting his people, especially his sister at any cost.  Zahra is much like Julien and only wants peace since she also sees people as people.

I really enjoyed this aspect of the novel since war is war.  There is no wrong or no right, with people killed because of leadership at the top.

The author paints beautiful descriptions of the setting.  The battle and action scenes were spot-on, and I felt as if I was in the midst of the war, seeing through Julien’s eyes.

I do have one quibble because the novel reads very modern.  Still, with that aside, it’s a great journey the author takes us on as Julien, also intent on his goal, fights his way to Jerusalem.  The light romance between Zahra and Julien is also wonderfully portrayed.

If you want to look deep into war through the eyes of a young boy coming of age, I recommend you give the book a read.  The writing is excellent, and so are the characters.  But if you are looking for romance, I advise you to look elsewhere.  As I said, the focus is on Julien coming of age and finding his place in a time of war and pain.

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Born and raised on Long Island, Joshua has had a love for storytelling since he was young. He grew up with the larger-than-life characters and silly stories in pro wrestling and got lost in complex role-playing video games, and finally manifested his love at age 18 when he wrote his first book.

Joshua often reflects on the bigger picture in life and thinks most people are good, decent, and worthy. Love, unity, and respect are his core ideals, and they are woven into all of his writing.

He currently lives on Long Island with a loving family, which is he truly grateful for.

You can follow current projects, or catch up with him on social media; he is always open to making new friends!

Follow Joshua: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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