Review: Catchy Cyprus: Once was the Island of Love

Catchy Cyprus: Once was the Island of Love by Mary Jane Walker
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

A very short and basic introduction into Cyprus' history, geography and a few other things. There are some useful practical travel tips before going there.

Review: The Last Crusader Kingdom: Dawn of a Dynasty in Twelfth-Century Cyprus

The Last Crusader Kingdom: Dawn of a Dynasty in Twelfth-Century Cyprus by Helena P. Schrader
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Knights, swords, pirates, Vikings, olives, princesses, kings, prostitutes, bishops, wine, castles, beggars, galleys, monks, aqueducts - there is a lot of that in the Medieval setting of this book, taking place in the Middle East and Cyprus of Crusades period.

Somewhat plain and predictable characters - but overall, it is an entertaining and educating historical drama. The PhD in History of the author helps to convey historical accurateness of the novel's background. I actually learnt quite a lot about the period of Crusades in the Middle East and the history of Medieval Cyprus thanks to this book.