Sanctus: A Novel

The breakout novel "Sanctus" by Simon Toyne has all the qualities of a good story; it has characters that cause things to happen and react to what has happened. It has action and suspense from the first chapter to the last. The novel has an intriguing premise; an ancient holy relic lies hidden in a Citadel built into the sides of a mountain in the city of Ruin in Turkey guarded by an order of monks. The monks in the stronghold are divided by levels of status distinguished by cassock colors. Only those in the highest order, the green cassocks of the Sacramental order know the secret of the ancient relic. They believe if the secret is ever revealed to the world it will change many religious beliefs forever.

One of the monks, Brother Samuel, a recent initiate into the Sacramental order in the Citadel believes the world should know the truth. Thrown into a cell and held captive because he wants to reveal the truth Brother Samuel escapes and devises a unique and deadly way to get a message to his sister Liv Adamsen to help reveal the secret. Can Liv unravel the message and help reveal the secret?

Another religious group outside the Citadel, the Mala (The name taken from an ancient tribe), want the secret of the relic revealed. Up to now they have not been able to penetrate the Citadel, but Liv may be the answer to help reveal the ancient relic. The Mala will have to find Liv and protect her. The race begins as the monks from the Citadel try to find Liv and destroy any trace of any message that may have been sent from Brother Samuel to the outside world.

Overall I liked the way the story was structured and its pacing with short chapters. Each chapter is full of action and plenty of tension. "Sanctus" was a fast read with a great completely unexpected ending. What was lacking was more flavor of the local; even though the city and Citadel were fictitious the country is not. As for the title "Sanctus," for those interested it is Latin for holy, divine, or saint (Sancti). If Simon Tyone writes another novel I will definitely read it.