A Wind from the Wilderness

Refreshing Change

This is one of those rare books that I didn't want to put down. It is a really good book. Can it be uncomfortable, well-yes but that yes has lots of ifs tied to it. It is a book of war, of conquest, of oppression, of hate, of revenge; and yes, those things can be uncomfortable if we choose to find them uncomfortable. It helps to remember that we are not responsible for the past, we are not responsible for someone else's actions, and that we can always make a different choice.
The book reminds us how easy it is to fall under propaganda, fall under the sway of revenge, of fear, of wanting salvation to the point that we make poor choices and keep a relentless cycle going; and sadly that cycle is still going on today in many areas of the world. It is book that reminds us war is solely for the purpose of the pricks in power and those who want it, those who think they are better. I reminds us what happens when we feel threatened by others perspectives/beliefs/life choices. It reminds us that revenge will continue until we personally, individually say-NO.
One of the main characters finally says no to her 'supposed tos and shoulds' and instead chooses to be true to herself, regardless of the outcome. I loved it.
It is obvious in the retelling of the crusades that war fixes nothing and never will, that peace will never be found through war, never. Some of her characters realize that peace can only be found in the heart and by those who want it, and that some people just don't want it. And with this realization those characters make different different choices.