The Vevellis Chronicles - by Zack Varkaris (Paperback)

About the Book

Brothers, Antonis and Nicola Vevellis, become bitter rivals in love and ideology as both fall for Katerina, the daughter of a powerful politician. They are exposed to the wider world in the capital, Constantinople. Against the backdrop of ancient powers entwined in war, the three will decide the future of two worlds and create the history we know.

Book Synopsis

This is the story of two brothers Antonis and Nicola Vevellis set in the twilight years of the Byzantine Empire. Antonis is the son and heir while Nicola, was adopted by Andreas Vevellis as an orphan. From friendship as boys they grow into bitter rivals in love and ideology as young adults. They are taken under the guidance of Alexis Sartis, once a protégé of their Father, now a famous General, to be tutored in the arts of soldiering and letters.

When they meet Katarina the daughter of a Byzantine nobleman, Lord Virises, both are infatuated with her and compete for her affections, though at first this is playful rivalry. As they start to learn about the wider world around them, while studying in Constantinople, their ideological paths start to diverge; Antonis leaning towards the new power of the Ottomans and Nicola siding with his people.

Review Quotes

I normally read fantasy so I said, "Historical fiction, I don't know." Then I read Zach's new book, and it totally appealed to me! I realized that the atmosphere of the best fantasy novels is really based on a profound historical understanding of the times, classic action scenes with hand-to-hand combat, chases, bandits, and beautiful romantic imagery. Crescent and the Cross has all of this! It delivers in a way that people of any genre will absolutely love, and the increased realism that the historical accuracy offers really makes the world, and the relationships, more believable. It's like reading a fantasy novel that leaves you twice as smart when you're done. - Mark Everglade - 5 stars

I love this book, which surprised me. I did not know I enjoyed reading fiction books about this time period, yet I do. It really is an easy-to-read book and the tells of two brothers and their journeys, adventures and battles. The author outdid himself on this first novel. I hope there will be a sequel. I can't wait to read more about books from this author. - Sandy Lawrence - 5 stars

Set to a backdrop of historical accuracy without being mundane or cliche, Varkaris delivers a riveting tale of 2 brothers on the verge of a paradigm shift that will change the world forever. The plot twists and turns delivering one surprising revelation after another. There is just enough time to catch your breath before being swept away in the current of an intriguing plot that leaves the reader satiated one minute, and thirsty for more the next. Bravo! - Loralialexa23 - 5 stars

Chapter one starts with a bang and from that point I couldn't put the book down. Zack draws you into the world of the two brothers Nicola and Antonis with smooth writing complete with vivd descriptions.
The supporting characters are introduced with a skill that is unusual in a first novel and he carries this through many surprising twists right to the end.- Stacy Mills - 5 stars

The Crescent and the Cross by Zack Varkaris is an epic saga worthy of comparison to great heroic historical fiction from Game of Thrones to The Knights of the Templar to monumental biblical stories such as Ben Hur and The Ten Commandments.

Complete with maps and a glossary we are brought into the world of religious and dynasty turmoil in the 1400s as Christianity and Muslim beliefs fight to control the population from Constantinople to all of Greece and Italy and one day the world.

The author, very smartly, tells the tale of religious warfare as a backdrop to the life of two warrior brothers Nicola and Antonia Vevellis and the woman they both love Katerina. As complex as any modern day soap opera the lives of these three are intertwined with world events.

Worthy of a Shakespearean ending we see these once inseparable brothers not only fight each other for the love of Katerina but for the love of their particular religious beliefs and country.

I admit that there were some events that went over my head and a few passages I had to read over to understand but that comes from my ignorance of the history of this era. The author's creativity in placing me in the beauty of the land, the violence of the battle, the tension of brothers at war with one another and the passion of forbidden love was a revelation. He is a writer that must continue his craft because it is a talent that must be celebrated by all readers.

I received a free copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. - Linda McCutcheon - 4 stars