What a great book! I think this might just be the best of the Renaissance Sojourner Series for me. So many twists and turns I almost feel out of breath reading it. The alternating of narratives between Barnabas and Alys keeps anticipation on the boil as they both juggle intrigue and danger in their separate worlds. Barnabas with his humble beginnings - a strong and wily character you want to root for and beautiful Alys who has been teetering on the edge for so long you begin to wonder if she will ever find freedom.

If you have ever wanted to live life in another time, Gleeson will skillfully take you there. The research for this series is masterful. I enjoyed the chapter with the Prince over the whereabouts of Prester John’s kingdom and the way the author included Hawqal’s bloodline from Gebre Mesquel Lalibela.

The story flows effortlessly and this book, like the first two in the series, is a well written read packed with an assortment of fascinating history and characters the reader will root for, and a mystery that becomes more than one might be expecting. I highly recommend all of Kristin Gleeson's novels