What a roller coaster ride. At first, I thought this book was going to be a wannabe “Pillars of the Earth,”, but I was soon proved wrong. It takes place in about the same era, circa 17th century (or somewhere along in there). Like Pillars, it has wars, castles, sword fights, betrayal, hot sex, and incredible characters. The interplay between the two main characters, Monza and Shivers, runs literally hot and cold. And the comedic relief comes from the character Cosca, a redeemed drunkard. I actually recommend that you listen to the book, not read it, because the clever phrases used by Cosca, are best enjoyed with the inflections that only the spoken word can carry.
