I love this series so I was very excited to get my hands on this, the next instalment. I was not disappointed. In fact, I think this may be my favourite book in the whole series. I note that Clements had a new editor so maybe that made all the difference. The plot was beautifully coherent and tied up well, which is normally where these books lack something. There is good pace and energy. It's very gripping - I read it in only 3 sittings and it's not a short read either. I particularly like that the different plot lines initially seemed unrelated but gradually wove themselves together. For historical fiction, this is not at all impenetrable or designed exclusively for those with outstanding historical knowledge! Very little previous knowledge is assumed but any explanations are not at all patronising. I would recommend this book to any fans of historical fiction and obviously of Clements work.