The cover of this book is fairly unremarkable; standard design for a book of this type, and would suggest that the contents were fairly run-of-the-mill. Contrary to this impression, the book begins dramatically and the events certainly capture the reader's attention; the opening sacrifice is written with good pace and tension. However, I found some of the exposition to be clumsy in these initial pages; perhaps as the historical context becomes more established, the writer will feel less inclined to include details which jar with the narrative. The dialogue is gripping, although again perhaps over-relied upon for exposition. Despite this, the novel gives the impression that it will be an exciting and immersive read, set in a period of history I would like to learn more about.