A bloodthirsty start to another adventure for Nicholas Shelby

I love historical fiction and S.W. Perry always does a great job of recreating both the atmosphere and the language of the Tudor period. His characters are realistic, and the plots they find themselves embroiled in are always very interesting. The journey to Padua along the pilgrimage route sounds intriguing, as does the new character of Hella and the additional mystery that she brings into the lives of Nicholas and Bianca. Poor Nicholas could really do with a break; he’s always being accused of some treason or other. It’s sad too that Dr Lopez only survives for a few pages this time round! I’ve read the previous books in the Nicholas Shelby series and I’m interested in seeing how his (and Bianca’s) story progressed in The Heretic’s Mark.