I was hoping for a real page turner, however, I have to admit that I found the pace and the storyline a little dull at times. The characters are meant ass strong and intelligent, yet they do not always behave in such a way, which makes them hard to believe, and even to like. Luckily, the two parallel storylines help get through the unlikeable characters. Maybe this is because it's the first book of this series that I read, but I did find it a tad disappointing. I did enjoy the historical background of the story, though there was little to learn. However, the path followed by the characters as a pilgrimage is extremely interesting and would inspire anyone who reads it to walk some of the way. The London, and Padua of those times is described in a way that allows the reader to understand how it would have looked and also how life would have been for the rich.