A superb debut and looking forward to the rest of this trilogy

I have not previously been familiar the Thirty Years War period and started into this tale cautiously, having read the summary scene-setting of the Author's Note at the beginning of this book. I am very pleased to report that I had no reason to be concerned, as I quickly found myself in the very safe and skilled hands of an author who knew her subject matter well and, more importantly, really knows how to tell a tale. Her characters are well-drawn, her descriptions of the era are vivid and engaging, and she draws you into this book totally. The story flows and you just want to know what happens next to not just the main character, Jack, but many of the supporting cast too. I finished this 500-odd page book in just a few days, and now am desperate to know what happens next! Books 2 and 3 can't come along quick enough. A superb debut from an author to keep an eye on for the future; I hope to enjoy many more tales from her over the coming years.