There is scarcely time to draw breath with all this packed into under 400 pages, and nobody could fault this book for not being exciting enough. Each place gets sketched in broadly and then the rapiers are out, or some other daring exploit. It’s gloriously like turning back the clock to a time of writers like Sabatini and mercifully free of introspection. He does manage to create many interesting "gray" characters who are neither cardboard saints nor villains, which lifts it way above other action novels, combined with a genuinely good story and plenty of sound historical knowledge underpinning it all. If you like a book with plenty of romance, a dash of humor and over-the-top heroism as well as the grim reality of war you are bound to enjoy this one. Highly recommended.