2020-07-28
A fantastic read, and I’m really surprised that more people aren’t talking about it. I mean, Celtic Monks, Vikings, Constantinople, and the Golden Age of Islam – what’s not to like about it?!
Even better is that it’s well-written and never really flags. The characters are great, its rich in detail, the settings are alive, and the pace never lets up.
This was my third (or fourth?) reading of this book and it’s still a personal favourite. My only real criticisms are a) there’s no ebook version and the paperback is desperate for a re-release, and b) despite every appearance of being based on real characters, it’s apparently not – it’s that convincing.
If you have any kind of interest in the early mediaeval period/late antiquity history then this book shines.
Rating: 5/5