Another excellent entry. This time we follow William Gold as he travels and fights in Savoy, Spain, England, France, and finally Italy, all while navigating increasingly complex political intrigue and personal tragedy. It's as well-written and exciting as the rest of the series.

This series, and the William Gold character are at their best when he is surrounded by his friends, namely Fiore and Nerio. Sadly, those two are mostly absent from this entry and the "companion" role is filled by some less fleshed-out characters who aren't as fun. A minor gripe, and a personal nitpick, but I wish the gang was able to get back together for some adventure.

Something this series has really impressed upon me was international the time period was. Yes, there was an England, and a France, but the concept of a modern nation-state didn't really exist. We see in every army that men identify more with the city or region than with a larger state, for the most part anyway. Gold himself is English by birth, but has no land or obligation to England, instead holding land in Cyprus, Greece, and Savoy, and it's driven home time and again that he feels like a man with no real home.

There is currently one more published entry in the series, with one more planned, and I'm trying my best to find something similar in style. It's a credit to the author that I haven't really been successful yet.