was very impressed with this novel! Jakober has written a rich epic of novel of dark pagan magic,sexual obession and betrayal!A aging monk tells a story of when he was squire to a great knight and how that knight was corrupted by wiles of beautiful but evil witch and help start a civil war in early 12th century Germany.As he writes he visited by that witch and she compells him to tell the truth story on what really happened.This novel is gripping saga of one cynical knight who with the help of erotic sorceress stops his duke from stealing crown of Germany.This novel has scenes of eerie magic and sorcery, brutality and betrayal as you see the events through the eyes of his squire, Paul who resents the power the witch has over his master and seeks to betray him.Jakober knows her myths and legends well as she weaves this stunning tapestry.This novel is not only about the battle of the knight Karelian and sorceress called Raven against power-hungry duke Gottfried but it also about the battle between christianity and waning but still potent forces of paganism and magic in the world.Jakober's knows medieval history with it's church politics, shameful treatment of women and cold brutality of it's nobility.I was also impressed with her lyrical prose which gave this novel a gothic feel as she describes in great relish scenes of necromancy as Karelian rides with army of dead knights to do battle, shape-shifting and other eerie sights.My only complaint in this novel was it was too short and I wanted it to be longer.