I hope this is good. I read The Curse of Chalion and loved it, and purchased this because it seemed not to be quite so sci-fi as the others by this author at the bookstore. (What a convoluted sentence. Can't be bothered to rewrite it.)

Apparently most of the author's books before this one were sci-fi, so that would explain why the cover has that same feel to it, as they were likely trying to draw her old audience. This is a fantasy novel set in medieval Italy and it's always interesting reading a historical fiction-fantasy.

As much as I loved Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls (two later, exceedingly excellent fantasies by Lois McMaster Bujold) this book I was not in love with. It was an interesting story but I felt dissociated from the action. Partly there wasn't enough description of settings and things to help me actually feel -there- in the action. But I liked the main characters.

Anyway, don't need to keep this one forever.