This author reminds me somewhat of Robert Graves, whose I Claudius and Claudius the God gave me such immense pleasure when I was a great deal younger.

Graves's books had the advantage of dealing with a period of history many people are either familiar with, or at least vaguely aware of. Blake has the problem – but for me a delight – that he deals with period and places very few people know much about.

His hero is fun; his villains are suitably villainous; his tone amusingly cynical, and his scholarship – as far as I can tell – impeccable.

In a curious way his writing reminded me of the Sister Fidelma books.

They of course are historical whodunits but much of their joy, as with this book, is that you learn a lot about a period and a place that is little known.

Thoroughly recommend.

Reviewd on Goodreads, 30th August 2013

Tags: god, Historical Fiction, history