Here is a novel - the twenty-third in the series - not just full of mystery but plenty of real history too. Edward II’s disastrous reign is a good backdrop for a tale of murders and dark deeds, and Baldwin and Simon’s rural lives are at last being touched by politics. The fact that many people believed that somebody could be killed by magic shows the vast gulf between now and then, setting this sometimes chatty series in perspective. I would have thought that Simon would have been terrified by all the magic, but he has changed again and is remarkably sanguine about it all, even treating us to a display of his bushcraft skills. It is hard to remember now, but this started out as a rather cozy series in a similar vein to Brother Cadfael, but not anymore, as Jecks has found his true voice after trying this and other styles (with varying effectiveness). Here is a long novel bursting with plot and incident that manages to fill its 400 pages admirably, with not too much repetition. There is the usual feeling of catching up with the news from our old friends, and Jecks knows how to give us a brand new story but spice it with plenty of updates on how his protagonists’ lives are going on. This is a strong series that gets stronger, with ingenious, thought-provoking stories that carry on pleasing. If the ending is anything to go by, this series is about to become even more historical...