It sounds as though this is a tale of the late Dark Ages, of Vikings, Saxons and the Welsh but actually it is a fantasy, set in a different part of the same world that gave us Sarantium and Al-Rassan. Kay gives a tweaked view of our world seen through a glass darkly, a place where fairies frolic and the Gods might just be real. It gives him more freedom to tell his tale without the constraints of history, and a dark but exciting tale it is, too. To its detriment, it is also, in true Kay tradition, somewhat longer than necessary and a shade repetitive at times which makes it lose necessary momentum to be truly thrilling, edge-of-the-seat stuff. It takes its time and we do get to know the characters better, which is a plus. It is more thought-provoking and character driven than the plot might make it sound, so this is a book that will appeal to quite a range of readers, including those who usually prefer historical fiction to fantasy.