With the backdrop of political turmoil in Spain during the 1860's, the author paints characters and plot which straddle new and old worlds. Fencing is an art? Fencing is a tool? Fencing is a means to an end? Fencing is all of these. The characters, so richly developed, parry with each other both actually and psychologically. Romance, murder, secrets wind through and around the story, making it a real page-turner.

An interesting story about the 1400's in Spain. I got a little lost in some of the fencing terminology and the events taking place in history at that time but all in all it was an entertaining read.