kept me reading despite some abrupt transitions and loose ends, why ? the way the author keeps presenting the reader with more: she delves deeper into some of the whys of the role and treatment of women at the time, deeper into the role of a Christian knight in a land dominated by family politics, she looks at religious and tribal treaties, battles, and wars of occupation, she employs a bit of comparative religion, and musters forth as much historical detail and recorded history as she can to support the story and give it form & substance . I'm in for the next one !