This is the second GGK novel I've read. I read Tigana about a decade ago, and at the time, I considered it the best standalone fantasy book I had ever read. I remember being swept away by his prose then, and after this read, I see he has not lost his way with words. 

However, I'm nowhere near as enchanted this time around. Strange, too, considering I greatly enjoyed the lyrical passages and clever poetry in Written on the Dark. I was even hooked by the initial murder mystery plot. The rogue poet turned reluctant detective was an especially intriguing touch. 

Unfortunately, the meat of this book meanders too much for my tastes. The length of this 400-page book was palpable. I kept wondering if there was enough time for it to get good again. I felt that the main characters weren't given sufficient arcs. Plus, the plot sort of slides away only to abruptly pop back for a final "showdown." Worst of all, I'd say overall this book was just boring and ultimately unsatisfying due to unavoidable prior expectations. 

I'm not a huge history buff, so maybe if I were more familiar with the Hundred Years War, I would have found more to connect with in this story. Or maybe if I were acquainted with more of GGK's books, I'd recognize more references to latch onto. But I honestly wonder if that would really make any difference. The sad fact is, I'm disappointed.