Synopsis: It is a little vague on the timeline it is set in but I think around the 1940s as Col. Simon Tregarth, unfairly judged and a man adrift is being hunted by the “organisation” meets Dr Jorge Petronius who agrees to help him using the Stone of Power but he warns Tregarth that the Stone is rumoured to be able to judge a man, determine his worth , and then deliver him to his fate.  The world Tregarth encounters is that dominated by women of power “witches”, Estcarp is at war with other races in a struggle for that power.  

 

Review: Tregarth certainly embraces his new life with gusto taking a side and in no time he is strategising and learning alongside his new comrades.  I felt the world building was good and interesting but I found it hard to follow at times as I felt it wasn’t properly explained.  Sometimes a little exposition is necessary!  I  suppose the idea is you learn alongside Tregarth but it is confusing.  I think the Stone used is similar to that used in the Outlander series. 

 

After about 60 pages things liven up when Loyse of Verlaine joins the story, she is a feisty young girl who is determined not to be married off in an arranged alliance she wants to be her own woman and join the men in battle.  No domestic life for her.  You go girl!  Suddenly the stakes are higher and more interesting but I struggled to care or connect with the characters overall although the story itself was fun.