Great action, good characters, and historically accurate settings.
353230
This series of three books are all a really good read. The attention to detail and the historical accuracy coupled with interesting characters and well choreographed battle scenes make these books a special treat.
4144340
Enjoyed the action and the interaction of the characters.  The bits of history are a great addition.
Tends to get a bit wordy and overly descriptive in spots.
2775184
A great piece of historical fiction. It has it all, love, hate, loyalty, betrayal, murder, political intrigue, infidelity, and forgiveness. The adventure and the action are present in every chapter. The characters are believable and the Author's research into the history makes this a wonderful book to read.
2295076
Really  good  characters  and  good  battle  scenes . By  the  ending ,  I  think  there  might  be  another  book  someday .
822803
Historically interesting and informative. The characters are great and the action is exciting. I want to read more of these type of stories.
3824752
I received this book as a gift from a friend who knows my passion for historical fiction. There are two criteria for success in this genre: a believable plot and rich historical detail. This book provides both. The plot is an entertaining potboiler about murder, swindles and prostitution, and it's all made believable by an abundance of accurate and colorful historical detail. For instance, one key plot twist involves the opening of a new church in Philadelphia. I looked it up, and the church described in the book really did open in 1898, the year of the story. The author really did his homework, and it shows. A fun read.
2168957
If you enjoy historical fiction, I'd recommend this novel. It's very well done with great character development and vivid scenery.
1405973
I loved the characters.  They were so believable.  The historic setting was craftfully laid out, and you really experienced complex emotions.  Great novel.
3130465
Great in so many ways. The character, action, strategies, story, history... And it keeps me acting more.
2564612
I liked the historical aspects. The characters are well drawn and believable. The writer was able to heighten and lesson tensio effectively.
3254418
Great stuff! If you like period pieces with intrigue, betrayal, and a smattering of action, you'll like this series.
4848191
Nicely drawn characters in an historical setting.  Plot twists and turns keep the pace moving along.
3127978
I think this is good solid historical fiction. Details sound accurate and when I checked on several they proved to be also. The confusion about military organization  and mission and the rivalries among military branches and even units seems completely true to the time and place and gives very credible context for the existence, mission and operations of the  'Raiding Force'.
2364611
I picked this book up on a recommendation, and it was great. The characters seem real and well developed; the main character, Laurence, has a very strong sense of fairness and of duty. He makes mistakes with people early on, and I could really relate to those - he is an outsider at first, and picks the wrong people, led in part by prejudice. I can easily see myself doing something similar if I were in those circumstances. But he learns, takes steps to rectify his mistakes, and eventually earns everyone's respect. This is truly a character-driven novel, with a dragons vowen into well-researched past history in a sensible way. The historical detail feels authentic, if clearly altered at times, and the action is fast and exciting - I read the book in one day, could not put it down, and run out to get the next one in series.
4814776
Usual great battle scenes, historical characters, good fit into the overall story, and a well-developed plot. Can't wait for the next book.
2812587
I truly enjoyed this story. Characters are well developed -- I could see them all clearly -- and the action was just intense enough to keep me involved without being gruesome or overwhelming. The back story was well presented as well; you know what happened to the story's heroine, but you don't have to watch it happen in your head. I believe the author did a good job of presenting an uncomfortable subject in its historical context and in a sensitive manner.
1657311
Great action, lots of intriguing magic and characters you care about. Both the world and its magic are complex but logical, rich with depth and history. Like Lord of the Rings, situations the characters get into seem hopeless, and then an inventive twist allows the heros to continue. Very enjoyable series.