3.75 stars

Miriam’s father is a doctor. They are in a room with important priests (as a 17-year old woman, she shouldn’t be there) and the young handsome priest is dying. Miriam’s father is trying to help when the Grand Inquisitor comes in, insists the young priest needs his last rites and forces him to drink wine – wine with extra powder in it. The young priest convulses and dies. As Miriam and her father try to leave, the Grand Inquisitor accuses them of murder and locks them up. Miriam has to find a way out and she won’t leave her father behind.

That is pretty much the first chapter. I don’t want to go into too much more, as I don’t want to give anything away, but part-way through we meet another character, Joachin, who lost both parents when he was 9- and 11-years old. Joachin is looking for a priest with a scar – a scar Joachin gave him when that priest murdered Joachin’s mother. Joachin plans to kill the priest with the scar.

When Joachin was introduced, initially I wasn’t as interested in his storyline (nor the storyline of another group of people introduced a bit later), until things (and characters) started to come together. The book really picked up in the last ¼ of the book, and though I didn’t increase my rating up to 4 stars (that’s what I’d rate the last bit of the book), I pulled up my rating just that extra bit above 3.5 stars (good). This is a trilogy, so not everything was tied up at the end, as it will continue, and I will continue with the next book, as well. ( )

I thought this was an okay, exciting read. I appreciated the tattoo magic. But having read many books on the Inquisition, I didn't buy into everything, so to speak. I had a hard time believing it was that easy to escape the dungeon, that priests were dumb enough to fall for Joachim's stories...etc. It didn't really fit with the seriousness of this time. BUT it is a fantasy...so I guess I should overlook the preposterous parts. That's just my two cents though. ( )

This novel is a fast paced, romantic, vividly imaginative story written in historical fiction fashion. The characters are relatable and the setting is depicted beautifully. With several unique events and happenings, I can't wait to read this author's next creation! ( )

I enjoyed this book very much. It ended differently than I would have thought, I sense a sequel coming. The story surprised me in many places, I would be expecting something entirely different to happen. It's a great love story and very interesting regarding the power of tattoos. I can't imagine the power people would have if all tattoos came with the powers that were in the story. Meriam is a wonderful seer and I hope she and Joachin make it. ( )