This novel of speculative fiction, the first of a trilogy, will be hard for readers to put down.Fourteen-year-old Thomas Cale is an acolyte of the Redeemers, struggling, like other boys his age and younger, to live up to the harsh standards of the Sanctuary.

When he is sent to the Lord of Discipline for a minor infraction, he stumbles on a scene of vivisection and kills the Redeemer in his effort to save the victims.He flees with two other boys, Vague Henri and Kleist, and the girl that he has rescued, Riba.The four make their way to Memphis, capital of the Materazzi empire, and their best hope of safety from the Redeemer's vengeance.

Once there, chancellor Vipond finds a use for each of them while seeking to learn more of the mysterious Redeemers in order to prepare for the war with them that he fears is to come.Cale's martial prowess earns him both allies and enemies in the city, whose ways are entirely strange to the boys.Startling revelations and strange reversals continue until the final pages.

Hoffman's story includes references to Norwegians, Jews, and Guelphs but without any obvious geographic parallels to Europe.He reinforces the late medieval feeling with the occasional archaic term that may send readers to their dictionaries without sacrificing any of the suspense, romance, or action.This compelling read will be popular with fans of fantasy, action, and military fiction, who will eagerly await the next installment.