Reads a bit like a checklist of what is normally not found in historical fiction. Gritty, nasty and just plain convoluted. Along with spying and an appearance from Shakespeare this seems to be trying a bit to hard to be something for everyone and yet failed me. Possibly it's because I came on this story late in the series but honestly I didn't care for the characters or what was going on. It's a story of forging gold and multiple plots and passed the time but several months later I find myself groping to remember anything significant about it.