This follows on from Rats and Gargoyles, and is a much shorter and very much less obscure book. The White Crow and Lord Casuabon have returned to the White Crow's ancestral home, the manor of Roseveare in an alternate England. They now have 2 children, a boy aged 7 or 8, and an infant daughter. England is a land divided in loyalty - between Queen Carola and General Olivia. The General is trying to build a new temple in London - but it keeps collapsing. She sends a troop of gentleman mercenaries to bring Lord Casuabon to find out why.

There is less Hermetic philosophy than Rats and Gargoyles, and the story is a bit less convoluted. This makes for a more rewarding read, and I finished it in a couple of days (instead of weeks). The alternate England means we meet recognisable names - apart from Queen Carola and General Olivia, we meet Isaac Newton (Master of the Mint) and William Harvey, plus others.

Recommended.

Very detailed, very historical, vaguest storyline, puerile and disgusting characters--generally no reason to read another work by this author. ( )

An explanation for the half star rating:

I wanted to like this novel. I enjoyed another of Gentle's novel, "Rats and Gargoyles". That novel and this one share two main characters, Casaubon and White Crow.

I just can't get my head around the motivations of the female main character, White Crow. The multiple rapes of the eponymous Desire, once by a male character and once by White Crow herself, and the subsequent suicide of Desire completely repulsed me and I'll probably never read another of Gentle's books because of this. I don't consider myself a prude, but what a sorry excuse for a plotline. ( )

*note to self. Copy from A.= ( corgi books,1991 different cover,scan later)