This third installment of the "King of Ys" saga is the most gripping yet, with the conflict between the King and the gods growing, with increasingly devesating results. The tension builds as we watch the King struggle to balance the demands of his god (Mithras) with those of the gods of Ys. The gods are demanding that he marry his daughter, which is forbidden by his religion. While the King struggles to preserve his kingdom, others are plotting his demise. Meanwhile, the Roman Empire is occupied by its own internal struggles, and the barbarians sense an opportunity to attack. Filled with the same rich historical detail as the first two books, this book is a wonderful mixture of history, legend, and fantasy.