"A marvellous read, paced like a well-balanced symphony. There are allegro movements full of surprises and excitement in which Hervey is the resourceful man of action… Interspersed are thoughtful, andante passages in which Hervey explores the unfamiliar and perplexing worlds he encounters… This is more than a ripping yarn… I look forward enormously to hearing more of Hervey's exploits; he is as fascinating on horseback as Jack Aubrey is on the quarterdeck." - The Times
"Mallinson writes with style, verve and the lucidity one would expect from a talented officer of l'arme blanche… His breadth of knowledge is deeply impressive… Kick on, Captain Hervey, we cannot wait for more." - Country Life
"An exciting, fast-moving story, full of bloody hacking with sabre and tulwar, which can at the same time be reflective and thoughtful about its setting and situation." - Evening Standard
"An epic adventure… a book with a texture as rich as cut velvet, and a storyline as detailed as a Bruges tapestry. Patrick O'Brian may no longer be with us. But Mallinson has obviously taken up the historical baton." - Birmingham Post