I must be the only one who's read this book without having first read Neville's first novel, The Eight. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and for reasons perhaps different from some other readers. It was the first book I've read in a long time that combined history, intellectual pursuit, spirituality, action, intrigue and sex in a context totally without violence or domination. Even the final conclusion is respectful and feminist, which may disappoint some readers who are hoping for a "slam-bang" payoff. Certainly there is much in the 550 pages, and I found the going much more enjoyable if I just didn't pay attention to the latest permutation of the Behn family and instead concentrated on the larger issues: what were they really questing for? What are the connections between different time periods and cultures involved? I am eagerly looking forward to reading The Eight.