This book was absolutely awful! The previous book, Shield of the Three Lions, was great, which only helps to make this book so very disappointing. The first book centered on building the relationship between Alix and Enoch. So for Alix to forsake Enoch and go traipsing off with Richard the Lion-hearted not only made no sense,it made me dislike Alix very much, who continued to become more and more shallow and vapid as the story went on. Throughout the entire book I waited (and hoped) for the return of Enoch, so the book could get back on track, only to be dismally disappointed. It seemed to me that this books should have come to a conclusion several times before it finally finished, as if the writer was stringing this book out, so that she could write a third book. However, I was so mad at Alix by the time I came to the end, I would never bother reading the last book. Truly disappointing.