THE RENAISSANCE TRILOGY - BOOK II In this sequel to THE MERCY OF LIONS; Knight of Rhodes, Hugh de Erpingham, continues his quest into the dark heart of renaissance Italy. Keeping one step ahead of the mysterious White Cardinal, and always just beyond the reach of his arch-nemesis Antonio Vendramin, Hugh and company still find time to make new enemies in Ferrara, Mantua and Venice, and some new friends too. Caught in the jaws of the venetian war, Hugh struggles between the claims of church and state, his commission and his conscience, his intimate friendships and the call of duty. Crossed and double-crossed, jailed and tortured; from the leper houses of Assisi to the ducal palaces of Urbino and Bologna, Hugh cuts a bloody swathe north. Its an odyssey that brings him into contact with the finest minds of the era, and ever nearer to his goal; not just the Borgia gold, but also the spiritual solace he so desperately seeks. PRAISE FOR BOOK III - 'THE HERETIC' 'An exceptional new novel...masterful story...delicious, multifaceted...' The Historical Novel Review (US) 'A book of big ideas, political intrigue, and action; I came to love Brother Pacificus, Simon, the children, and the many other characters, and I have to admit, I shed several tears on their behalf. Based on historical events, this book has it all, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in such a tumultuous time period.' The Historical Novel Society 'Magnificent... a work of importance... moments of astonishing power... could become a cult book of its kind.' Novelist Penelope Wilcox