The Swords of Silence left me with mixed feelings. On the one hand, it is about a historical period and culture that I am interested in, and the amount of research that has obviously gone into this book, makes it a standout read in that regard. Unfortunately, it was the execution that I struggled with – not the brutality of the book, although a fair warning it is brutal and does not shy away from the darker, harsher aspects of this period. However, there were many places where it felt as though the historical detail outweighed any sense of narrative, which is always a delicate balance in historical fiction that wasn’t maintained here, as well as an almost overwhelming focus on the religious aspect. Fitting for the period and events, but it resulted in a narrative and characters that felt as though it was too defined by that single aspect, which made it difficult at times to make that connection. I will say that I found it well-paced, and it set a strong foundation for the rest of the series, and some of the action scenes were beautifully written, and were certainly my favourite parts of the book. I would recommend to people with a keen interest in this historical period, especially those who want that level of detail and aren’t put off by the brutal reality portrayed in this narrative.