I just finished The Religion, which is about the 1565 Siege of Malta. It fed my recently-discovered love for history other than strictly the English variety. I didn’t know anything about it prior to reading the book, to be honest and don’t think I know much more now that I’ve finished it. That’s not quite true…I do know a bit more than I did and really, I recognized some of the historical names used in the story. And although I’ve never expected the Spanish Inquisition, I’m familiar with the larger tenents of it.

For all that, the book was quite enjoyable and has, as you may expect, whetted my appetite for more knowledge of the events leading up to it and the event itself. It also garnered a few passages I find quite beautiful, plus one I’d like to send to my BG1 in honor of her beloved lost Oliver. From what I understand, it’s the first in a trilogy and I’m already haunting Amazon and the library for the next installment.

If you’d written a book about the Siege of Malta, would you want a reviewer to have this to say about it?

The Religion is at once brutal and gorgeous, with a vividly detailed historical setting and emotionally complex characters. By the time you finish, you will feel as though you’ve lived through the siege of Malta!

–Jacqueline Carey, author of the Kushiel’s Legacy series

I don’t know about you, but that last bit in the review might give one reason for pause; is she saying the book is so tremendously accurate that it’s like the reader is RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ACTION or is she saying something else, something not so complimentary? Of course it’s the former, based on what precedes the statement, but still. I’m just sayin’.

On my reading list now is I, Claudius, which I am enjoying as much as I would. And I’d really like to pop in The Romans, that old William Hartnell second season Doctor Who serial, but my computer is being used as a crack pipe for Arrested Development, which I’ve decided is just that. CRACK.

So is The IT Crowd, for that matter.