Jean Rombaud is an swordsman executioner. He is hired to behead Anne Boleyn, who was rumored to practice witchcraft, the power of which is located in her six fingered hand. Knowing that many people would attempt to use this hand as a talisman of power, Anne asked her executioner to cut off her hand as well as her head, and bury it at a crossroads in France, where it will hopefully rest in peace. Jean takes up her charge, and the book follows his many adventures, with a German Gibbet keeper, an axe wielding Norseman and a Jewish boy, losing and attempting to regain the hand from the Archbishop of Siena, Giancarlo Cibo.

Those who like a lot of action, who like a bit of history in their fiction and those who enjoy reading Canadian authors.

I especially liked the way the author weaved history and fiction to create a really engrossing story.

I didn't like how happily ever after the book ended. There is a sequel, so I know that the story is not over, yet the book gave no indication of that.

Read more about Anne Boleyn; she lives in this book for only a chapter or two, but her legacy has affecting the characters so much in the book that I can't help but be interested in her history.

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Created Apr 20, 2011 at 12:01am • Submit your own review...