'A hugely readable adventure-romance encompassing imperial France, the East India Company, Persia, the Jacobite rebellion, shipwreck, duels, derring-do and more. Buchan [...] really knows how to construct a ripping tale'
- Adam Roberts, Guardian,
'There is nothing quite like a James Buchan novel: even another James Buchan novel ... By throwing everything he has into this transporting romp, Buchan does what a good fiction writer should: he makes us believe'
- John Self, Financial Times,
'Writers who create a six-book historical series revolving around a fictionalised historical character can seldom be accused of lacking ambition. Judging by this thrilling first instalment in the William Neilson chronicles, Buchan is equal to such a commitment ... Buchan has not only created a thoroughly engaging protagonist, but has complete control over the milieu that he depicts'
- Alexandar Larman, Observer,
'In the end, novels succeed not only by what they do, but, more importantly, by how they do it ... It is the how that makes the book exceptional. A lesser novelist would have stretched out Will's adventures over six or seven hundred pages. Buchan knows when to cut and dance away'
- Allan Massie, Scotsman,
'An epic voyage well worth taking ... Exhilarating'
- Marianka Swain, Telegraph,