A fanatical order, "compliance" camps, and a band of rebels with some familiar faces. Although you don't have to read book one (The Witchfinder), I do highly recommend it so you have a better feel for the characters in this installment. Kingrea has an excellent way of describing what's unfolding as well as the setting, so you feel like you're right there watching, feeling, and hearing it all. The story will keep you enthralled from cover to cover, and will keep you wondering what's going to happen next. You really don't want to miss out on this series! ( )

I wanted to love this book - the premise was intriguing. Unfortunately, however, I didn't enjoy it all that much. I don't know if it's because it's the second book in the series or something else, but I just couldn't form an emotional connection with the characters (so important in a book as long as this one) and just struggled to get immersed. I hope others enjoy it more than I did

The fifth order is taking over the land and banishing everyone they consider a “heretic” to compliance camps. There are a band of rebels trying to stop them and this is who we follow.
This story has a nice blend of historical, horror and fantasy genres and pretty much everything you could want in a story.
The writing is so absorbing you feel like you can smell the places the rebels are hiding out in.
Normally when I’ve had to stop reading a book and then pick it back up again it takes me a minute to get back into it, remember what’s happening etc. it didn’t happen with this book. The second I started reading I was dragged back into their world without abandon and didn’t want to leave.
The physical description of the crimson fathers was my favourite part of the whole story. So gory and so great.
That’s not to say the writing is only gross, some of the humour was fantastic. My favourite being, ‘He yelled and cursed like a eunuch in a whorehouse on half price night.’
The story culminates in an ending that is satisfying but also sets everything up for the third instalment. ( )