Come Faith Come Fire

This novel is surprisingly excellent. I say it's a surprise only because I was expecting a cheesy; '70's style, lusty bodice-ripper. I even giggled a little when I read the back cover & realized that Torquemada was a major character in the story (History of the World, Part I -- "Hey Torquemada! Waddya say? I just got back from the auto-da-fe!") Boy, was I ever wrong & I am ashamed of myself. This is a great story. The plot grabs you & holds you -- the Spanish Inquisition and the machinations of Tomas Torquemada, tearing apart two lovers, Maria and Rafael, who go through such horrible trials before they...well, I'll let you find out. The best part of this novel is that it's even more than a love story. It really brings history alive: the Spanish Inquisition, a heartbreaking era when Christianity was used & abused. Even Christopher Columbus is a character in this novel, and he's portrayed in an utterly realistic way. No stock figures here, just honestly written, conflicted characters in a story that doesn't let up until the last page. This is what a historical novel, not just a historical "Romance" novel, ought to be.