" This is a novel that is well researched. It is a very long account, passing down the generations from ancient Ireland to events in the early sixteenth century surrounding the revolt of Silken Thomas. The account focuses mainly on stories involving the characters created by Rutherfurd which blend in with the historical backdrops in which they find themselves. Although the novel is very long, it is very easy to read and Rutherfurd does not over-complicate the historical backdrop, although he could often do this. Fans of Ireland's history might feel that Rutherfurd held back a little bit when describing on Ireland's rich historical intricacies, but clearly this novel is aimed at the wider general public that might not appreciate these excessive details. However I am uncertain whether the wider general public would be interested in the events described in the novel which in my opinion would only appeal to fans of Irish history, so maybe certain historical details should have been described further by Rutherfurd. In short, I think that this novel should only be picked up by readers who are looking for a starting point to commence their understanding of the events that shaped Dublin up until the early modern period. "
— James, 1/26/2014