Another romp through the early 17th, this time editing France’s succession and killing of Louis XIII and probably Richelieu early to give Gaston a chance to screw up big time and open up France of the continent for Flint’s historic wet dreams.

Things are really developing in France -- the timeline has definitely diverged at this point with the "early" death of Richelieu and King Louis and the subsequent taking of the crown by Gaston. ( )

Another niche in the Grantville Saga is nicely filled by this visit to French History. Eric Flint is an excellent teller of stories and this one visits an intriguing political arena; France during the time of Monsieur, the Pretender to the Throne. Richelieu was the consummate intriguer in this period and is well matched by the King's and Gaston's Medici mother. The fearsome Spanish Tercio is challenged by uptime weapons and troops trained by a former PE teacher and a woman as well. Radio communications assist some strategies and complicate others. ( )

I am a rabid fan of this series, so I read everything. This book was bad, dull, scattered, by the end I didn't care what happened to these people, even the baby, even the maybe dead Cardinal.

Advice for rabid fans, get from your public library (don't pay for It) and skim it just enough to know what plots advancements have been made, who is now where. ( )

I enjoy the Grantville series but am not a rabid fan. This book is a complete ripoff not even worthy of one star. Even multivolume series are supposed to have some level of dramatic resolution at the end of each book. This one fails the test. It sets a scene, provides a few new characters and mostly moves the pieces around the geographic and dynastic board to set up the NEXT book. Even at $9.99 for the e-book a total ripoff and thus ONLY for people in TOTAL love with the series. ( )