I received a free Beta e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Another great historical novel by Colin Falconer. The setting is Spain in the late 1400s near the end of the Inquisition during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. Diego Sanchis suffers from dwarfism and is a famous painter who paints tryptychs and murals in cathedrals throughout Seville. He is asked to take on a female student, which is unheard of during this time period of history. There is kidnapping, murder, persecution, prejudice, destruction of beautiful art, and the fall of Moorish Spain. I have read many historical novels about Christian conquests and I always come away ashamed of and amazed at the atrocities committed in the name of religion all supposedly justified by the will of ‘God’. I enjoy the colorful language the author uses as he writes. I can picture each event as if it is happening right in front of me. The characters are well developed. This is another very well written and extensively researched novel by Colin Falconer. This is a keeper. ( )