Having just completed the Last Kingdom series in sequence over the last few weeks, I was reluctant to put Mr. Cornwell down. To my great reading pleasure, I took up “Fools and Mortals”. Unlike many of Mr. Cornwell’s other works, which tend to run in series, this is a (so far) stand-alone work – a riveting tale of action and intrigue set against the waning years of the first Elizabethan Era. It has the standard Cornwellian richness of you-were-there atmosphere and characterization and, yes, Her Nibs shows up – as does the inevitable religious fanaticism and some good old-fashioned violence. If you’re looking for a great read, especially if you love the theatre, this is one lesser-known Cornwell book not to miss. Four stars out of four.
Robert Kjoanssen