Michael, book three of the Triptych Chronicle, reunites characters from the previous books in this series in a beautifully written account of life during the Byzantium era. Batten effortlessly draws the reader into this historic world with small details of everyday life as well as the overarching socio-political landscape of the time. What most impressed me is the attention to detail in Batten’s writing style, an aspect most evident in the lyrical, plausibly different speech patterns in the dialogue. Competition is fierce between merchant houses and there’s very little that the characters in this book will balk at in pursuit of the rarest and most valuable commodities. Batten intertwines personal and professional motivation in this intriguing and mixed cast of characters to build a web of mystery that dances through the plot. Michael is a thrilling, addictive masterpiece of historical fiction with an inescapable feel of authenticity.
Reviewed for Reader's Favorite