It’s 1087. The plague is sweeping through Anderson’s fantasy version of Italy, just as it was in the real world. A Benedictine monk named Nicephorus is having visions of St. Nicholas calling him to minister to the sick and dying. And a team of relic hunters, the dog-headed Reprobus and silver-tongued Tyun, are looking for their next mark.
Inspired by the purported miraculous healing power of the bones of St. Nicholas and the prestige of possessing them, the abbot hires Tyun’s team to “liberate” the saint’s remains from the city of Myra in what is now Türkiye, and he sends Nicephorus along to ensure they don’t run off with the money. Unfortunately, Nicephorus is far too honest and kindhearted to be an effective accessory to a heist, which leads to many mishaps in the ensuing picaresque adventure across medieval Europe.
If you’re a fan of historical fantasy or a lighthearted caper, you can place a hold for this title here. HPL also offers ebook and eaudio versions through Libby.
