May 1565. Malta. The conflict between Islam and Christianity is in full swing. Suleyman the Magnificent, Sultan of the Ottomans, declared holy war on his sworn enemies, the Knights of the Order of Malta. Seasoned soldiers, close to the Knights Templar, these designate their community under the term "religion." While an inquisitor arrives in Malta to restore papal control over the order, the Ottoman armada approaches the archipelago. It's the beginning of one of the most spectacular and hardest seats in military history. In this turbulent context, Mattias Tanhauser, mercenary and arms dealer, agrees to help a French countess, Carla La Penautier, in a perilous quest. To bring it to fruition, they will have to face fundamentalism on all sides, unravel political and religious intrigues, and break through well-kept secrets. Against a backdrop of conflict and religious mystery, this madly romantic book, with it's flawless erudition, shows a remarkable sense of intrigue. While exploring the mysterious history of the Knights of the Order of Malta, Tim Willocks, carried by language as intense as realistic, evokes Alexandre Dumas. An instant classic.