The City of Tears

In late-1500s France, wars of religion dominate society, but currently there is an uneasy peace as the country gets ready for the nuptials between the king’s sister and the King of Navarre. Minou and Piet Joubert have traveled from Puivert to Paris in anticipation of the event, but when disaster strikes and they are forced to flee for Amsterdam, their lives will never be the same. Meanwhile, their enemy, Vidal, secretly plans a religious coup that seeks to forever alter history. The second book in the author’s “Burning Chambers” series continues the story of many of the characters from the first book (e.g., Minou, Piet, Vidal, Bernard). It is a solid sequel, ably advancing and aging the plot started in the initial title (The Burning Chambers). Though the narrative is set during a turbulent moment in European history, the believably drawn characters are the focus of the tale and will draw in readers.