"The conclusion of Douglass' Crucible series completes the saga of Thomas Neville, the medieval nobleman turned cleric, whom the Archangel Michael has entrusted with battling a horde of shape-shifting demons unwittingly released from hell. As the fourteenth century comes to a close, Neville has left the Dominican priesthood and is still searching for the late Father de Worde's casket, a mysterious container that harbors the means to overthrow the demons. Neville has also discovered that heaven's angelic minions have the power to mate with human females and produce their own less-than-savory offspring. Amid growing friendship with Henry Bolingbroke (eventually England's King Henry IV), who may be a demon in disguise, Neville is becoming less sure of Michael's beneficence and more conflicted about his mission. Douglass' superior blend of high fantasy and realistic historical settings is a fitting vehicle for exploring the grand themes of religion, morality, and the eternal battle between good and evil. History buffs, fantasy enthusiasts, and admirers of superlative storytelling should thoroughly enjoy this sweeping story." - Carl Hays.
