The second swashbuckling adventure in the internationally acclaimed Captain Alatriste series Captain Alatriste, Madrid's most charismatic swashbuckler, returns in Pérez-Reverte's acclaimed international bestseller. The fearless Alatriste is hired to infiltrate a convent and rescue a young girl forced to serve as a powerful priest's concubine. The girl's father is barred from legal recourse as the priest threatens to reveal that the man's family is “not of pure blood” and is, in fact, of Jewish descent—which will all but destroy the family name. As Alatriste struggles to save the young hostage from being burned at the stake, he soon finds himself drawn deeper and deeper into a conspiracy that leads all the way to the heart of the Spanish Inquisition. A literary thriller that delivers adventure and rich historical detail, Purity of Blood captivates to the final page. The Washington Post - Warren Bass Perez-Reverte's enthusiasm is contagious, and the story is propelled by his glee. When the last echo of the last clang of the last duel has died away down the muddy streets of Madrid, readers will be hungry for the next volume. They should expect more of the same -- which is, after all, the point. When asked about a job, Alatriste pauses, thinks and responds, It will involve swordplay, I imagine. Give us the foils. Come on.