This picks up a few days after Cannon Law. The Pope is fleeing and the young Stone family is hostages with the Borjas (Borgias).

This is around the 15th book in the series and there has only been a few years. At this story tempo we will never get further than 1640 which would be a pity because this world building is fascinating. The story telling isn't great and the characters are two dimensional but the history lesson makes it worth it. Though I wonder how confusing it would be to read this if you studied history at the same time. Would you vecome unsure what was fiction and what (probably) happened for real?

I'm giving the book 3 stars but it is not strong 3 stars. The end is better than the beginning.

There doesn't seem to be a followup yet to this story arc. Maybe there will never be one. ( )

A fun alternative-history read! I enjoy this series! ( )

[1635: The Papal Stakes] by [[Erice Flint]] and [[Charles Gannon]] Another installment in Eric Flint's increasingly complicated alternate history universe which started with 1632. In that year, a small town from West Virginia was transported in time from 2000. The shock of having a 21st century town in the middle of Europe during the 30 years war is still rippling through the world. The Borgia pope has ousted Pope Urban, but he is not dead, but is being protected by the United States of Europe. Borgia has kidnapped the son and pregnant daughter-in-law of a promininent USE industrialist and is seeking diplomatic leverage. The USE attempts to rescue them and also preserve Pope Urban's life constitute the two major plot lines of this novel.

If you enjoyed 1632 or any of the other novels in this series or if you enjoy alternate history, I highly recommend this book. ( )

Borja has usurped the papacy and taken Frank and Giovanna Stone hostage. Henry Lefferts and the Wrecking Crew are on their way, but a rescue might be harder than they think. And Urban is being protected by USE forces, although he is uncertain of the religious wisdom of actually taking refuge in the USE.

Fairly typical of the series, but overall one of the weaker entries. ( )

As the anti-pope seeks to have the Pope killed the pope sits in hiding with a small number of cardinals deciding whether the Papal decisions of the future change the way the catholic church works in the past. An enjoyable good read. ( )