In the Shadow of the Conquistador by Shane Joseph
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a strangely satisfying novel, with a main focus on the relationship of two men and the woman that they both loved.

The novel does take place mostly in Peru when the two old friends reunite for an adventure. One is a lady's man, moving from one "conquest" to another through his whole life, while the other is a bit more regular. The whole novel spans their entire history, the love triangle between them and their loss.

It mirrors the history of Peru as they go to visit it and their adventure on the trails, and all of the conflicts that rise are beautifully explored and are eventually resolved.

This is a very polished novel, focused on all three characters rather deeply, with a lot of heart and an amazing degree of disappointment, too. I was genuinely moved, but to be honest, I was mostly moved by the conquered, not by the conquistador nor by his buddy. Their drama was at the forefront, of course, but I felt a lot of pity for the woman.

Two ravaging armies, and the innocent caught in-between. *sigh*

Very nice novel, quite entertaining.

Thanks goes to the author for a copy of the book for review!

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