In this second book in Perez-Reverte's wildly entertaining Alatriste series, also memorably set in 17th-century Spain, our swashbuckling hero rescues a young ward held against her will at a convent in Madrid. Captain Alatriste teams up with the great real-life poet Francisco de Quevedo y Villegas, runs head on into the inquisition and various degenerate royalty, including the Count-Duke of Olivares. It's all great fun, marvelously rendered into English by Margaret Sayer's Peden, and it gives the author plenty of opportunity to comment on honor, faith. love and all that. Viggo Mortensen stars in the movie "Alatriste" due out Winter 2006.  (SPN281, $14.95)

A Captain Alatriste Adventure