I gave this book a 5 star rating, not because it is the greatest piece of literature ever written, but because to me this was a beautiful read.

I agree with some of the criticism in the other reviews regarding the immense luck of the main character (plot armor essentially) and the somewhat superficial dialogue. However, this did not take from *my personal* experience.

The book is written from a first person perspective, which gave the impression that Catrijn was writing to me about the happenings in her life. The book does not suggest this in any way, but that's how it read to me. This meant that I didn't feel the need for an exhaustive description of the cities and landscapes, nor of the people she met or was friends with. It all felt familiar from the get go, she didn't need to describe anything to me because I was already immersed in the time period and cities because of the familiarity the book instilled.

I wouldn't say this is a book for everyone, but if you feel like reading some light historical fiction that isn't all fluff, you might enjoy this one.