A good plot and interesting theme. It was a little different with some of the action taking place in North Africa. I did find it a little dry in places, but then it would pick up again.
I do like a strong and feisty heroine but at times Rowena was irritating. She was determined to attempt the almost impossible without engaging her brain. Would she really have trekked off into the dangerous interior of Africa alone with only the clothes on her back? It would have been paramount to suicide or capture as a slave. There is a fine line between bravery and stupidity. I liked Tobias because below the surface he was a good and honourable man with a reasonable mien, a realistic outlook and an ultimate objective.
Like all good books, it has a suitably evil villain to add a little more conflict.
The conclusion was nicely tied up together with no loose ends and although predictable, well executed.
3.5 stars