The Spanish Sacrifice: A Historical Political Saga (ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF WAR)

Jay Perin’s globetrotting and truly epic One Hundred Years of War series nears its conclusion in The Spanish Sacrifice, the first in an explosive two-part finale to a saga that has so far spanned the tumultuous period from the early 1970s through to the start of the 2000s. During this thirty-year timeframe, as the Kingsleys, the Sheppards, and the Barronses struggled to gain and maintain control of an oil empire with sufficient influence to alter the course of global events, individual members of the three families have faced sinister political machinations, economic skullduggery on a huge scale, and brutal violence, sometimes with deadly consequences.

It’s now July 2000, some two and a half years after Lilah Sheppard Barrons, her former husband Brad Kingsley, and his brothers returned from a fraught decade-long exile abroad after falling victim to a politically motivated conspiracy, and former President Temple is attending a funeral in Brooklyn, New York. The deceased is not named, but it’s clear that the death has had a major impact on Temple. It’s equally clear that his hubris might have finally dissipated somewhat, even if only due to the physical consequences of the assassination attempt he survived, and that he might have come to regret using younger members of the three families as pawns in his deadly game with Jared Sanders and his successors.

The story then jumps back two years into the past, to late March of 1998, when Lilah and co. have only recently arrived back home. Through the skillful maneuvering of Harry Sheppard, Lilah’s former love and current protector, and Dan Barrons, Lilah’s twin brother, she has managed to wrestle back some control over the bloated oil empire. This means that, in addition to playing the CIA at their own game, she has another opportunity to dismantle the network from the inside, even if she has to do so while somehow maintaining cordial relations with her ex-husband. As political turmoil rages around the world, threatening to drag the United States into unwanted conflicts, it’s really not a good time for an oil crisis.

Of course, there are several major players with a vested interest in ensuring that Lilah’s plan fails, particularly Godwin Kingsley and his government/military cronies, which sets the scene for two years’ worth of blackmail, backstabbing, and bloody violence leading up to the fateful funeral.

There is a lot going on in The Spanish Sacrifice, but not as much as has happened in the preceding five books, so it’s not the place to start with the One Hundred Years of War series. It is, however, a great start to what promises to be a nail-biting conclusion to the saga. As is to be expected, Lilah, Harry, and their allies face lies and double-crosses at almost every turn as they attempt to gain sufficient control of the oil empire to finally demolish the network, all while keeping both their personal lives and their dealings with various government agencies in some kind of order. It involves a great deal of complex maneuvering, but Perin manages to draw the different threads together in a way that either provides answers or offers the promise of answers to come.

All of the familiar characters—that is, those who have managed to survive the deadly chess game thus far—have a role to play in bringing matters to a close in em>The Spanish Sacrifice and, presumably, the forthcoming final book in the series. In particular, Temple seems to demonstrate the most growth as a character, even though his ability to communicate is now limited and his willingness to engage in violence is still evident. Looking back from the vantage point of age, he seems to both regret what he has brought about and desire to help move things towards the ultimate end. Given Temple’s distaste for all the alliances and conspiracies, it is also interesting to watch members of the younger generation come through the three families during the novel and almost inevitably take their place in the ongoing drama.

Saying that, while there’s still plenty of action and intrigue, there are slower moments in The Spanish Sacrifice than in other books in the series, particularly the board meetings, legal conferences, and lengthy congressional hearing. As Lilah and Harry seek to secure power, and as others aim to consolidate their positions, there is much discussion and debate. Moreover, this installment of the saga predominantly takes place in the United States, which is another marked difference from the far more well-traveled earlier books. The lack of travel and diverse settings doesn’t limit the flow of the story, but it does remove an added layer of interest that has become accustomed in the series.

The Spanish Sacrifice makes for an intriguing and suspenseful beginning of the end for the One Hundred Years of War series, delivering plenty of schemes and plots but also revealing the answers to some long-running questions. It’s clear that there is plenty more in store for Lilah, Harry, Temple, and all the rest before things are finally wrapped up, so hopefully there won’t be too much of a wait before The Capitol Showdown is released.