The author's gift for deep, comprehensive historical study and his ability to keep characters fresh in readers' minds bring this battle between Spain's best general and Queen Elizabeth's favorite, Charles Blount, to the awareness it has been denied. A fantastic book that finally assigns Kinsale its rightful place in history.—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

The Last Armada is history written to read like journalism. Ekin's observations and summations are sharp, precise and meant to strike a chord in the modern reader. —The Dallas Morning News

Entertaining, chatty, and superbly researched, replete with fascinating anecdotes and tragicomic relief, this is popular history at its finest. It is sure to appeal to aficionados of Irish and military history. Fans of Arturo Perez-Reverte’s Captain Alatriste adventures will delight in seeing real-life counterparts in action at the Siege of Kinsale. —Library Journal

An even-handed account of a critical event in Irish history. A historical page-turner with acts of heroism, betrayal, espionage, self-aggrandizement and self-sacrifice.—Shelf Awareness

Enthralling.—The Irish Independent

Terrific. One of the most turbulent periods in Irish history is brought dramatically to life. Fascinating.—The Sunday World (Ireland)

Irish journalist Ekin effectively brings to life this fateful but largely forgotten second effort to claim England for Catholicism and the Spanish Hapsburgs. It’s a detailed narrative filled with heroism, treachery, dynastic politics, and adultery—the makings of a soap opera, except that all of it actually happened. Ekin wrings nearly everything he can from various archives. Where the archives are silent, Ekin offers prudent judgments about what might have occurred while reporting fairly on earlier participants’ and historians’ differing conclusions. A nice contribution to the historical literature, and one very well told.—Publishers Weekly

The intrigues, the siege, the battle, and the aftermath are brilliantly realized by the author.—The Irish Catholic

Lovely and enthralling. Ekin is a wonderful guide through this engrossing tale.—The Sunday Times (London)