Overview

• Presented in Madrid, the new novel launches this week with a first Spanish print run of 180,000 copies and a simultaneous release in Spain and Latin America.
• Set in 1628 Paris, the story places Alatriste and Quevedo against the backdrop of La Rochelle and brings encounters with Dumas’ musketeers while avoiding pastiche.
• Pérez‑Reverte describes Alatriste as a remorseful “héroe oscuro” who kills for money yet clings to loyalty and honor, reflecting the author’s own aging and regrets.
• The writer says the series helps reconcile him with Spain by portraying its “lights and shadows,” noting it has drawn criticism from both the far left and far right.
• Alfaguara cites roughly seven million copies sold across the previous books, and Pérez‑Reverte left open whether he will write a ninth installment after years of reader pressure.