A topical novel that suffers from not having Turtledove's hallmark differing points-of-view. Being easier to read can't really make up for not getting the Christian fanatics' perspective. Also the Republican Sultanate of the Maghrib is really too nice and too close to Italy to make for a good stand-in for the US.

Altogether an enjoyable read that doesn't stray too much into the war story genre and brings its point across.