I did not know, for example, that there were intelligent dinosaur lawyers. How does that work with the rest of the alternate history?
Keep in mind that it's been a while since I read them and I haven't read the third (though I intend to): as I recall, it's not explained in great detail, although possibly I've just forgotten. It may be explained more in the third book? They're called trolls, but they're sentient troodon descendents (with feathers). (There's also magic and a world of spirits, and some creatures and people who come from there; it's just that the trolls are not among those people.)
What's the religion like?
Polytheistic. There's no Christianity analogue that I recall; if there is one it's not dominant, at any rate. Presumably there's Judaism, but I don't remember if there are any Jewish characters onscreen. (In the second book a lot of the action shifts over to the Caribbean, where the Taino are a dominant culture in the areas the action takes place.) Our heroine is religious in the sense that it's culturally important to her and she prays to Blessed Tanit fairly often. My memory is that, while she does believe, religion is a background she takes for granted rather than a primary focus of her attention. In terms of ritual, I don't remember in enough detail to be sure of answering. The Carthaginian/Phoenician ethnic group she's part of is definitely not the dominant cultural force, but is a relatively numerous minority. (IIRC, the dominant ethnic groups in Britain are Celtic and Mali.)
no subject
Keep in mind that it's been a while since I read them and I haven't read the third (though I intend to): as I recall, it's not explained in great detail, although possibly I've just forgotten. It may be explained more in the third book? They're called trolls, but they're sentient troodon descendents (with feathers). (There's also magic and a world of spirits, and some creatures and people who come from there; it's just that the trolls are not among those people.)
What's the religion like?
Polytheistic. There's no Christianity analogue that I recall; if there is one it's not dominant, at any rate. Presumably there's Judaism, but I don't remember if there are any Jewish characters onscreen. (In the second book a lot of the action shifts over to the Caribbean, where the Taino are a dominant culture in the areas the action takes place.) Our heroine is religious in the sense that it's culturally important to her and she prays to Blessed Tanit fairly often. My memory is that, while she does believe, religion is a background she takes for granted rather than a primary focus of her attention. In terms of ritual, I don't remember in enough detail to be sure of answering. The Carthaginian/Phoenician ethnic group she's part of is definitely not the dominant cultural force, but is a relatively numerous minority. (IIRC, the dominant ethnic groups in Britain are Celtic and Mali.)