Tag: Renaissance

Guest Post: “A Medieval Hospital, Ruined Roman Baths and Magnificent Apartments – Locations in ‘The Cameo Keeper’” by Deborah Swift

On By hmalagisiIn guest post1 Comment

I am pleased to welcome Deborah Swift back to my blog today to share information about the real-life locations for her latest novel, “The Cameo Keeper.” I would like to thank Deborah Swift and The Coffee Pot Book Club for allowing me to participate in this blog tour.

Santo Spirito Hospital 

One of my characters, Jacopo Vanelli, is a surgeon, so he spends his time at the Santo Spirito Hospital in Rome. The ‘Holy Spirit’ hospital was founded in the Middle Ages and was recognised as one of Europe’s oldest and most advanced hospitals. Its remit included not only tending to the sick and the poor, but also taking in unwanted babies, abandoned children, and travellers who fell ill within the bustling heart of Rome. 

Within its grand Renaissance walls, was a museum, an apothecary shop, a public operating theatre and an orphanage run by nuns. The operating theatre became an influential centre for medical education — hosting lectures, dissections, and practical training sessions that drew aspiring doctors from across Italy and Europe.  

Here is the octagonal tower of the main building, below.  

 

The architecture of the hospital was striking, with vast wards, airy cloisters, and a famous spiral staircase designed to allow for the swift transfer of patients. Ornate chapels and frescoes adorned the interior, along with stained glass windows. It was seen as an extension of the Church, in what was considered the holiest city in the Western world. 

The Ruined Roman Baths  

By the 17th century, the once-magnificent Roman baths of the city stood as haunting reminders of Rome’s imperial past. Structures such as the Baths of Caracalla and the Baths of Diocletian, though partially collapsed and overgrown, continued to inspire awe with their towering arches and crumbling mosaics. Locals and visitors alike wandered amidst these grand ruins, imagining the bustling social life and sophisticated engineering that had filled these halls centuries before. 

This was an ideal place for lovers to meet, and two of my characters meet at the Baths of Caracalla. Mostly in decay, the stone was pillaged to build new buildings, but there was also a market in trinkets and souvenirs that went on there amongst the ruins. Artists and antiquarians flocked to the baths, sketching their weathered columns and broken statues, and imagining the naked bathers of centuries before. 

The Vatican Apartments 

One of my characters is the Pope’s sister-in-law, Donna Olimpia Maidalchini, a powerful and wealthy woman who dominated Roman life. Many of my scenes take place in the Vatican Apartments, which represent the heart of papal authority and splendour. These lavish chambers were home to the Pope and his closest advisors, serving as both living quarters but also the centre of Rome’s governance. The apartments showcased the best artistry of Renaissance and Baroque craftsmen. Daily life within the Vatican Apartments was a blend of solemn ritual and political intrigue, with cardinals, diplomats, and foreign dignitaries as regular visitors. 

The most celebrated rooms, such as the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel—already famed for Michelangelo’s ceiling—were objects of wonder and inspiration for all who visited. The Vatican Apartments thus stood not only as the spiritual and administrative core of the Catholic world, but also as a testament to Rome’s enduring patronage of the arts and its pivotal role in shaping the cultural legacy of the 17th century. 

Rome is a fabulous place to set a novel with many beautiful and atmospheric locations, and I hope I’ve used them all to advantage in The Cameo Keeper. 

Blurb: 

Rome 1644: A Novel of Love, Power, and Poison 

 

Remember tonight… for it is the beginning of always ― Dante Alighieri 

 

In the heart of Rome, the conclave is choosing a new Pope, and whoever wins will determine the fate of the Eternal City. 

 

Astrologer Mia and her fiancé Jacopo, a physician at the Santo Spirito Hospital, plan to marry, but the election result is a shock and changes everything. 

As Pope Innocent X takes the throne, he brings along his sister-in-law, the formidable Donna Olimpia Maidalchini, known as La Papessa – the female Pope. When Mia is offered a position as her personal astrologer, she and Jacopo find themselves on opposite sides of the most powerful family in Rome. 

Mia is determined to protect her mother, Giulia Tofana, a renowned poisoner. But with La Papessa obsessed with bringing Giulia to justice, Mia and Jacopo’s love is put to the ultimate test. 

As the new dawn of Renaissance medicine emerges, Mia must navigate the dangerous political landscape of Rome while trying to protect her family and her heart. Will she be able to save her mother, or will she lose everything she holds dear? 

For fans of “The Borgias” and “The Crown,” this gripping tale of love, power, and poison will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. 

Praise: 

‘historical fiction that is brisk, fresh and bristling with intrigue’ 
~ Bookmarked Reviews ★★★★★ 

Buy Link: 

Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/CameoKeeper  

Author Bio: 

Deborah Swift is the author of twenty novels of historical fiction.  

Her Renaissance novel in this series, The Poison Keeper, was recently voted Best Book of the Decade by the Wishing Shelf Readers Award. Her WW2 novel Past Encounters was the winner of the BookViral Millennium Award, and is one of seven books set in the WW2 era. 

Deborah lives in the North of England close to the mountains and the sea. 

Author Links: 

Website: www.deborahswift.com  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deborahswiftauthor/ 

Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/swiftstory 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authordeborahswift/ 

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/deborahswift1/ 

 

 

Book Review: “Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling” by Ross King

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The Italian Renaissance was a time of great artwork, eccentric artists, and patrons who created these masterpieces. While the art tells a story, the artist and patron want the audience to understand, but sometimes the story of how the art came to be can be just as fascinating. One of the most famous pieces of art from the early 16th century was the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. A stunning piece created by an artist who primarily created sculptures, and his patron was a pope who was more like a warrior. The story of how Michelangelo and Pope Julius II created an unlikely team to create this remarkable masterpiece is told in Ross King’s book, “Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling.”

This is one of those books that caught my eye in a used bookstore. I am a fan of art history, so it intrigued me when I saw the title. Obviously, I have seen images of the Sistine Chapel, and I knew that Michelangelo was the one who painted the ceiling, but beyond that, I didn’t know much about this piece or the history behind it. With the recent Papal Conclave, which takes place in the Sistine Chapel, I thought this would be the perfect time to read this book.

The year is 1508, and the Sistine Chapel has just been restored. Pope Julius II wants someone to paint the ceiling of the Chapel. While others would have easily chosen a painter who knew how to paint frescoes as an ideal choice, Julius II and his assistant, Donato Bramante, decided to pick the young man who was in charge of carving Pope Julius’ tomb, Michelangelo Buonarroti. To say Michelangelo was not a fan of this assignment from the Pope would be an understatement. All the man wanted to do was sculpt amazing sculptures like David and the tomb for the Pope, but no, the Pope wanted him to paint. So he reluctantly taught himself how to paint in fresco over four years to create this masterpiece, telling tales of the Old Testament in the Bible with a specific emphasis on Creation and the stories of Moses. 

Those four years saw much action for Michelangelo and Pope Julius II, who was known as il papa terribile. Michelangelo had to keep an eye on his fresco, his rival Raphael, and his family, who were always causing trouble. Pope Julius had to fight not only illness, but also the French, led by King Louis XII, which led to the creation of the Holy League against France. King also lays out the process and the inspiration for Michelangelo’s masterpiece, which I found quite fascinating. 

This was a captivating read that gave such wonderful information about the era and the creation of this masterpiece. I have been a fan of art history and the history of the 16th century, so this book ticked so many boxes for me. If you want a delightful book full of art history and the history of Italy during the 16th century, I would recommend reading “Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling” by Ross King.

Guest Post: Spotlight for “The Pirate’s Physician” by Amy Maroney

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I am pleased to welcome Amy Maroney back to my blog to share a spotlight for her latest novel, “The Pirate’s Physician.” I want to thank Amy Maroney and The Coffee Pot Book Club for allowing me to participate in this blog tour.

Blurb:  

When her world shatters, she dares to trust a pirate. Will she survive what comes next? 

The Pirate’s Physician is the story of Giuliana Rinaldi, a student at Salerno’s famed medieval medical school, whose lifelong dream of becoming a physician crumbles when her uncle and mentor dies suddenly.  

Faced with an unwanted marriage to a ruthless merchant, Giuliana enlists the help of a Basque pirate and flees home for the dangers of the open sea.  

Will she make it to Genoa, where her only remaining relative awaits? Or will this impulsive decision seal her own doom? 

A delightful seafaring adventure packed with romance and intrigue, The Pirate’s Physician is a companion novella to the award-winning Sea and Stone Chronicles series of historical novels by Amy Maroney: Island of Gold, Sea of Shadows, and The Queen’s Scribe. 

Buy Link: 

Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/PiratesPhysician  

Author Bio:  

Amy Maroney lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family, and spent many years as a writer and editor of nonfiction before turning her hand to historical fiction. 

Amy is the author of the Miramonde Series, a trilogy about a Renaissance-era female artist and the modern-day scholar on her trial. Amy’s new series, Sea and Stone Chronicles, features strong, talented women seeking their fortunes in the medieval Mediterranean.  

To receive a free prequel novella to the Miramonde Series, join Amy Maroney’s readers’ group at http://www.amymaroney.com.  

Author Links: 

Website: https://www.amymaroney.com/ 

Twitter: https://x.com/wilaroney 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amymaroneyauthor/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amymaroneywrites/ 

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/amyloveshistory/ 

Book Bub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/amy-maroney 

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Amy-Maroney/author/B01LYHPXEO 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15831603.Amy_Maroney

Guest Post: “Spotlight for ‘The Virgins of Venice’ by Gina Buonaguro

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wDuEG-OMI am pleased to welcome Gina Buonaguro to blog today to share a blurb from her novel, “The Virgins of Venice.” I would like to thank The Coffee Pot Book Club and Gina Buonaguro for allowing me to be part of this blog tour.

Blurb:

In sixteenth-century Venice, one young noblewoman dares to resist the choices made for her

Venice in 1509 is on the brink of war. The displeasure of Pope Julius II is a continuing threat to the republic, as is the barely contained fighting in the countryside. Amid this turmoil, noblewoman Justina Soranzo, just sixteen, hopes to make a rare love marriage with her sweetheart, Luca Cicogna. Her hopes are dashed when her father decides her younger sister, Rosa, will marry in a strategic alliance and Justina will be sent to the San Zaccaria convent, in the tradition of aristocratic daughters. Lord Soranzo is not acting only to protect his family. It’s well known that he is in debt to both his trading partners and the most infamous courtesan in the city, La Diamante, and the pressure is closing in.

After arriving at the convent, Justina takes solace in her aunt Livia, one of the nuns, and in the growing knowledge that all is not strictly devout at San Zaccaria. Justina is shocked to discover how the women of the convent find their own freedom in what seems to her like a prison. But secrets and scandals breach the convent walls, and Justina learns there may be even worse fates for her than the veil, if La Diamante makes good on her threats.

Desperate to protect herself and the ones she loves, Justina turns to Luca for help. She finds she must trust her own heart to make the impossible decisions that may save or ruin them all.

Buy Links:

Universal Buy Links:
https://books2read.com/u/49O7NW

The Virgins of Venice

sGD3hzD8Author Bio:

Gina Buonaguro is the co-author of The Wolves of St. Peters, Ciao Bella , and The Sidewalk Artist, as well as several romance titles under the name Meadow Taylor. The Virgins of Venice is her first solo novel.

She has a BA in English from Villanova University in Pennsylvania and earned an MA in English from the University of British Columbia while on a Fulbright Scholarship. Born in New Jersey, Gina Buonaguro lives in Toronto.

Author Links:

Website: https://ginabu.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GinaBuWriter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-buonaguro-35318934/
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/gina-buonaguro
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Gina-Buonaguro/author/B002LAAF9I
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/219059.Gina_Buonaguro

Guest Post: “Researching Crime in Renaissance Venice” by Deborah Swift

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I am pleased to welcome Deborah Swift to my blog to share an article about researching crime in Renaissance Venice for her novel, The Fortune Keeper. I would like to thank Deborah Swift and The Coffee Pot Book Club for allowing me to be part of this blog tour.


One of the things I was aware of as soon as I started this novel, The Fortune Keeper, was that although not a crime novel, it would probably have several murders within its pages. This is because the whole series is about Giulia Tofana, who was renowned for poisoning men so that their wives could escape marital persecution.

Giulia Tofana became a legend and it is probable that she didn’t poison as many men as the rumors say, and that she was probably blamed for the crimes of others. One of the others suspected of her crimes was her stepdaughter Girolama. As she was to be featured in this book, it led me to look into the law in early modern Venice because I knew I would have to be aware of policing, punishment, and the mechanisms of the law.

Accademia – Miracle of the Holy Cross at Rialto by Vittore Carpaccio

Renaissance Robbery
Venice was extremely wealthy in the Renaissance period, and vagabonds and thieves flooded into the city in search of easy pickings. In the picture above you can see the canal thronged with men dressed in rich clothing and ornament. The most common crimes in Venice were burglary and forgery, but it was by no means unusual for there to be murders over money and debts. The punishment for robbery was calculated based on the quantity of property taken. First offenders who stole goods worth less than one lira could get away with a whipping, but woe betide you if you stole something bigger. The penalty was the loss of an eye for goods valued between five to ten lire, and the noose awaited those brave enough to steal something worth more than forty lire.

Debt and Death
The law allowed anyone owed more than five lire de piccola to threaten and even kill the debtor to recoup their money, putting the onus firmly on the debtor, not the avenger. This tells us that money was the main driving force in Venetian society. But what about armed robbery or assault where no debt was owed? Most assaults were subject to a mere fine of twenty-five lire, or banishment from the city-state. If your crime was a crime that drew blood – sanguinem fecerit – then the punishment was up to the judging council. Venetian law had no such thing as ‘innocent until proven guilty’ at that time. The proof was largely circumstantial, and it relied on the judge and jury’s instinct regarding the guilt of the person involved.

Renaissance Lawkeepers
The Avogaria di Comun were a group equivalent to lawyers, though non-professional, drawn exclusively from the nobility. They acted as prosecutors for the state, giving evidence and arguing for punishments before the main judicial councils of Venice. Because of their status, their judgments were often influenced by their social position, and the personal axes they had to grind.

Execution and Mutilation
In this period it was still common for mutilations to take place, which had been traditional in medieval times. Cutting out the tongue for heresy, cutting off the thumb or fingers for pilfering. Courtesans regularly had their noses or faces cut. There was also the custom of cutting off the ‘offending’ part – this led to men who were convicted of dabbling in heresy or alchemy, or crimes against the Holy Roman Church having their hand cut off to remove the ‘devil’s instrument’. This kind of public ritual and humiliation was designed to bring public vengeance to the accused person and to reaffirm the values of the Church or state.

The ritual turned the execution into a purification of the city.
Few crimes brought down corporal or capital punishment. The types of corporal punishment used for the crimes of rape and assault were minor by today’s standards. As an example, for assault, out of 569 cases only fifteen involved mutilation of the criminal; and sixteen more involved some form of corporal discipline. For rape offenses, corporal punishment was even less significant, with twenty cases of discipline and only four of mutilation.


Maintaining law and order
On the streets, the main arbiters of law and order were the town guard, the vigili urbani, who acted as our police do now. Their job was to make sure masked men didn’t carry arms, that only noblemen wore swords, and to act as a preventative force as well as policing troublemakers.

Further up the ladder was the Council of Ten, a kind of secret police force whose job was to maintain order within the city-state of Venice. There was not much space in the city gaols of Venice due to the whole nature of its construction. For crimes of fraud, marital dispute, and affray, these men sat in judgment. It was unfeasible to keep men incarcerated for long because otherwise, the gaols would be full of minor offenders. Small fines and short gaol sentences were the usual punishments for common violence in Venice. When the crime crossed the line into something that was considered ‘against God’ or ‘against the reputation of Venice’ then ritual punishment could be relied upon to warn the populace about sinning against these bigger, less personal edifices.

Documents I found helpful in my research:
Law and Punishment in Early Renaissance Venice
Violence in Early Renaissance Venice – Guido Ruggiero
Banditry and Social Identity in the Republic of Venice – Sergio Lavarda
Authority and the Law in Renaissance Venice — G. Cozzi

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Blurb:

Count your nights by stars, not shadows ~ Italian Proverb

Winter in Renaissance Venice

Mia Caiozzi is determined to discover her destiny by studying the science of astronomy. But her stepmother Giulia forbids her to engage in this occupation, fearing it will lead her into danger. The ideas of Galileo are banned by the Inquisition, so Mia must study in secret.

Giulia’s real name is Giulia Tofana, renowned for her poison Aqua Tofana, and she is in hiding from the Duke de Verdi’s family who are intent on revenge for the death of their brother. Giulia insists Mia should live quietly out of public view. If not, it could threaten them all. But Mia doesn’t understand this, and rebels against Giulia, determined to go her own way.

When the two secret lives collide, it has far-reaching and fatal consequences that will change Mia’s life forever.

Set amongst opulent palazzos and shimmering canals, The Fortune Keeper is the third novel of adventure and romance based on the life and legend of Giulia Tofana, the famous poisoner.

‘Her characters are so real they linger in the mind long after the book is back on the shelf’
~ Historical Novel Society

NB This is the third in a series but can stand alone as it features a new protagonist. The other two books are available if reviewers want them.

Trigger Warnings:
Murder and violence in keeping with the era.

Buy Links:

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Universal Link: https://mybook.to/FortuneKeeper

Audiobook Buy Links:

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/audiobook/fortune-keeper-the
Audio: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Fortune-Keeper-Audiobook/B0C63R95WM

Author Bio:

Deborah Swift is a USA TODAY bestselling author who is passionate about the past. Deborah used to be a costume designer for the BBC, before becoming a writer. Now she lives in an old English school house in a village full of 17th Century houses, near the glorious Lake District. Deborah has an award-winning historical fiction blog on her website http://www.deborahswift.com.

Deborah loves to write about how extraordinary events in history have transformed the lives of ordinary people, and how the events of the past can live on in her books and still resonate today.

The first in her series about the Renaissance poisoner Giulia Tofana, The Poison Keeper, was a winner of the Wishing Shelf Book of the Decade, a Coffee Pot Book Club Gold Medal, and the latest in her WW2 Secret Agent series, Operation Tulip, is coming soon.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.deborahswift.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/swiftstory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authordeborahswift/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/deborahswift1/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/deborah-swift
Amazon: http://author.to/DeborahSwift

Book Review: “Disobedient” by Elizabeth Fremantle

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Disobedient“I’ll show you what a woman can do.”

A young Renaissance woman artist is attacked by her art teacher. He claimed that she was lying. For most, this would be the end of a career and a black mark left on their reputation for the rest of their lives. Not in this case. Artemisia Gentileschi is not a woman who will stand by and let men control her or her art. In the 21st century, she is seen as an artistic genius, but in her time, she was seen as an odd woman who refused to follow the rules. Artemisia’s harrowing tale of turning tragedy into inspiration for her art, showing what a woman could do, is masterfully told in Elizabeth Fremantle’s latest novel, “Disobedient.”

This is the second novel that I have read by Elizabeth Fremantle, the first being “Queen’s Gambit.” I was thoroughly enthralled by “Queen’s Gambit,” so when I heard she wrote a new novel about Artemisia Gentileschi, I knew I wanted to read it. Before I read this novel, I did not know much about Artemisia’s story, so I was excited to learn about her struggles and triumphs.

Rome in 1611 was not a kind place for a female artist. Artemisia is the eldest daughter of Orazio Gentileschi, an artist himself. Her mother died when she was but a child and after her death, her father has become an abusive drunkard. He controls his family through fear, but Artemisia is not afraid to stand up for her siblings and her artworks, no matter the consequences. To keep his headstrong daughter in line, Orazio turns to Zita to watch over her, but Zita is not the virtuous woman that Orazio believes she is as she is a thief. Artemisia has only one friend in the world who seems to understand her, the apprentice Piero, someone who truly cares for her and wants to see her talents develop, but it is conflicted when it comes to his feelings towards other men. Finally, there is the art teacher, Tassi, who may seem like a kind soul who simply wants to teach Artemisia how to paint, but he has darker plans in mind.

Everything takes a dramatic turn for the worse when Zita leaves Artemisia alone with Tassi and he attacks her. Instead of becoming timid and accepting the marriage proposal, Tassi presents her soon after the incident, Artemisia digs into her art and paints her hatred and pain into her most famous work, Judith Slaying Holofernes. The piece is full of emotions in a bloody scene that seems rather inappropriate for a woman artist during the Renaissance, but Artemisia does not care about the criticism. She is showing the world exactly what a woman can do, and her next step, taking Tassi to court, will define her strength and determination to fight for what she believes is right. Artemisia is a survivor who thrived under unimaginable circumstances.

This book left such an impact on me. I was heartbroken, angry, and devastated for Artemisia as the events unfolded. By the end, I had to catch my breath and realize that it was a fictional retelling of her life. It is a story that will stay with me for a long time and it makes me want to study Artemisia’s life and times. If you want a heartbreaking tale full of sorrow and strength set during the Italian Renaissance, you must check out “Disobedient” by Elizabeth Fremantle.

Guest Post: “Turning the World to Stone” Excerpt by Kelly Evans

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Turning the World to Stone Tour BannerI am pleased to welcome Kelly Evans to my blog today to share an excerpt from her novel, “Turning the World to Stone.” I want to thank Kelly Evans and The Coffee Pot Book Club for allowing me to be part of this blog tour. 

“I’m worried about the Holy Father.”

“All of Italy is.”

His lack of concern inflamed her already smouldering ire. “How can you be so unmoved? You know how serious our situation is.”

He replied with the same uninterested tone. “I’ll take care of it.”

Caterina’s pique overwhelmed her. “What? Like you have been? Emboldening our enemies and making new ones when we need friends right now?”

Girolamo glared at her, and Caterina felt slightly smug at finally pushing him into revealing himself. Mocking her tone, he lashed out. “What? Friends like your Bossi? Your closest advisor, always around to do your bidding.” He glanced around the room. “I’m surprised he’s not lurking in the shadows, waiting to whisper in your ear. I’ve often wondered if he whispers about himself and you and if my children are even mine.”

This was the best he could do? Insinuations? She was grateful Bossi wasn’t around to hear such slander.

Her husband went on. “Or friends like that little puttana, your lady? Where is she? She’s always sniffing around.” He glared at her with such disdain it felt like she’d been hit by him. “You need to mind your own business, arrogant Milanese whore that you are.”

Caterina stood, her body trembling. “How dare you?”

“I dare because I can. You have been too free with me, wife. You should watch yourself.” Girolamo moved his hand to his knife hilt threateningly but knocked over his glass of wine in the process. His face a deep red, he picked up the glass and threw it across the room before storming out.

As he exited the main door to the hall, Luisa entered through another just in time to see Caterina stare open-mouthed and then collapse on the floor. 

Turning the World to Stone coverBook Title and Author Name: 

Turning the World to Stone – The Life of Caterina Sforza Part One 1472 to 1488 

by Kelly Evans

Blurb:

Vilified by history, Caterina Sforza learned early that her life was not her own. Married at age ten, she was a pawn in the ever-changing political environment of Renaissance Italy.

Resigned to her life as a fifteenth-century wife, Caterina adapted to the role she was expected to play: raising and educating her children, helping the poor in her new home, and turning a blind eye to her husband’s increasingly shameful behaviour. But Fate had other plans for her, and soon Caterina’s path would be plagued by murder, betrayal, and heartbreak. 

“Could I write all, the world would turn to stone.”

Buy Links: 

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Universal Link: https://mybook.to/Caterina

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Turning-World-Stone-Caterina-Sforza/dp/1778022421

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Turning-World-Stone-Caterina-Sforza-ebook/dp/B0C1HZHT93

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Turning-World-Stone-Caterina-Sforza-ebook/dp/B0C1HZHT93

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Turning-World-Stone-Caterina-Sforza-ebook/dp/B0C1HZHT93

Kelly EvansAuthor Bio:

Born in Canada of Scottish extraction, Kelly Evans graduated in History and English, then moved to England, where she worked in the financial sector. While in London, Kelly continued her studies in history, concentrating on Medieval History, and travelled extensively through Eastern and Western Europe. 

Kelly is now back in Canada with her husband, Max, and a rescue cat. She writes full-time, focussing on illuminating little-known women in history with fascinating stories. When not working on her novels, Kelly writes Described Video scripts for visually impaired individuals, plays oboe, and enjoys old sci-fi movies. 

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.kellyaevans.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChaucerBabe

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kellyevansauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyevansauthor/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/kellyewrites/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kelly-evans

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Kelly-Evans/author/B0187JGTOQ

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14335541.Kelly_Evans

Book Review: “The Girl From Oto” by Amy Maroney

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the girl from otoTwo independent women separated by time but united over two compelling portraits and the secrets hidden behind the paint. Mira (Miramonde) is a nun from a Renaissance convent in the Pyrenees who believes she is an orphan who wants to escape her small community and explore the world. Five hundred years later, Zari, an art scholar, begins the journey to discover who Mira is by using the clues she left behind in her works of art that will take her on a journey that will change her life forever. These two tales are woven together in the first book of the Miramonde series, “The Girl From Oto” by Amy Maroney.

I have seen this novel on social media, and it was an intriguing premise. I always look for books that present a fresh new look into the 16th century.

Our story begins with the birth of twins to Marguerite, the baroness of Oto, a boy and a girl. Unfortunately, in the house of Oto, daughters are not allowed to live, so Marguerite gives her daughter named, Miramonde, or Mira for short, to Elena, a mountain woman. Elena decides to make the journey to Belarac Abbey under the supervision of the Abbess Beatrice of Belarac. They make a plan that Mira will never know the truth about who she is and will be raised in the abbey until she is old enough to choose her path, which is her mother’s desire.

Jumping 500 years into the future, we meet Zari Durrell, a young art scholar on the hunt for paintings by a female Renaissance artist, Cornelia van der Zee, the topic of her dissertation. Her topic is well known, but while examining a portrait she believes was painted by Cornelia van der Zee, she discovers that the painting was painted by another artist named Mira. Zari’s journey to discover who Mira is will take her all over Europe as she follows the clues to the truth.

There is just something about a good history mystery mixed with a dual-timeline story that is so much fun to read. Maroney has done extensive research, not just for Mira’s story in the world of the Pyrenees, the wool trade, and life in a convent, but Zari’s adventures in academia and her journey along the Camino de Santiago.

Maroney created a colorful cast of characters, from the Renaissance to the modern day, that will grip the readers with the mysteries they must uncover. I cannot wait to see what other adventures Mira and Zari will go on. If you want a delightfully engaging and thrilling dual-timeline novel about 16th-century Spain, I highly recommend reading “The Girl From Oto” by Amy Maroney.

Book Review: “The Sixteenth Century in 100 Women” by Amy Licence

On By hmalagisiIn Book Reviews1 Comment

16th century womenWhen we think of the phrase “16th-century women,” we often consider those from royal or noble houses throughout Europe. We tend to think of women like the six wives of Henry VIII, Mary I, Elizabeth I, Catherine de Medici, Mary Queen of Scots, and others associated who made an impact during the Renaissance and the Reformation. However, the 16th century did not stop at the borders of Europe; it extended all over the globe. There are many stories of women from all over the world and from different social classes that can help us understand how the world changed in the 16th century. Amy Licence took this concept and decided to write her latest book about a variety of women from around the world who lived in the 16th century, “The Sixteenth Century in 100 Women.”

Thank you, Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley, for sending me a copy of this book. When I heard that Licence was writing this book, it intrigued me. I wanted to know more stories from the 16th century from all around the world.

“The Sixteenth Century in 100 Women” is a collection of 100 mini-biographies of women from every walk of life and every corner of the globe. Licence has decided to organize this particular book in chronological order, with the date emphasis on the significant events of their lives. Staying true to her word, she writes about women from different countries, like Japan, Nigeria, Russia, Mexico, Poland, Chile, Morocco, and Burma, to name a few.

What I loved the most about this book is the diversity of figures that Licence chose to include in this journey from 1500 to 1600. They were not just queens, princesses, and noblewomen. Licence included women who would have been seen as outsiders in everyday society, such as prostitutes during the Banquet of Chestnuts, Margaret Drummond, Ellen Sadler, and La Malinche. There were those whose appearance made them outsiders, like Aura Soltana, Elena/Eleno de Cespedes, and Tognina Gonsalvus. Some women stood up for what they believed was right, such as Cecily Bodenham, abbess of Wilton Abbey, Lady Nata of Japan, Margaret Cheney, Sayyida al-Hurra, and Beatriz de Luna.

Some women suffered horrendous tragedies beyond their control, like Suphankanlaya, whose husband was killed in an angry rage, Amy Robsart, and an unknown woman who dealt with a tsunami in Chile. Others were women who had nasty reputations associated with their lives, such as Elizabeth Bathory, Mary Frith, and the Irish pirate Grace O’Malley. We also see female artists, authors, fictional figures, and those who sat for portraits.

Licence has painted a colorful picture of the 16th century with the 100 miniature biographies she chose to include in this book. This book may highlight only a select few stories of the century, but they were new and enthralling tales of women I had never heard of, which broadened my understanding of the era. An informative, refreshing, and unique approach to the 16th century, “The Sixteenth Century in 100 Women” by Amy Licence is a breath of fresh air for anyone who wants to discover new tales from the past.

Book Review: “The Marriage Portrait” by Maggie O’Farrell

On By hmalagisiIn Book Reviews2 Comments

62237869A 16-year-old duchess, who lived a sheltered life, died in a remote villa after only being married to her husband, Alfonso Duke of Ferrera, for a mere year. Many suspect that she died of a fever, but there are rumors that her husband had her poisoned. Not much is known about Lucrezia de Medici, Duchess of Ferrara, except her marriage portrait and a brief mention of her in Robert Browning’s poem, “My Last Duchess.” Did she die of a fever, or was there a more sinister plot behind her demise? The mystery around her life and unexpected death have not been discussed much until now in Maggie O’Farrell’s latest novel, “The Marriage Portrait.”

The last book I read by Maggie O’Farrell, “Hamnet,” was such an emotional ride for me, so when I heard that she would dive back into the 16th century with her latest novel, I was excited. I will admit that I had never heard the story of Lucrezia de Medici, so I was curious to see how O’Farrell would tell her tale.

We begin in the villa with Alfonso and Lucrezia, where Lucrezia feels uneasy and fearful for her life, but to understand why we must go back in time. We then jump to the past and Lucrezia’s childhood as the daughter of Cosimo I de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and his wife Eleanor of Toledo. Lucrezia’s youth should be filled with balls and glamor, but she is different than her siblings and is treated as almost an outcast in her own family. Her only solace is her maid Sofia, who acts more like her mother, and her love of the arts.

As a daughter of nobility, Lucrezia knows that she will have to marry a noble one day, but it comes sooner than expected when her eldest sister dies, and she is betrothed to Alfonso, Duke of Ferrara. Her marriage to Alfonso begins smoothly; Alfonso is loving and caring, allowing Lucrezia to pursue her passions and have the freedom she desires. He even allows for a portrait painted in her honor to show the world how regal his bride is and how much he loves her. However, as time passes, Alfonso’s more erratic side shows its ugly head, and Lucrezia sees how dangerous her husband can be to those who displease him.

I will admit that it took me a while to get used to how this particular book was structured, as O’Farrell jumps from the present to the past in every other chapter and presents Lucrezia’s story in a very artistic way. I am unsure if Lucrezia was an outcast in her family, but I believe she could have been an artist and viewed the world differently than her family. As for Lucrezia’s relationship with her husband Alfonso, I think it is plausible that he had a more erratic side to him, especially when it came to those who displeased him. Still, I am not sure that he was responsible for her death.

This novel was thought-provoking and engaging with an unlikely protagonist in Lucrezia de Medici. Even though you know she will die at the end, you will root for Lucrezia and hope that she can find even the slightest thread of happiness in her short life. I found this an utterly gripping novel, and I hope O’Farrell will write more stories set in 16th-century Italy. If you want a thrilling book about a young noblewoman living during the Italian Renaissance, “The Marriage Portrait” by Maggie O’Farrell should be at the top of your to-be-read list.