The Principessa
3 journalers for this copy...
Brought from Amazon.co.uk with a voucher.
Sweet :D I'm super-excited to read this one; thank you for sending it across the ocean to me :D
Product Description
Sumptuous, glorious evocation of Jacobean London and Renaissance Italy from the acclaimed author of The Firemaster's Mistress. Robert Cecil, Secretary of State to James I, has a problem. He owes a vast and secret debt to the Prince of La Spada, who is dying and has called in the loan -- and Cecil cannot pay. Even worse, he has staked as security, without royal authority, the King's Great Pearl. To Cecil's surprise, the Prince will agree to a hostage but he wants Cecil's firemaster: Francis Quoynt, the best in his dangerous business. Cecil immediately seizes the chance, for Quoynt also serves as his spy. La Spada is a wealthy, beautiful Italian city-state -- the gateway of Europe. Whoever controls the mountain passes of La Spada also controls the flow of intelligence and much of the trade from the Middle East. As his mind disintegrates into fantastic obsessions, the Prince makes his treacherous illegitimate son his heir. Which thwarts the deadly ambition of his daughter, Sofia -- the Principessa. Sofia is young, seductive, wily and recently widowed. Already a blooded player of politics, she could outdo Lucretia Borgia in the lethal game of survival.Which she must now play to save herself and her beloved state. As unpredictable as gunpowder, will she choose to seek Francis's heart, or his life? Or both?
Product Description
Sumptuous, glorious evocation of Jacobean London and Renaissance Italy from the acclaimed author of The Firemaster's Mistress. Robert Cecil, Secretary of State to James I, has a problem. He owes a vast and secret debt to the Prince of La Spada, who is dying and has called in the loan -- and Cecil cannot pay. Even worse, he has staked as security, without royal authority, the King's Great Pearl. To Cecil's surprise, the Prince will agree to a hostage but he wants Cecil's firemaster: Francis Quoynt, the best in his dangerous business. Cecil immediately seizes the chance, for Quoynt also serves as his spy. La Spada is a wealthy, beautiful Italian city-state -- the gateway of Europe. Whoever controls the mountain passes of La Spada also controls the flow of intelligence and much of the trade from the Middle East. As his mind disintegrates into fantastic obsessions, the Prince makes his treacherous illegitimate son his heir. Which thwarts the deadly ambition of his daughter, Sofia -- the Principessa. Sofia is young, seductive, wily and recently widowed. Already a blooded player of politics, she could outdo Lucretia Borgia in the lethal game of survival.Which she must now play to save herself and her beloved state. As unpredictable as gunpowder, will she choose to seek Francis's heart, or his life? Or both?
Finished reading yesterday; I started it on Saturday (the 16th) I think?
I didn't realize this was a sequel, but I think (based on some of the things the characters say) that this takes place after The Firemaster's Mistress? Well, I have that book coming anyway so perhaps I'll read it before writing up a final review for The Principessa.
I didn't realize this was a sequel, but I think (based on some of the things the characters say) that this takes place after The Firemaster's Mistress? Well, I have that book coming anyway so perhaps I'll read it before writing up a final review for The Principessa.
I took this book with me to Boston, and read it mostly on train rides and bus trips. It was an entertaining read, but as I mentioned previously I didn't realize it was a sequel until I started reading. However, as I sped through the first few chapters it became clear from the author's writing that there had been a previous story with these characters, because the relationship between Francis, his father and Kate (she's his father's wife and Francis' old mistress) was referred to but never elaborated on. No author would introduce such an intriguing situation and regulate it to the background as Dickason did unless there had been a previous book on the subject.
Anyway. That left me feeling somewhat frustrated, but that was my own fault. I should have paid more attention when I added the book to my wishlist. :-p
The idea that cecil would send Francis to La Spada to recover the letter seemed plausible enough. The task Francis is finagled into attempting was ridiculous, but entertaining to read. The problem, for me, was Ms. Sofia, the Principessa. I couldn't get into her as a character; she was utterly unlikeable. Selfish, cold, and manipulative...but Borgia-like machinations seemed beyond her. She was not a convincing Machiavelli.
Thanks again for sending this book to me, tesskrose; in spite of my griping I did find it a pleasant diversion during my travels.
Anyway. That left me feeling somewhat frustrated, but that was my own fault. I should have paid more attention when I added the book to my wishlist. :-p
The idea that cecil would send Francis to La Spada to recover the letter seemed plausible enough. The task Francis is finagled into attempting was ridiculous, but entertaining to read. The problem, for me, was Ms. Sofia, the Principessa. I couldn't get into her as a character; she was utterly unlikeable. Selfish, cold, and manipulative...but Borgia-like machinations seemed beyond her. She was not a convincing Machiavelli.
Thanks again for sending this book to me, tesskrose; in spite of my griping I did find it a pleasant diversion during my travels.
Journal Entry 5 by k00kaburra at -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, trades, Florida USA on Saturday, June 13, 2009
Thank you, arrived today. Look forward to reading it!