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thebooktrail88's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This really is one of the most interesting, detailed and atmospheric series of historical fiction I have ever read. I look so forward to the next in the series and I remember the time I first read book one. It’s one of my favourite book memories.
Anyway, I digress. I came to A Divine Fury with such excitement! I was not disappointed whatsoever.
This is a novel that grabs you into its pages and sticks you at the heart of Florence, a city under lockdown with curfews and rules. We are in 1539 and I’m still feeling the heat of the Florence sun from the last book ‘Ritual of Fire’/ Bit less hot this time around, but no less sweaty with all the tension. Cesare Aldo is back in the city, mopping up the drunks and the reprobates.
What I loved about this book is that we go to the heart of the city. The crime scene is none other than the Michelangelo’s statue of David. There’s a body at its base, posed as if crucified. The next day, there’s another body. That’s when things get really interesting. The fact the first body was found at such an iconic and cultural structure gave this novel a unique set up from the start.
A Divine Fury is a great way to discover a new side of the city and of Cesare Aldo. This is a city of merchants and the infamous Medici family. Oh the layers of this Florence onion! So much rich detail, a novel with a perfectly pitched pace and characters that honestly feel so real and close to you.
As with the other novels, there is a key puzzle at its heart. I love the insights we get into Cesare Aldo and how his mind works. I love his relationship with Strocchi and could imagine having a beer with them both in one of the Florence inns. We would sit and chat whilst the noise and colour of Florence swirls around outside. I would hope that Contessa Valetine Coltello walked in too – the banter between her and Aldo is a delight!
I felt warm reading this book – something to be savoured. The ending was a nice surprise that I am still thinking about. Aldo is at a crossroads now I feel – come on David – next book please as I can’t wait!
kmscott95's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
I imagine I’m not the only person who has read/will read this series in a desperate effort to fill the void left by the absence of CJ Sansom’s Shardlake series. I’m pleased to say that it does just that! Having discovered that I was picking up a series at book 4 I was skeptic all that I was going to find any interest in the characters, and I’ll admit that they didn’t feel as fleshed out as I’d like, but I did engage entirely with them. Given that, for the average reader of the series, they’ll have experienced 3 more stories, I would say that these characters are totally formed, engaging and entertaining. The addition of some new characters seems to have kept the book fresh as well.
Initially, I found the shift in character focus to be a little jarring, but as you progress through the book these do become very seamless and your brain forgets to notice: a sure fire way to tell that something is done well. The story and situation, as well as the historical context was easy to adapt to and understand even if you hadn’t read the novel’s predecessors.
I did feel as though some of the sexual content was a little superfluous and gratuitous lip service to the mainstream but I really enjoy the modern issues such as homosexuality and diversity being seamlessly thread through this piece of historical fiction. The integration of accuracy with universal thematic concepts was really refreshing, without banging it over your head.
In terms of the plot, I did predict the ending and felt as though, for a mystery, our suspect pool was limited from the off. Whilst still enjoyable, it did dampen the tension a little. When the final killer was revealed, I can’t say I was entirely convinced/clear on his motive but it remained believable nonetheless.
It is safe to say that I have a new series to delve into and enjoy in place of the much loved and seemingly finished Shardlake series.
I imagine I’m not the only person who has read/will read this series in a desperate effort to fill the void left by the absence of CJ Sansom’s Shardlake series. I’m pleased to say that it does just that! Having discovered that I was picking up a series at book 4 I was skeptic all that I was going to find any interest in the characters, and I’ll admit that they didn’t feel as fleshed out as I’d like, but I did engage entirely with them. Given that, for the average reader of the series, they’ll have experienced 3 more stories, I would say that these characters are totally formed, engaging and entertaining. The addition of some new characters seems to have kept the book fresh as well.
Initially, I found the shift in character focus to be a little jarring, but as you progress through the book these do become very seamless and your brain forgets to notice: a sure fire way to tell that something is done well. The story and situation, as well as the historical context was easy to adapt to and understand even if you hadn’t read the novel’s predecessors.
I did feel as though some of the sexual content was a little superfluous and gratuitous lip service to the mainstream but I really enjoy the modern issues such as homosexuality and diversity being seamlessly thread through this piece of historical fiction. The integration of accuracy with universal thematic concepts was really refreshing, without banging it over your head.
In terms of the plot, I did predict the ending and felt as though, for a mystery, our suspect pool was limited from the off. Whilst still enjoyable, it did dampen the tension a little. When the final killer was revealed, I can’t say I was entirely convinced/clear on his motive but it remained believable nonetheless.
It is safe to say that I have a new series to delve into and enjoy in place of the much loved and seemingly finished Shardlake series.
tasha_baines's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
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