Scan barcode
eososray's review
1.0
The story is set in 1311 Bologna, Italy. The Templar Knights are disgraced and the Catholic Inquisition is starting its reign of terror. Anatomist, Mondino is drawn into a mystery by one of his university students, Gerardo. They must avoid both Inquisitors and Templars while solving murders by alchemy.
The inclusion of alchemy as the murder weapon was too theatrical for my taste. I would venture to say that this book was more about alchemy than the inquisition. The characters were underdeveloped and writing a bit melodramatic. Overall not worth my time.
The inclusion of alchemy as the murder weapon was too theatrical for my taste. I would venture to say that this book was more about alchemy than the inquisition. The characters were underdeveloped and writing a bit melodramatic. Overall not worth my time.
fat_girl_fiction's review
1.0
I'm giving up on this book. It doesn't hold my attention at all and I can't keep track of all the characters because everybody's name was so similar. I've read it the last two nights and can't remember for the life of me what I've read!
stacydodds's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
tashabye's review
4.0
A good mystery. I enjoyed the little cliffhangers and the story itself was a good one.
tomlloyd's review
2.0
I must admit, I never finished it. I got halfway and then asked myself if it'd be a disaster if I went and read something else instead. I don't like giving up on books unless I hate them and this wasn't bad, it just wasn't good. in fact, it made almost zero impact on me except to think that I don't like Italian male authors because their style always sounds stuffy and dry (unscientific a judgement as I've only read a handful but..). The plot seemed pretty unremarkable, ditto the prose, the characters didn't do anything for me... so I went looking for the third C J Sansom novel instead. Given the piles of good books waiting to be read in my house, I just decided life was too short.
More...