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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
Set in Florence in the late 15th century and beginning of the 16th, the story begins with old Sister Lucrezia, dying in her convent, before flashing back to 15-year-old Alessandra, a would-be artist, youngest daughter of a wealthy cloth merchant. She has comfort, siblings who don't understand her, and a mother with more than a few secrets.
Will she get the artistic training she longs for, or the freedom to polish her craft? Will her marriage to an older man protect her from the religious and cultural upheaval in this beautiful Renaissance city, as an extremist monk and his followers gain power? Who in her family will die when the plague returns to Florence?
Heavily sensual with many details about food, drink, fabrics, sights, sounds, odors. There are romantic elements, but it's not really a romance. It's a journey to another place and time.
Will she get the artistic training she longs for, or the freedom to polish her craft? Will her marriage to an older man protect her from the religious and cultural upheaval in this beautiful Renaissance city, as an extremist monk and his followers gain power? Who in her family will die when the plague returns to Florence?
Heavily sensual with many details about food, drink, fabrics, sights, sounds, odors. There are romantic elements, but it's not really a romance. It's a journey to another place and time.
I liked everything except the last 10-20 pages of this book. It featured the "oh, I'm about to die so I better have sex with 'the one that got away'" bit.
Readable but I did not rate it as historical fiction.
Interesting story about a strong artistic Florentine woman during the Renaissance.
This is a good easy read, probably in the same category as The Other Bolyen Girl. Good romp through history, a little romance, a little mystery. Not necessarily a keeper, but not a bad way to spend a couple of hours.
Incredible Italian Renaissance setting with a beautiful story of a strong young woman.
Fascinating historical fiction, set in the time of the Italian Renaissance. Alessandra’s desire to be a painter (forbidden at the time) is at the root of the conflict, and the story blossoms in many interesting directions. Loved it.
Three stars for historical context, two stars for characters and plot if I'm generous.