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A review by rsarnelli
Da Vinci's Tiger by L.M. Elliott
3.0
This is a tough one to rate and talk about. I definitely liked it, but I think it’s something that will appeal more to people who like quiet, introspective stories. It reminds me a bit of [b:A Wicked Thing|22535481|A Wicked Thing (A Wicked Thing, #1)|Rhiannon Thomas|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1404899924s/22535481.jpg|25134209] by Rhiannon Thomas - character-driven, little to no action, lots of introspection/reflection. That’s not a bad thing, but I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
This book is basically a fictionalized examination of a period in Ginevra de’ Benci’s life and her inner struggles, with some passing mentions of Florentine festivals and political movements that stay more in the background. I liked Ginevra as a main character; she doesn’t exactly leap off the page, but it was easy to sympathize with her struggle to maintain her identity and creativity despite the constraints placed on women during that time period. Unfortunately the other characters felt kind of flat or were practically nonexistent. The only ones who actually stood out and felt prominent were Leonardo da Vinci and Bernardo Bembo.
I also enjoyed the overall story and atmosphere, especially the beautiful, lush descriptions of Florence and art. This feels a bit like a love letter to the city and the time period, and it’s obvious that this was meticulously researched and that this is a subject the author cares about. I did get the feeling that this story was being told from a distance, though. It has the feel of someone recounting something, rather than actually being immersed in it. I had a hard time really getting invested in the characters and Ginevra’s life for that reason.
Overall I did like this, even though it was rather slow. This might appeal more to people who are interested in the “historical” side of historical fiction.
This book is basically a fictionalized examination of a period in Ginevra de’ Benci’s life and her inner struggles, with some passing mentions of Florentine festivals and political movements that stay more in the background. I liked Ginevra as a main character; she doesn’t exactly leap off the page, but it was easy to sympathize with her struggle to maintain her identity and creativity despite the constraints placed on women during that time period. Unfortunately the other characters felt kind of flat or were practically nonexistent. The only ones who actually stood out and felt prominent were Leonardo da Vinci and Bernardo Bembo.
I also enjoyed the overall story and atmosphere, especially the beautiful, lush descriptions of Florence and art. This feels a bit like a love letter to the city and the time period, and it’s obvious that this was meticulously researched and that this is a subject the author cares about. I did get the feeling that this story was being told from a distance, though. It has the feel of someone recounting something, rather than actually being immersed in it. I had a hard time really getting invested in the characters and Ginevra’s life for that reason.
Overall I did like this, even though it was rather slow. This might appeal more to people who are interested in the “historical” side of historical fiction.