Daughter of Siena
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Review
Praise for Marina Fiorato
'Fiorato creates her own masterpiece...'
(Booklist )'Captures the scents, passion and vigour of
(Books Quarterly )
'A great read'
(Best )'A rich tapestry of love, hate, passion, obsession, politics, masquerades, lies and much conniving... beautifully written. One of my favourite novels of 2011.'
Praise for Daughter of Siena:
'The unusual setting and strong female characters are enjoyable; there's plenty of suspense, both political and romantic. Fiorato's understanding of Sienese history and politics is extensive, and the blend of action, political machination, and romance makes for a fast-paced read'
Product Description
The Palio: Siena's famously dangerous and hard-fought horse race. A year of planning, ten riders, three circuits of the piazza - and all over in a single moment. But this year, for two of the women watching, far more than the coveted prize is at stake. For Pia of the Tolomei, the most beautiful woman in Siena, the Palio is her last hope of escaping a violent marriage. For Violante de Medici, it marks the start of what her enemies intend to be her last month as governess of the city. Isolated in her palace, surrounded by conspirators, she must find the courage to uncover a plot that threatens her very existence. The trumpets sound. And into the piazza rides an unknown horseman, clad in the colours of the Tower contrada. What he does during the race will not only change the lives of Pia and Violante, but alter the course of the Medici dynasty itself.
Alive with all the colour and rich historical detail that marks Marina Fiorato's work, Daughter of Siena is a dramatic and compelling story of treachery, courage and the power of love.
Alive with all the colour and rich historical detail that marks Marina Fiorato's work, Daughter of Siena is a dramatic and compelling story of treachery, courage and the power of love.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Why the luke warm reviews I wonder? I have to say I loved this one. I'm a sucker for historical novels set in Italy (or any book set in Italy really...) and in this book Siena towards the end of the Medici dynastly lives and breathes, and the thrills of the Palio are wonderfully portrayed. OK, maybe the characters are a tad stereotyped - the beautiful and innocent Pia, the evil villains, the romantic hero with an air of mystery, the aging good duchess, the corrupt relatives - but it doesn't matter one jot. This is a book that gives you a slice of escapist heaven - it sweeps you up, makes you gasp, laugh and cry, and deposits you home at the end in a wholly satisfying way, wondering where the time's gone. Not one for the historical purists maybe, and not great literature, but I thoroughly enjoyed every moment.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I had read three books by Marina Fiorato in order of publication and each improved on the one before and the Botticelli Secret, the third, was a fantastic read, with all the elements of a successful historical novel in place - enough historical detail and authenticity to satisfy, but without smacking you in the face with its erudition - strong characters with enough mystery about them that you could not be quite sure who was a goodie and who was a baddie - and, best of all, humour. So many historical novels take themselves so seriously!
The Daughter of Siena had a lot to live up to and I awaited it with eager anticipation. I was disappointed. The setting is plausible enough - Siena under the last of the Medicis - but I didn't believe in the characters sufficiently to care what happened to them. There were too many stock situations. Villains were just too villainy and the hero was too noble and selfless to be tolerable. The heroine was a cipher.
The sad thing is, if I had not read Fiorato's other books, I would have probably quite enjoyed this. It is a passable historical romance following a well worn path. It just does not match up to her other books.
The Daughter of Siena had a lot to live up to and I awaited it with eager anticipation. I was disappointed. The setting is plausible enough - Siena under the last of the Medicis - but I didn't believe in the characters sufficiently to care what happened to them. There were too many stock situations. Villains were just too villainy and the hero was too noble and selfless to be tolerable. The heroine was a cipher.
The sad thing is, if I had not read Fiorato's other books, I would have probably quite enjoyed this. It is a passable historical romance following a well worn path. It just does not match up to her other books.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was very disappointed in this novel. I have read Marina Fiorato's other books and enjoyed her first two which were easy holiday reads, wasn't entirely convinced by the Botticelli Secret and could not believe the same person wrote this. I kept going solely because of her first two but could not believe the story, even the style of writing was poor. Avoid!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Daughter of Siena
This is the Fourth of Marina Fiorato's novels I have read. It was a very good read, with, as all the other three, a lovely twist to the historical background.
Published 2 months ago by karenwilks
Shallow but Fun
I primarily bought this because I love historical novels and Siena in particular has always fascinated me. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Clare S
A highwayscribery Book Report
Siena, take a bow.
In Marina Fiorato's "The Daughter of Siena," the principal characters turn out bit players, and the Tuscan city, a star. Read more
In Marina Fiorato's "The Daughter of Siena," the principal characters turn out bit players, and the Tuscan city, a star. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Stephen Siciliano
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