Set in Renaissance Florence, this fantasy retelling of the life of Catherine de' Medici is as beautiful and as richly magical as the works of the great artists who people its pages. When Catherine was born, she was the sole legitimate heir to a great fortune and great power. But her father had died before she was born, and her mother died only a few weeks afterward, leaving the child to the guardianship of the pope and the fosterage of servants. From this beginning, Roessner tells an intimate story, of the servant families of the Medici who practice the secret magics of the kitchen and hearth. The Befanini family is bound to the Medici by blood and oaths, through children born on the wrong side of the blanket, recognized but not legitimate. Thomas, the son of Catherine's foster mother, is bound particularly to Catherine by magic and love, for he is destined to become Catherine's chef, and to that end he is not only taught the arts of the kitchen but is apprenticed out to a sculptor, and befriended by the great Michelangelo. But war intervenes in the charted courses of these children, and in the struggles between the pope and the German emperor and the city of Florence itself, their futures - and their very lives - are set at risk.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
When I first read the back cover, I thought this was one of those books I would use to pass the time waiting for the bus, but which wouldn't hold my attention for long. To be honest, the appeal was in the size, not the content... I found that I could not put it down. It took me a little while to figure out who the little kitchen goddess is (I won't reveal the secret; besides, I suspect I was just slower than most on the uptake...) but I was certainly drawn into the family's lives. The relationship between Tomasso and Michaelangelo felt a little contrived, but it didn't bother me enough to detract from the appeal of the book. The atmosphere of the book seemed authentic and sometimes I could almost smell the stew bubbling away. (Now, I'm a sucker for any book that includes recipes, but that's not the only thing I liked...) When I was finished, I did not put THE STARS DISPOSE into my pile of finished paperbacks (the ones I'll be taking to the used book store to trade in on more paperbacks.) It's a keeper, so I can read it again and relive the magic.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
The Stars Dispose is an unusual historical fantasy. More attention seems to be placed in providing a rich description of the food rather than a system of magic. However, the plot is a slow seduction of the reader, giving view to just enough of the threat facing the characters that the reader is eager to turn the next page. A plethora of Italian names may be confusing, but a glossary at the back helps.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.1 out of 5 stars
12 reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Stars Dispose is a magical brew of Renaissance fantasy
20 Aug 2000
By Rebecca Brown
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Tomasso is twelve years old & his world, as an apprentice to his father the Chef of the House of Medici, is in the great kitchens of Renaissance Florence - where bastards roam & astrolgers rule; heirs plot & marriages are made. Caterina de' Medici's world is in the upstairs shadows, learning with her handmaid, Tomasso's sister, to survive long enough to attain her inheritance. Amid the layers of master & servant lies the world of the Occult - older than Christianity working its astonishing magic. Meanwhile plague & barbarians are knocking at the doors of the pretty Italian city.
I am in awe of this author's writing craft. She has the skill to sketch before you a great feast, a magnificent sculpture, a dazzling spot of magic & enchanting cats! I would disappear for hours into the worlds she has created, fed by her well chosen words, authentic details & breadth of view.
If you love historical fantasies with just the right balance of fact & fantasy as to make the read seamless, then this is a book for you. For my full review & eInterview with Michaela Roessner do visit my site [...].
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Ah, Florence......
3 Oct 2005
By Linda Pagliuco
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Astra declinant, non necessitant.
The stars dispose, they do not compel.
A rich blend of history and authentic period detail with a touch of mysticism, The Stars Dispose tells the story of young Tommaso de Befanini, born into a Florentine family famed for its fine cooking. Tommaso, only 11 years of age, finds himself struggling with more than learning to properly carve a roast. The city of Florence is being torn asunder by warring factions, and the Befanini are employed by many of the important movers and shakers. This novel teems with famous characters - Michelangelo, Caterina de Medici, and Pope Clement, to name but a few. Roessner is a skillful writer, particular in her flair for description. Where this book falls short is in its plot, which is surprisingly slow and lumbering, ultimately leaving the reader hanging, a device that suggests plans for a sequel. Still, Stars is well worth reading for its atmosphere and winning characters. And if you like reading about fabulous feasts and recipes, open a bottle of your favorite vino, nibble some melone and prosciutto, and curl up with The Stars Dispose.
The stars dispose, they do not compel.
A rich blend of history and authentic period detail with a touch of mysticism, The Stars Dispose tells the story of young Tommaso de Befanini, born into a Florentine family famed for its fine cooking. Tommaso, only 11 years of age, finds himself struggling with more than learning to properly carve a roast. The city of Florence is being torn asunder by warring factions, and the Befanini are employed by many of the important movers and shakers. This novel teems with famous characters - Michelangelo, Caterina de Medici, and Pope Clement, to name but a few. Roessner is a skillful writer, particular in her flair for description. Where this book falls short is in its plot, which is surprisingly slow and lumbering, ultimately leaving the reader hanging, a device that suggests plans for a sequel. Still, Stars is well worth reading for its atmosphere and winning characters. And if you like reading about fabulous feasts and recipes, open a bottle of your favorite vino, nibble some melone and prosciutto, and curl up with The Stars Dispose.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
I didn't expect to love this as much as I did!
26 Mar 1998
By A Customer
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback
When I first read the back cover, I thought this was one of those books I would use to pass the time waiting for the bus, but which wouldn't hold my attention for long. To be honest, the appeal was in the size, not the content... I found that I could not put it down. It took me a little while to figure out who the little kitchen goddess is (I won't reveal the secret; besides, I suspect I was just slower than most on the uptake...) but I was certainly drawn into the family's lives. The relationship between Tomasso and Michaelangelo felt a little contrived, but it didn't bother me enough to detract from the appeal of the book. The atmosphere of the book seemed authentic and sometimes I could almost smell the stew bubbling away. (Now, I'm a sucker for any book that includes recipes, but that's not the only thing I liked...) When I was finished, I did not put THE STARS DISPOSE into my pile of finished paperbacks (the ones I'll be taking to the used book store to trade in on more paperbacks.) It's a keeper, so I can read it again and relive the magic.
›
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4.1 out of 5 stars
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