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Stravaganza #6
Stad van zwaarden
Desperately unhappy, Laura has resorted to secretly self-harming. But Laura is a Stravagante, somebody who can travel in time and space. When she finds her talisman, a small silver dagger, she stravagates with it to sixteenth-century Fortezza, a town similar to Lucca in Italy, where she meets her Stravagante, who is a swordsmith. But Laura also meets the charming and attractive Ludo, and falls for him. Their love for each other is tested when Ludo lays claim to the crown of Fortezza, and Laura finds herself fighting on the side of the Stravaganti opposing him.
375 pages, Hardcover
First published July 5, 2012
45 people are currently reading
2824 people want to read
About the author
Mary Hoffman
272 books592 followersSee also works published under Mary Lassiter
Mary Hoffman is a bestselling British author and reviewer, born in 1945. She is a true enthusiast of Italy and spends a lot of her time there, which shows in her Stravaganza novels: a series currently in publication. In total, she has written over 80 books, including the aforementioned Stravaganza series and the bestselling picture book, Amazing Grace. Mary is also the editor of a review magazine Armadillo for kids.
Watch the book trailer for David, Mary Hoffman's most recent novel
Mary Hoffman is a bestselling British author and reviewer, born in 1945. She is a true enthusiast of Italy and spends a lot of her time there, which shows in her Stravaganza novels: a series currently in publication. In total, she has written over 80 books, including the aforementioned Stravaganza series and the bestselling picture book, Amazing Grace. Mary is also the editor of a review magazine Armadillo for kids.
Watch the book trailer for David, Mary Hoffman's most recent novel
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
May 4, 2014
Rating: 5/5
I can't believe that this series is over. I started reading it back in 2004, when I was 14 and I immediately fell in love with the characters and the world. I really don't want it to be over...
This last book introduces us to another Stravagante, Laura. Being a Stravagante means that with the help of her talisman she can travel from our world to a parallel world, at a country, Talia, that is very similar to 16th-century Italy. Laura, just like the previous Stravaganti before her, is unhappy in her life, she is actually a cutter, and when she finds her talisman, she gets transported to Talia. The city she finds herself in is on the verge of a very important change. The previous ruler has just died and his daughter is about to take his place, but another heir shows up and the city is devided in two. Only one side can win this war and Laura has her side already picked even though she finds herself in love with the enemy side.
I really enjoyed the story in City of Swords. Two sides fighting for a city. I couldn't help but support both sides of the war. And Laura was a pretty good heroine too, not my favourite Stravagante, but still a good one. She grew so much through the book, overcame her troubles and took control of her life. It was really good to see her change. Of course we got to see all the rest of the Stravaganti. We were also introduced to yet another Talian city, which was as magical as the rest of them.
I don't know what else to say about this book or this series. It has been a great journey that I am sad to see it end. But still I am glad I picked City of Masks up, all those years ago, because it was love at first sight.
I can't believe that this series is over. I started reading it back in 2004, when I was 14 and I immediately fell in love with the characters and the world. I really don't want it to be over...
This last book introduces us to another Stravagante, Laura. Being a Stravagante means that with the help of her talisman she can travel from our world to a parallel world, at a country, Talia, that is very similar to 16th-century Italy. Laura, just like the previous Stravaganti before her, is unhappy in her life, she is actually a cutter, and when she finds her talisman, she gets transported to Talia. The city she finds herself in is on the verge of a very important change. The previous ruler has just died and his daughter is about to take his place, but another heir shows up and the city is devided in two. Only one side can win this war and Laura has her side already picked even though she finds herself in love with the enemy side.
I really enjoyed the story in City of Swords. Two sides fighting for a city. I couldn't help but support both sides of the war. And Laura was a pretty good heroine too, not my favourite Stravagante, but still a good one. She grew so much through the book, overcame her troubles and took control of her life. It was really good to see her change. Of course we got to see all the rest of the Stravaganti. We were also introduced to yet another Talian city, which was as magical as the rest of them.
I don't know what else to say about this book or this series. It has been a great journey that I am sad to see it end. But still I am glad I picked City of Masks up, all those years ago, because it was love at first sight.
December 1, 2012
I absolutely loved this book! (Do not read on if you haven't read this book.) Although the siege did seem to end very quickly, it set up for a whole stream of events that were absolutely nail-biting in my case. And the part where Ludo got shot was just so...scary and sad! And then all the Stravaganti stravagante so they can come to Luciano and Arianna's wedding and Laura decides to stay with Ludo! Finally, FINALLY Luciano and Arianna got married! But Ludo wasn't going to make it so Laura went back to her world and brought back a talisman and then went back to Bellezza and stravaganted with Ludo back to her world. She takes him to the hospital and he's going to be all right but the way it ended: Ug! Mary Hoffman has to write more! Sure I found it somewhat satisfactory but Laura and Ludo's relationship can grow and there are still lots of city-states left! This can not be the end of this ridiculously good series! It just can't be!
July 22, 2016
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As a kid I loved the first three books of the Stravaganza series. But as I grew older I felt it wasn't really a series that grows with you when I was reading the second trilogy. It took several years to finally finish the series.
It was a super fast read, I finished it within four hours of returning home from the library (and cooked in between as well!). I've always liked the series, but was a bit wary to read this last book. All books have followed the same kind of formula, and I've grown a bit tired of it. In this book they emphasize how much everything is the same for all of them, but it made me sigh. The story was interesting as ever, there is very little which can ruin a renaissance Italy setting for me. Expect lots of intrigues (fun!) and a lot of not so subtle explaining of the intrigues (not fun).
I do think that if I was twelve years old again and reading this complete series, I would have loved it from start to finish. But as it is, I've become way more critical of my reads than I was ten years ago and also it still really has the feel of a children's book over it.
As a kid I loved the first three books of the Stravaganza series. But as I grew older I felt it wasn't really a series that grows with you when I was reading the second trilogy. It took several years to finally finish the series.
It was a super fast read, I finished it within four hours of returning home from the library (and cooked in between as well!). I've always liked the series, but was a bit wary to read this last book. All books have followed the same kind of formula, and I've grown a bit tired of it. In this book they emphasize how much everything is the same for all of them, but it made me sigh. The story was interesting as ever, there is very little which can ruin a renaissance Italy setting for me. Expect lots of intrigues (fun!) and a lot of not so subtle explaining of the intrigues (not fun).
I do think that if I was twelve years old again and reading this complete series, I would have loved it from start to finish. But as it is, I've become way more critical of my reads than I was ten years ago and also it still really has the feel of a children's book over it.
December 20, 2020
Το οριστικό φινάλε μιας ιστορίας στην οποία επέστρεψα μετά από χρόνια και που απόλαυσα σχεδόν εξίσου. Έντονο, με πάθος, νεύρο, ένταση, εκπλήξεις, ανατροπές, αστείο και συγκινητικό στα σημεία. Ίσως όχι τόσο τέλειο αποτέλεσμα, στα δικά μου μάτια, στο σύνολό του, όπως εκείνο της πρώτης τριλογίας της σειράς, αλλά παραμένει μια εξίσου δυνατή αναγνωστική εμπειρία που θα θυμάμαι με αγάπη.
March 8, 2016
This book is a delight, as all of them are, but I have two major problems with this one that definitely spoiled my enjoyment of the book.
1) Laura and Ludo's love story. I remember I quite liked it the last time I read this book a little over a year ago, and I think it makes sense that all of the romance books and romantic subplots I've read since then have made me kind of sick of it. This is one of the best (worst) examples of instalove ever; they literally meet twice, each time for about five minutes, and suddenly she declares she's in love with him. It just really pisses me off how their relationship has no growth or background whatsoever, they just meet and immediately 'fall in love'. The rest of the relationships in this series are all well developed and I can get behind them all; I know that most of them have multiple books before they get together, but I just really don't like this ship. I also don't like where their relationship ends:
2) The ending. It's not as bad as I remember it being, but I definitely think there should be an extra fifty or so pages - or even better, another book. Because the way I see it, Luciano and Arianna getting married doesn't solve every problem this world has - the whole series is about the fight between the Stravaganti and the di Chimici, so it makes sense for the book to end with a reconciliation or some definite end to this feud. Except that doesn't happen; it cuts off at a fairly awkward place so we don't know what happens to the Stravaganti. The civil war in Fortezza was supposed to bring the two sides together and calm Fabrizio down, but it never actually happened and Fabrizio was never aware of their supposed "alliance". So the Stravaganti are in the same position as they were at the beginning of the series - in great danger from the di Chimici. Yes, Fortezza and the other independent cities are safe, but the people in the Order themselves - least of all Luciano - are not. So I think some sort of conclusion to this storyline would greatly help. My theories after the jump:
Despite those issues, still an excellent addition to the series, although I don't like to think of it as the end.
1) Laura and Ludo's love story. I remember I quite liked it the last time I read this book a little over a year ago, and I think it makes sense that all of the romance books and romantic subplots I've read since then have made me kind of sick of it. This is one of the best (worst) examples of instalove ever; they literally meet twice, each time for about five minutes, and suddenly she declares she's in love with him. It just really pisses me off how their relationship has no growth or background whatsoever, they just meet and immediately 'fall in love'. The rest of the relationships in this series are all well developed and I can get behind them all; I know that most of them have multiple books before they get together, but I just really don't like this ship. I also don't like where their relationship ends:
2) The ending. It's not as bad as I remember it being, but I definitely think there should be an extra fifty or so pages - or even better, another book. Because the way I see it, Luciano and Arianna getting married doesn't solve every problem this world has - the whole series is about the fight between the Stravaganti and the di Chimici, so it makes sense for the book to end with a reconciliation or some definite end to this feud. Except that doesn't happen; it cuts off at a fairly awkward place so we don't know what happens to the Stravaganti. The civil war in Fortezza was supposed to bring the two sides together and calm Fabrizio down, but it never actually happened and Fabrizio was never aware of their supposed "alliance". So the Stravaganti are in the same position as they were at the beginning of the series - in great danger from the di Chimici. Yes, Fortezza and the other independent cities are safe, but the people in the Order themselves - least of all Luciano - are not. So I think some sort of conclusion to this storyline would greatly help. My theories after the jump:
Despite those issues, still an excellent addition to the series, although I don't like to think of it as the end.
August 19, 2014
Super disappointed in this book. Even though my expectations were rather low after reading some reviews.
Things I did not like:
- Laura and Ludo... Like, what? I could maybe believe in Laura acting the way she did being a teenager, but Ludo is supposed to be like, 24? And don't Talians kind of have to grow up faster anyways? Luciano for example. I didn't like Laura too much, but I kind of expected that. But I found myself very annoyed with any and all decisions Ludo made. So you finally found your long lost, noble half sisters, and your way of introduction is to start a civil war? Which you then back out of because a girl you've known for like, a week, gets injured? And not even because of the civil war?! Laaaaaame. I feel like it was very out of character for him. I would have like to see him befriend Lucia and support her instead. Maybe going against something Fabrizio wanted, since there needs to be some sort of di Chimici conflict in every book.
- Mortimer Stravagating. What was the point of that? It would have been just as effective for him to find out about Talia from being suspicious about the portrait of Georgia. Unless, there is a point to him being a Stravaganti in a new book? Is there even one? It makes sense that there should be.
- Fabrizio was kind of an idiot in this one. I thought he was more appropriately villainous in City of Ships. In this, I didn't thing he posed a threat at all. He didn't really do too much except get mad all over the place. He reminded me of a villain in a cartoon, gets mad when he doesn't get his way and starts doing evil things.
- I was hoping that (assuming this was the last book) that there would be something resolved with all the tensions between the di Chimici and the Stravaganti, because it's mostly just Fabrizio, Rinaldo and sort of Fillippo who really hate them. I thought there was going to be something with Nick, especially as all his relatives are starting to learn about him not really dying. Or that with Rodolfo and Luciano offering their services to Fabrizio, they would change his mind.
- the Civil War. Why didn't they end up offering to help Fabrizio? That would have made for some more interesting tensions.
- the ending. What? Ludo translates just like that? Now what? There's going be a time shift again? So everyone just go home. The end. What?! And Luciano and Arianna are too caught up in wedding bliss, that they're just like, "Whatevs. You all sort it out. We just got married." I mean, being married is great and all, but it doesn't cause you not to care about major crises that affect your Secret Society and all your friends.
Things I Liked:
- Lucia and Guido. Totally saw that coming, but I thought it was sweet.
- the cats. Dunno why, but I enjoyed them.
- the wedding! Although, not the ending. Actually, I think the wedding could have been better. But I'm glad they are married.
- hearing more from Alfonso of Volana and the Pope. I liked the appearances of the other di Chimici relatives.
Overall, I thought this book had some good starting points, some interesting ideas, but those ideas didn't pan out at all. It felt very rushed, like there was a big deadline looming so Mary Hoffman just threw this book together as a filler. Which maybe I will forgive if there are other books coming. There's potential here... But sadly, City of Swords did not live up it the many possibilities.
Things I did not like:
- Laura and Ludo... Like, what? I could maybe believe in Laura acting the way she did being a teenager, but Ludo is supposed to be like, 24? And don't Talians kind of have to grow up faster anyways? Luciano for example. I didn't like Laura too much, but I kind of expected that. But I found myself very annoyed with any and all decisions Ludo made. So you finally found your long lost, noble half sisters, and your way of introduction is to start a civil war? Which you then back out of because a girl you've known for like, a week, gets injured? And not even because of the civil war?! Laaaaaame. I feel like it was very out of character for him. I would have like to see him befriend Lucia and support her instead. Maybe going against something Fabrizio wanted, since there needs to be some sort of di Chimici conflict in every book.
- Mortimer Stravagating. What was the point of that? It would have been just as effective for him to find out about Talia from being suspicious about the portrait of Georgia. Unless, there is a point to him being a Stravaganti in a new book? Is there even one? It makes sense that there should be.
- Fabrizio was kind of an idiot in this one. I thought he was more appropriately villainous in City of Ships. In this, I didn't thing he posed a threat at all. He didn't really do too much except get mad all over the place. He reminded me of a villain in a cartoon, gets mad when he doesn't get his way and starts doing evil things.
- I was hoping that (assuming this was the last book) that there would be something resolved with all the tensions between the di Chimici and the Stravaganti, because it's mostly just Fabrizio, Rinaldo and sort of Fillippo who really hate them. I thought there was going to be something with Nick, especially as all his relatives are starting to learn about him not really dying. Or that with Rodolfo and Luciano offering their services to Fabrizio, they would change his mind.
- the Civil War. Why didn't they end up offering to help Fabrizio? That would have made for some more interesting tensions.
- the ending. What? Ludo translates just like that? Now what? There's going be a time shift again? So everyone just go home. The end. What?! And Luciano and Arianna are too caught up in wedding bliss, that they're just like, "Whatevs. You all sort it out. We just got married." I mean, being married is great and all, but it doesn't cause you not to care about major crises that affect your Secret Society and all your friends.
Things I Liked:
- Lucia and Guido. Totally saw that coming, but I thought it was sweet.
- the cats. Dunno why, but I enjoyed them.
- the wedding! Although, not the ending. Actually, I think the wedding could have been better. But I'm glad they are married.
- hearing more from Alfonso of Volana and the Pope. I liked the appearances of the other di Chimici relatives.
Overall, I thought this book had some good starting points, some interesting ideas, but those ideas didn't pan out at all. It felt very rushed, like there was a big deadline looming so Mary Hoffman just threw this book together as a filler. Which maybe I will forgive if there are other books coming. There's potential here... But sadly, City of Swords did not live up it the many possibilities.
December 30, 2020
1,5 stars
The first three quarters of City of Swords was a struggle to get through and while the last quarter was a little better, it couldn't save this series.
The protagonist, Laura, is a good heroine with flat characterisation. She self-harms, so I would not advise reading City of Swords if self-harm is triggering. The rest of the characters are just as flat, but I'm still invested in the original cast from the first two books in the series. The most interesting part is the Luciano-Nicholas-Vicky aspect because the characters' emotions and actions are believable.
I do not like the romance aspect which contains poorly executed instalove. Laura and Ludo have maybe two interactions and while the possibility of a connection between them is valid, the progression of their relationship is not believable. I also can't see how their relationship is going to work after reading City of Swords.
The plot for each book in this series is repetitive, but what keeps it fresh is the exploration of a different city in Talia. Fortezza is an atmospheric city, but it's not a unique or interesting one and we're shown little of it.
The events that occur are also rushed. Laura time travels to different places and reports on what's happening and there's more telling than showing which makes everything lack depth.
I'm disappointed with this finale because the overarching plot of this series is not resolved. The Stravaganza Sequence has always been about the conflict with the di Chimici family and trying to ensure that the independent cities stay that way, but City of Swords doesn't provide a resolution. Instead, we find the Stravaganti and the di Chimici family fighting on the same side for reasons that I could not understand. I also couldn't take Fabrizio di Chimici as an antagonist seriously.
The only satisfying resolution is the relationship between Arianna and Luciano and it's nice to see their relationship come full circle. I've had a theory that this series follows the relationship between Arianna and Luciano through the PoV of random side characters and City of Swords supports this view.
I will always have fond memories and nostalgic feelings towards the Stravaganza Sequence series, but the finale is disappointing.
"I have staked everything on my claim to the throne of Fortezza. I shall be its Prince or nothing."
The first three quarters of City of Swords was a struggle to get through and while the last quarter was a little better, it couldn't save this series.
The protagonist, Laura, is a good heroine with flat characterisation. She self-harms, so I would not advise reading City of Swords if self-harm is triggering. The rest of the characters are just as flat, but I'm still invested in the original cast from the first two books in the series. The most interesting part is the Luciano-Nicholas-Vicky aspect because the characters' emotions and actions are believable.
I do not like the romance aspect which contains poorly executed instalove. Laura and Ludo have maybe two interactions and while the possibility of a connection between them is valid, the progression of their relationship is not believable. I also can't see how their relationship is going to work after reading City of Swords.
The plot for each book in this series is repetitive, but what keeps it fresh is the exploration of a different city in Talia. Fortezza is an atmospheric city, but it's not a unique or interesting one and we're shown little of it.
The events that occur are also rushed. Laura time travels to different places and reports on what's happening and there's more telling than showing which makes everything lack depth.
I'm disappointed with this finale because the overarching plot of this series is not resolved. The Stravaganza Sequence has always been about the conflict with the di Chimici family and trying to ensure that the independent cities stay that way, but City of Swords doesn't provide a resolution. Instead, we find the Stravaganti and the di Chimici family fighting on the same side for reasons that I could not understand. I also couldn't take Fabrizio di Chimici as an antagonist seriously.
The only satisfying resolution is the relationship between Arianna and Luciano and it's nice to see their relationship come full circle. I've had a theory that this series follows the relationship between Arianna and Luciano through the PoV of random side characters and City of Swords supports this view.
I will always have fond memories and nostalgic feelings towards the Stravaganza Sequence series, but the finale is disappointing.
"Do you think all acts of heroism involve fighting and recklessness? Sometimes the task is a dreary and mundane one but it still takes a kind of heroism to bear it."
October 14, 2014
Nopealukuinen, etenee edellisistä kirjoista tutulla kaavalla. Renessanssiajan Talia on edelleen kiehtova ympäristö. Eniten tökki Lauran ja Ludon insta-love. Ihan kiva päätösosa sarjalle.
October 2, 2012
'City of Swords', what to say... Let me start with this: I really do love the Stravaganza series as a whole. Everything from the characters to the settings to the overall concept-- I love it. 'City of Swords' is the sixth and final book in this under appreciated series. I'll miss jumping into Talia with the Stravaganti for many reasons, most of all because every time I opened a Stravaganza book, it felt like I was back in Italy!
On to 'City of Swords'... Is it my favorite of the series? No. Is it as engaging and entertaining as other Stravaganza books? No. Is it a good read for those who have read the books before it? Yes. Is it a fitting close to a fantastic series? Minus a few loose ends, I think so.
The writing style used in 'Swords' seemed different to me than the books before it. The downsides of the novel for me? The majority of the story was spent in the real world, rather than Talia. Also, we learned what was going on through long paragraphs of explanation, as opposed to seeing the action or learning it through dialogue. I didn't find Laura's character to be as fleshed out as the rest and her story, strangely enough, didn't hold as much as importance as I would have expected. The romance was between Laura and a certain someone was a nice addition to the story, but we, as readers, didn't get to see it develop enough to care as much as we should about it, I think.
Besides those concerns (that mostly had to do with Laura's plotline), I loved the interaction between the past stravaganti and loved, loved, loved everything that had to do with Luciano! His parts made me smile!
Do I wish this had been a more solid read? Of course. However, I'm glad I've taken these trips to Talia, seeing such wonderful places and meeting fun, interesting characters. I'll definitely miss following new Stavaganti into the new and unknown that is Talia.
On to 'City of Swords'... Is it my favorite of the series? No. Is it as engaging and entertaining as other Stravaganza books? No. Is it a good read for those who have read the books before it? Yes. Is it a fitting close to a fantastic series? Minus a few loose ends, I think so.
The writing style used in 'Swords' seemed different to me than the books before it. The downsides of the novel for me? The majority of the story was spent in the real world, rather than Talia. Also, we learned what was going on through long paragraphs of explanation, as opposed to seeing the action or learning it through dialogue. I didn't find Laura's character to be as fleshed out as the rest and her story, strangely enough, didn't hold as much as importance as I would have expected. The romance was between Laura and a certain someone was a nice addition to the story, but we, as readers, didn't get to see it develop enough to care as much as we should about it, I think.
Besides those concerns (that mostly had to do with Laura's plotline), I loved the interaction between the past stravaganti and loved, loved, loved everything that had to do with Luciano! His parts made me smile!
Do I wish this had been a more solid read? Of course. However, I'm glad I've taken these trips to Talia, seeing such wonderful places and meeting fun, interesting characters. I'll definitely miss following new Stavaganti into the new and unknown that is Talia.
November 9, 2016
I can not belive this series are finished. I Think it came togeter all niely and I didn't have that big a problem with Laura and Ludo. I Think it wa wonderful that everyone got t go back and that we got more from the early stories. Loved it!
Want to read
June 20, 2011So happy this is coming out...ive been waiting for LONG time, 2012 seems like a long time! Thank you so much for writing this!
May 1, 2021
i liked the second half much better than the first, and i’m glad i finished this series after an almost 15 year break
September 15, 2024
Update 1: 15/09/2024.
'Dat heeft die klootzak verdiend...'
Het is zover, het einde is gekomen. Dit boek zit echt boordevol actie, vooral in de laatste zeventig bladzijdes ongeveer. Dan gebeurt er zoveel, je kunt het nauwelijks bijhouden of geloven. Als je als auteur in zo'n korte tijdsspanne dit erin gepropt krijgt... ja, dan ben je goed bezig.
Het is een beetje jammer van een paar hoofdelementen: Laura is niet zo'n aangenaam personage als de voorgaande stravaganti, Ludo is een lastigaard (dat vond ik in Boek 4 ook al, maar toen was hij nog lang niet zo belangrijk), en die hele liefdesaffaire tussen hun tweeën kon me helemaal gestolen worden. Dus de hele verhaallijn rond hen is bij tijd en wijle voor mij een marteling.
Daar staat tegenover dat er natuurlijk ook wel heel positieve dingen in het verhaal zitten. Het is onder andere supergrappig hoe erg Fabrizio in een neergaande cirkel terecht is gekomen. In het vorige boek werd al duidelijk dat hij zijn grip op, ja... alles eigenlijk compleet aan het verliezen was, en hier is het dan zo ver. Een typisch geval van megalomanie bij iemand die vastzit in z'n waanzinnige plannen voor de wereld.
Lucia is ook een heel positief punt. Ze is aanwezig in Boek 3, maar daar valt ze nog niet zo op (en is ze natuurlijk ook niet zo belangrijk). Maar hier steelt ze de show en staat zij ook centraal. Het valt sowieso wel op dat Mary Hoffman iets feministischere standpunten in haar latere boeken heeft gestoken - de boeken zijn gepubliceerd over een periode van ruim tien jaar - en vooral bij de jonge Di Chimici-prinses is dat toch wel goed te zien. Ze zorgt voor een paar heel aangename verrassingen.
Ook een paar twists in het hedendaagse Londen, met onder andere Mortimer Goldsmith die even alle belangstelling wegkaapt, en Vicky doet ook haar duit in het zakje.
En het einde. Dat is natuurlijk geweldig. Luciano en Arianna, maar ook wat er verder allemaal gebeurt rond de laatste paar hoofdstukken. Vittorio Massi is terug - je herinnert je zijn naam waarschijnlijk niet meer, maar hij was kortstondig aanwezig in Stad van Maskers. Ook hier komt hij maar eventjes aan bod, maar zijn bijdrage aan het verhaal is werkelijk prachtig. Mooie zet!
Ook dit laatste boek is vertaald door Annelies Jorna, en zoals gewoonlijk is er niks op aan te merken, behalve dan dat er hier en daar een paar foutjes in het Italiaans blijven staan. Bij de redactie hadden ze toch een beetje beter op moeten letten dat alle namen consequent bleven. Maar verder merk je doorheen de hele reeks dat de kwaliteit van de tekst steeds beter wordt, in feite. Dus verder geen kwaad daarover, dit is gewoon steengoed.
Update 1: Enerzijds is het jammer dat met Stad van Zwaarden het doek valt over de Stravaganza-reeks. Er blijven uiteindelijk nog zes steden over om verhalen over te vertellen. Maar anderzijds: met name in de laatste twee boeken verandert er zoveel rond stravagantie (de mogelijkheden, de mensen die ervan op de hoogte zijn) en de politiek in Talia (de standpunten en acties van Beatrice en Lucia, de ) dat het volgens mij voor Hoffman bijzonder moeilijk zou zijn om een overzichtelijk, logisch vervolg te schrijven op de voorvallen in de afgelopen boeken.
Het einde van Boek 6 is zeker geen afgesloten einde, er blijven nog genoeg vragen openstaan. Ik kan er zo meteen wel een handvol bedenken. Daar zullen we nooit antwoord op krijgen, maar dat geeft ook niet: een reeks als deze mag nog onbeantwoorde vragen hebben, vind ik. Dat past wel. God mag weten wat er met Bellezza, in Londen, met de stravaganti en met de Di Chimici's - je kunt daar nog nauwelijks van een familie spreken - nog allemaal kan gebeuren. Als de doorgang weer stabiliseert, dan toch. Als iemand graag fanfics schrijft, dan kun je met deze reeks je gang gaan.
8,3/10
Gemiddelde rating voor de reeks: 8,17/10
'Dat heeft die klootzak verdiend...'
Het is zover, het einde is gekomen. Dit boek zit echt boordevol actie, vooral in de laatste zeventig bladzijdes ongeveer. Dan gebeurt er zoveel, je kunt het nauwelijks bijhouden of geloven. Als je als auteur in zo'n korte tijdsspanne dit erin gepropt krijgt... ja, dan ben je goed bezig.
Het is een beetje jammer van een paar hoofdelementen: Laura is niet zo'n aangenaam personage als de voorgaande stravaganti, Ludo is een lastigaard (dat vond ik in Boek 4 ook al, maar toen was hij nog lang niet zo belangrijk), en die hele liefdesaffaire tussen hun tweeën kon me helemaal gestolen worden. Dus de hele verhaallijn rond hen is bij tijd en wijle voor mij een marteling.
Daar staat tegenover dat er natuurlijk ook wel heel positieve dingen in het verhaal zitten. Het is onder andere supergrappig hoe erg Fabrizio in een neergaande cirkel terecht is gekomen. In het vorige boek werd al duidelijk dat hij zijn grip op, ja... alles eigenlijk compleet aan het verliezen was, en hier is het dan zo ver. Een typisch geval van megalomanie bij iemand die vastzit in z'n waanzinnige plannen voor de wereld.
Lucia is ook een heel positief punt. Ze is aanwezig in Boek 3, maar daar valt ze nog niet zo op (en is ze natuurlijk ook niet zo belangrijk). Maar hier steelt ze de show en staat zij ook centraal. Het valt sowieso wel op dat Mary Hoffman iets feministischere standpunten in haar latere boeken heeft gestoken - de boeken zijn gepubliceerd over een periode van ruim tien jaar - en vooral bij de jonge Di Chimici-prinses is dat toch wel goed te zien. Ze zorgt voor een paar heel aangename verrassingen.
Ook een paar twists in het hedendaagse Londen, met onder andere Mortimer Goldsmith die even alle belangstelling wegkaapt, en Vicky doet ook haar duit in het zakje.
En het einde. Dat is natuurlijk geweldig. Luciano en Arianna, maar ook wat er verder allemaal gebeurt rond de laatste paar hoofdstukken. Vittorio Massi is terug - je herinnert je zijn naam waarschijnlijk niet meer, maar hij was kortstondig aanwezig in Stad van Maskers. Ook hier komt hij maar eventjes aan bod, maar zijn bijdrage aan het verhaal is werkelijk prachtig. Mooie zet!
Ook dit laatste boek is vertaald door Annelies Jorna, en zoals gewoonlijk is er niks op aan te merken, behalve dan dat er hier en daar een paar foutjes in het Italiaans blijven staan. Bij de redactie hadden ze toch een beetje beter op moeten letten dat alle namen consequent bleven. Maar verder merk je doorheen de hele reeks dat de kwaliteit van de tekst steeds beter wordt, in feite. Dus verder geen kwaad daarover, dit is gewoon steengoed.
Update 1: Enerzijds is het jammer dat met Stad van Zwaarden het doek valt over de Stravaganza-reeks. Er blijven uiteindelijk nog zes steden over om verhalen over te vertellen. Maar anderzijds: met name in de laatste twee boeken verandert er zoveel rond stravagantie (de mogelijkheden, de mensen die ervan op de hoogte zijn) en de politiek in Talia (de standpunten en acties van Beatrice en Lucia, de ) dat het volgens mij voor Hoffman bijzonder moeilijk zou zijn om een overzichtelijk, logisch vervolg te schrijven op de voorvallen in de afgelopen boeken.
Het einde van Boek 6 is zeker geen afgesloten einde, er blijven nog genoeg vragen openstaan. Ik kan er zo meteen wel een handvol bedenken. Daar zullen we nooit antwoord op krijgen, maar dat geeft ook niet: een reeks als deze mag nog onbeantwoorde vragen hebben, vind ik. Dat past wel. God mag weten wat er met Bellezza, in Londen, met de stravaganti en met de Di Chimici's - je kunt daar nog nauwelijks van een familie spreken - nog allemaal kan gebeuren. Als de doorgang weer stabiliseert, dan toch. Als iemand graag fanfics schrijft, dan kun je met deze reeks je gang gaan.
8,3/10
Gemiddelde rating voor de reeks: 8,17/10
March 28, 2013
City of swords is the last book of the Stravaganza series so far. As the fans of the series will probably be used to by now, we follow an unhappy teenager on his trips to sixteenth century Talia, where he has a mission to accomplish. This time, we get to know Laura, who cuts herself in order to feel better. It is then quite a surprise to see her transported to Fortezza, where she meets her Stravagante, a swordsmith. But in Talia, Laura has a lot to think about, as civil was is about to destroy the city, and she must chose her side before it is too late... which is not an easy task when everybody expects her to fight against a charming man.
I must start by saying that, although I enjoyed this book overall, it is definitely not the best one in the series and I was a little disappointed. The beginning was quite strange, as we met the other English Stravaganti before Laura. It was a way of changing the style a little, as Isabel, Georgia, Nick and Sky had guessed that Laura would be the one receiving the talisman, but I felt it was taking the reader’s attention off her. As the story goes on, this feeling only became stronger; I never really felt I was discovering Fortezza with Laura. I rather listened to her telling her adventures to her new friends, which made it less interesting and lively as in the previous books.
An important part of the plot takes place in England. I enjoyed this in City of Ships, but here I felt it was sometimes a little too much. However, meeting Vicky Mulholland and several other characters we know from the rest of the series was a nice experience – and turned out quite surprising in the end. What I particularly enjoyed was Laura’s problem. We know from the first few pages that she resorts to self-harming, but there is much more to that than we would expect. Mary Hoffman really developed this aspect of her personality, much more than she did with any of the other characters, which was a good surprise.
Turning to the plot itself, I found it a little too predictable. There were a few twists and turns, but they did not seem that realistic and I was not thrilled as I normally am. Meeting the usual Stravaganti was nice again, but they had not changed a lot, which I found rather disappointing. On the other hand, having Arianna and Luciano talk about their wedding was great and it was a good strategy to maintain the reader’s attention: Will they finally manage to get married?
I have given quite a lot of negative point about City of Swords, but I do not want you to think that I did not like it or that I would not recommend it to you. It is a great story; I just felt it did not quite live up to what I expected after five successful previous books – especially the fifth one. However, if I had to give a single reason to convince you to read it, I would say: the ending. As I said before, I was not living the story with the characters, but felt I was only a spectator. The action is sometimes quite slow, but in the last few pages, the pace clearly gets quicker. And suddenly, everything is over, before you even realise it. The ending remains nevertheless open, and each reader has to wonder... Will there be a seventh book?
I must start by saying that, although I enjoyed this book overall, it is definitely not the best one in the series and I was a little disappointed. The beginning was quite strange, as we met the other English Stravaganti before Laura. It was a way of changing the style a little, as Isabel, Georgia, Nick and Sky had guessed that Laura would be the one receiving the talisman, but I felt it was taking the reader’s attention off her. As the story goes on, this feeling only became stronger; I never really felt I was discovering Fortezza with Laura. I rather listened to her telling her adventures to her new friends, which made it less interesting and lively as in the previous books.
An important part of the plot takes place in England. I enjoyed this in City of Ships, but here I felt it was sometimes a little too much. However, meeting Vicky Mulholland and several other characters we know from the rest of the series was a nice experience – and turned out quite surprising in the end. What I particularly enjoyed was Laura’s problem. We know from the first few pages that she resorts to self-harming, but there is much more to that than we would expect. Mary Hoffman really developed this aspect of her personality, much more than she did with any of the other characters, which was a good surprise.
Turning to the plot itself, I found it a little too predictable. There were a few twists and turns, but they did not seem that realistic and I was not thrilled as I normally am. Meeting the usual Stravaganti was nice again, but they had not changed a lot, which I found rather disappointing. On the other hand, having Arianna and Luciano talk about their wedding was great and it was a good strategy to maintain the reader’s attention: Will they finally manage to get married?
I have given quite a lot of negative point about City of Swords, but I do not want you to think that I did not like it or that I would not recommend it to you. It is a great story; I just felt it did not quite live up to what I expected after five successful previous books – especially the fifth one. However, if I had to give a single reason to convince you to read it, I would say: the ending. As I said before, I was not living the story with the characters, but felt I was only a spectator. The action is sometimes quite slow, but in the last few pages, the pace clearly gets quicker. And suddenly, everything is over, before you even realise it. The ending remains nevertheless open, and each reader has to wonder... Will there be a seventh book?
March 17, 2013
Oh my god.
To my very very big and happy surprise I found it today in the American Book Center Amsterdam. I thought it would be released in august! it looks awesome but I'm gonna wait reading it and first finish the book I'm currently reading. I will probably start reading it this week though.
more coming!
11-7-12:
started reading.
19-7-12
So I have finished a few days ago but hadn't had time to write my review yet.
It was really really good but I had to give four stars, because the book had ups and downs.
The down part was that sometimes it lacked detail, especially in the beginning. I thought the first 100 pages needed at least 50 more pages to make it more exciting and to make it more into a whole, to make the storyline flow better.
Then the up part was that I liked al the storylines in the book. I'm going to talk about that later. And what I thought was really good, was the ending. I don't think we have ever had such a exciting last 50 or 20 pages. So many things happened but just so mind gripping. And I think the ending had quite a cliffhanger, so I really hope this means that there will be at least a seventh (and hopefully 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 will come eventually).
So, here comes the spoiler part! I think I'm just gonna talk about everything I come up with, hopefully in the right order, cause I haven't got the book with me right now.
*
*
*
*
*
well. Let's start with Laura. We know that every person that finds a talisman has some sort of personal issue. With Laura this was her self harming and I like this. Well, not beacause I like people who cut themselves but this added something to the story, some extra storyline, more than the others, because she also ends up in the hospital and stuff.
What I really missed in this book, was some time with Laura in Talia. You barely ever read about her just walking through the city with Fabio and he showing her the city of Lucca. Whenever she went to stravagate you'd read about her arriving there and then thinking about Ludo and then you read the next part and you find the kids sitting and Laura talking about her visit in stead of living her visit, like you would read about Isabel ging with flavia and sailing with Andrea (City of Ships).
God there is just way too much to talk about and too little time... I'll come back to it soon!
PS: So I checked the site (Stravaganza & Mary Hoffman) but there is nothing about a 7th book. If anybody knows anything about it, please tell me!
To my very very big and happy surprise I found it today in the American Book Center Amsterdam. I thought it would be released in august! it looks awesome but I'm gonna wait reading it and first finish the book I'm currently reading. I will probably start reading it this week though.
more coming!
11-7-12:
started reading.
19-7-12
So I have finished a few days ago but hadn't had time to write my review yet.
It was really really good but I had to give four stars, because the book had ups and downs.
The down part was that sometimes it lacked detail, especially in the beginning. I thought the first 100 pages needed at least 50 more pages to make it more exciting and to make it more into a whole, to make the storyline flow better.
Then the up part was that I liked al the storylines in the book. I'm going to talk about that later. And what I thought was really good, was the ending. I don't think we have ever had such a exciting last 50 or 20 pages. So many things happened but just so mind gripping. And I think the ending had quite a cliffhanger, so I really hope this means that there will be at least a seventh (and hopefully 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 will come eventually).
So, here comes the spoiler part! I think I'm just gonna talk about everything I come up with, hopefully in the right order, cause I haven't got the book with me right now.
*
*
*
*
*
well. Let's start with Laura. We know that every person that finds a talisman has some sort of personal issue. With Laura this was her self harming and I like this. Well, not beacause I like people who cut themselves but this added something to the story, some extra storyline, more than the others, because she also ends up in the hospital and stuff.
What I really missed in this book, was some time with Laura in Talia. You barely ever read about her just walking through the city with Fabio and he showing her the city of Lucca. Whenever she went to stravagate you'd read about her arriving there and then thinking about Ludo and then you read the next part and you find the kids sitting and Laura talking about her visit in stead of living her visit, like you would read about Isabel ging with flavia and sailing with Andrea (City of Ships).
God there is just way too much to talk about and too little time... I'll come back to it soon!
PS: So I checked the site (Stravaganza & Mary Hoffman) but there is nothing about a 7th book. If anybody knows anything about it, please tell me!
October 2, 2014
I've read this entire series now and I gotta say, after the first three books it has gone downhill and badly. I don't know what happened with the writing style, in this one particularly it felt really lazy and clumsy. I don't want to read about big events through long dialogues, there is no excitement in that. Laura was too shallow for a main character and her part in the story was, in the end, way too small. Her inner pain and romance with Ludo didn't feel real at all. No one can fall in love that fast. Ludo's choices were also really dumb. I didn't care for either of them at any point. What I loved in the earlier books was the very idea of time-traveling and Talia as a place. In this book, too much time was spent in our world. Too many people knew about it, it wasn't a mysterious secret anymore. As if it became just some common thing. And I gotta say, ever since the events of City of Flowers, this series has suffered from a lack of a good, clever, menacing villain.
I was hoping I'd get to read a great, touching ending for this series I've known for ten years, but instead I faced a major disappointment. I think I'm gonna re-read only the 3 first books from now on.
I was hoping I'd get to read a great, touching ending for this series I've known for ten years, but instead I faced a major disappointment. I think I'm gonna re-read only the 3 first books from now on.
February 12, 2014
You can't end the series here! There has to be another book!
I will try not to spoil, but although there were some faults (I'm not sure there's enough character development for the newest Stravagante who has a much more complex story than the others) this ended on such a cliffhanger. Okay, there was a degree of resolution surrounding our favourites, but then a huge plot development that will rock Talia, and to a lesser extent Islington.
I neeeed more!
I will try not to spoil, but although there were some faults (I'm not sure there's enough character development for the newest Stravagante who has a much more complex story than the others) this ended on such a cliffhanger. Okay, there was a degree of resolution surrounding our favourites, but then a huge plot development that will rock Talia, and to a lesser extent Islington.
I neeeed more!
July 22, 2020
This book felt rushed, unfortunately. I started reading this series when I was a teen and picked them up again because a) Nostaglia and b) wanting to get to the ending. The end was left so open ended, as if there is supposed to be at least one more book. It’s like “crack of thunder, okay we’re done byeeee.”
July 15, 2012
Peeps, I've got a feeling that this isn't the end yet. And just FYI, yes goddammit, Ferdinando is fat. Thank you Mary Hoffman for reminding me every time they speak of him.
Actual review to probably come tomorrow.
Actual review to probably come tomorrow.
Want to read
March 27, 2012Do I hear Wedding Bells?
August 9, 2014
I can't believe that this was the end of this series! Ah, I want more stravaganti!
Read
December 27, 2015I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12438630
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12438630
February 11, 2018
not exactly a satisfying conclusion to the series :(
January 13, 2021
I loved some parts of this book - like the fact that Luciano nearly got hanged but it was an unsatisfying end to the series and it made me want more books because so much was left unfinished.
I loved the fact that we get yet another good protagonist with a really good backstory- she is cutting herself and she has a sister that got hit in the head and stuck in the hospital for the rest of her life -that was strong and good, but her personality just felt kind of bland. I also didn't like the romance between her and Ludo because it felt so rushed and unsatisfying- I mean they barely spend any time together and they are somehow madly in love and he ends up translating for her.
I also didn't like that everyone got justly punished but Fabrizio, Fabrizio nearly hangs Luciano, kills a ton of people, nearly hangs Enrico, nearly goes mad, kills the previous pope.... and yet he somehow gets away without problems -and the way the last part of the book is worded it sounds like there will be more books where he comes back and seeks revenge again.
I also didn't like that we never got to see what happened with the connection - can they still stravage? Was the connection broken because of Ludo's translation? There is also this huge tension going through the entire book about Nick still being sad and missing Talia and Luciano coming back to his original world upsetting Nick and Vicky and Nick being mad at it.... but it just fizzles out and it's never resolved.
And last but not least- I feel like Mortimer Goldsmith was really underused in this book. He gets in on the stravaganti secret and so does Eva, Matt's great aunt, he visits Talia once but we barely see him interact with said world, he does help at the end of the story but I wish that he did more considering that he was such an important character in the series. I feel like he was just there... to be there and so that he can be mentioned in the book. And same goes for most of the other stravaganti, yet again. And yet again only Georgia and Nick get any spotlight alongside Isabel, the rest of them are just there for support.
I loved the fact that we get yet another good protagonist with a really good backstory- she is cutting herself and she has a sister that got hit in the head and stuck in the hospital for the rest of her life -that was strong and good, but her personality just felt kind of bland. I also didn't like the romance between her and Ludo because it felt so rushed and unsatisfying- I mean they barely spend any time together and they are somehow madly in love and he ends up translating for her.
I also didn't like that everyone got justly punished but Fabrizio, Fabrizio nearly hangs Luciano, kills a ton of people, nearly hangs Enrico, nearly goes mad, kills the previous pope.... and yet he somehow gets away without problems -and the way the last part of the book is worded it sounds like there will be more books where he comes back and seeks revenge again.
I also didn't like that we never got to see what happened with the connection - can they still stravage? Was the connection broken because of Ludo's translation? There is also this huge tension going through the entire book about Nick still being sad and missing Talia and Luciano coming back to his original world upsetting Nick and Vicky and Nick being mad at it.... but it just fizzles out and it's never resolved.
And last but not least- I feel like Mortimer Goldsmith was really underused in this book. He gets in on the stravaganti secret and so does Eva, Matt's great aunt, he visits Talia once but we barely see him interact with said world, he does help at the end of the story but I wish that he did more considering that he was such an important character in the series. I feel like he was just there... to be there and so that he can be mentioned in the book. And same goes for most of the other stravaganti, yet again. And yet again only Georgia and Nick get any spotlight alongside Isabel, the rest of them are just there for support.
June 26, 2017
TL;DR: 3 stars for a poorly executed series finale, as well as a really annoying ship. Also likely triggers for depression and self harm.
One of my best friends introduced me to the Stravaganza series in the spring of 2006, when we were at the end of 8th grade.
I hate to say that City of Swords was my least favorite book out of the six. What a disappointing conclusion. My first (more minor, compared to the others) complaint is that the whole thing felt like it was too hastily thrown together in order to tie up loose ends.
Unpopular opinion time: my two biggest issues lie with the Ludo/Laura ship.
Yes, in Talia, their age difference is totally OK, but by today's standards, the whole adult man with an underage girl thing is beyond creepy.
I also hate how Laura's depression/self-harming tendencies magically disappeared when she started dating Ludo, as opposed to gradually getting better with her therapist and antidepressants.
THAT'S! NOT! HOW! DEPRESSION! WORKS!
I mean, what happens if Laura relapses after her translation to Talia? The older Stravaganti literally told her that there's no concept of depression and self harm in Talia, so if she does cut herself while there, nobody will know how to help her psychologically. And then there's the general medical care she'd have to get for her slashed wrists, which is very subpar by modern standards.
The only somewhat redeeming quality is that Luciano and Arianna FINALLY got married.
One of my best friends introduced me to the Stravaganza series in the spring of 2006, when we were at the end of 8th grade.
I hate to say that City of Swords was my least favorite book out of the six. What a disappointing conclusion. My first (more minor, compared to the others) complaint is that the whole thing felt like it was too hastily thrown together in order to tie up loose ends.
Unpopular opinion time: my two biggest issues lie with the Ludo/Laura ship.
Yes, in Talia, their age difference is totally OK, but by today's standards, the whole adult man with an underage girl thing is beyond creepy.
I also hate how Laura's depression/self-harming tendencies magically disappeared when she started dating Ludo, as opposed to gradually getting better with her therapist and antidepressants.
THAT'S! NOT! HOW! DEPRESSION! WORKS!
I mean, what happens if Laura relapses after her translation to Talia? The older Stravaganti literally told her that there's no concept of depression and self harm in Talia, so if she does cut herself while there, nobody will know how to help her psychologically. And then there's the general medical care she'd have to get for her slashed wrists, which is very subpar by modern standards.
The only somewhat redeeming quality is that Luciano and Arianna FINALLY got married.
September 17, 2023
This is the final “Stravaganza” book, but it doesn’t *feel* like it. There’s not much finality to the story. There is the wedding of Luciano and Arianna, certainly, and by golly it’s about time that happened. We’ve been building towards that for a while. But the protagonist in this book, Laura, ends the novel with a story that seems like it’s meant to be continued, and we should see what happens next.
It abruptly ends before that happens, though. And it feels weird.
Okay, yeah, all of the protagonists of the series have problems, but one of the issues with Laura is that a large chunk of her character arc in this story is her love story. She falls in love with Ludo immediately, and many of her decisions are built on that romance, but why? Why does she fall in love with him? What do they even like about each other? I don’t get it. And this being such a key part of the story, that’s a problem.
I like seeing that the Stravaganti have worked out a lot of their stuff though. Many times in past books, it seemed as if they were going in blind, without a clue of what might happen, and this time they all talked things through, even predicting who the next one to be chosen would be. We’ve leveled up, I’m impressed.
Still, I would have preferred a more suitable, final ending above everything else. This isn’t a terrible ending (I’m thinking of “Children of the Lamp”) but it could have been something more suitable. As it is, I can’t help but wonder if more books were planned, but the author never got around to them, or couldn’t think of any ideas for the sequel that wrapped things up neatly.
It abruptly ends before that happens, though. And it feels weird.
Okay, yeah, all of the protagonists of the series have problems, but one of the issues with Laura is that a large chunk of her character arc in this story is her love story. She falls in love with Ludo immediately, and many of her decisions are built on that romance, but why? Why does she fall in love with him? What do they even like about each other? I don’t get it. And this being such a key part of the story, that’s a problem.
I like seeing that the Stravaganti have worked out a lot of their stuff though. Many times in past books, it seemed as if they were going in blind, without a clue of what might happen, and this time they all talked things through, even predicting who the next one to be chosen would be. We’ve leveled up, I’m impressed.
Still, I would have preferred a more suitable, final ending above everything else. This isn’t a terrible ending (I’m thinking of “Children of the Lamp”) but it could have been something more suitable. As it is, I can’t help but wonder if more books were planned, but the author never got around to them, or couldn’t think of any ideas for the sequel that wrapped things up neatly.
November 5, 2017
Suffers from the same choppy, rehashed feel of the last couple of books. There are some nice thoughts/twists - including the ever complex permutations of the Di Chimici family and the sad reason Laura becomes a Stravagante. But very little of it is fleshed out in a way that's compelling. The book is hugely ambitious but doesn't quite match up in colouring in the depth and motivations of characters like Ludo (a gypsy-like Manoush who indulges his di Chimici blood). Often, we're told what to think and feel, but not shown enough to make it work - like the instant love springing up between Ludo and Laura that complicates the civil war in Fortezza, the titular City of Swords. All that said, there's a soap operatic element to this series that makes it easy to consume, and Hoffman left quite a few plates spinning before the series came to a permanent end. I don't particularly love this franchise as it is now (not like I did at the start), but I'd totally keep reading it if more books should be published. #completist 2.5 out of 5 stars
January 16, 2018
Sainpas luettua sarjan loppuun. Ihan ok, vaikka viimeiset osat alkoivat jo vähän toistaa itseään ja etenkin viimeinen osa oli aikamoista sähellystä. Loppua kohti myös sarjan nuorten sodanvastaiset pohdinnat alkoivat menettää teräänsä, kun päähenkilöt kuitenkin niin hanakasti hakeutuivat taisteluun toisensa jälkeen. Romanttiset ratkaisutkin olivat aika sovinnaisia ja nuorten vaikeatkin ongelmat ratkesivat aika helposti.
Mut mä oonkin tylsä aikuinen joka on lukenut jo ihan liikaa.
Teinit tästä sarjasta kumminkin tykkää ja niillehän se on kirjoitettu. Olen kumminkin iloinen että tämä sarja mulle vinkattiin ja että tämän luin. Nyt voin sitten "asiantuntevasti" keskustella sarjaa fanittavien teinien kanssa ja apropoo, mieleen tulee heti ainakin pari kolme nuorta lukutoukkaa, jolle voin tätä sarjaamyös vinkata.
Mut mä oonkin tylsä aikuinen joka on lukenut jo ihan liikaa.
Teinit tästä sarjasta kumminkin tykkää ja niillehän se on kirjoitettu. Olen kumminkin iloinen että tämä sarja mulle vinkattiin ja että tämän luin. Nyt voin sitten "asiantuntevasti" keskustella sarjaa fanittavien teinien kanssa ja apropoo, mieleen tulee heti ainakin pari kolme nuorta lukutoukkaa, jolle voin tätä sarjaamyös vinkata.
June 4, 2022
AMAZING!!
Wow, Hoffman managed to pack in so many twists into one novel I am amazed.
First off, Vicky gets to Talia for Luciano’s wedding 🥺🥺
& Laura has an older sister? It’s so sad that because her parents avoided talking about Julia , Laura resorted to cutting…
But I have to focus on THE ENDING!?
So Laura gets Ludo back to her world and then there’s a the sound of thunder etc & Rodolfo urgently gets all the stravagante back to their world why????
Does Laura’s decision to make Ludo a permanent part of her world ( selfish!?) destroy the chances of the others ever getting back to Talia?? Because she’s destroyed the time continuum?
And why does the story just end like that!? Ludo and Laura & all the other stravagante back in their own world and then Luciano and Arianna newly weds?
Surely there is more to the story!?
I loved this series & I highly recommend it !!
5/ 5 ⭐️
Wow, Hoffman managed to pack in so many twists into one novel I am amazed.
First off, Vicky gets to Talia for Luciano’s wedding 🥺🥺
& Laura has an older sister? It’s so sad that because her parents avoided talking about Julia , Laura resorted to cutting…
But I have to focus on THE ENDING!?
So Laura gets Ludo back to her world and then there’s a the sound of thunder etc & Rodolfo urgently gets all the stravagante back to their world why????
Does Laura’s decision to make Ludo a permanent part of her world ( selfish!?) destroy the chances of the others ever getting back to Talia?? Because she’s destroyed the time continuum?
And why does the story just end like that!? Ludo and Laura & all the other stravagante back in their own world and then Luciano and Arianna newly weds?
Surely there is more to the story!?
I loved this series & I highly recommend it !!
5/ 5 ⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2024
This book was just OK. I liked how it ended and how all the things in Talia worked out, but Laura's story was weird and not the best. It's been a great journey reading all of the Stravaganza stories, and I'm a bit sad that this is the end. Though the author did leave possibilities open....
I have to say it was most excellent how Luciano and Arianna finally got married! That moment has been building up through all of the books, and in this book it finally happened! The Talian Stravaganti are all awesome people and reading about them was my favorite part of reading these books (and getting to know an alternate Italy). I feel that these stories were a nifty way of introducing Renaissance Italy, and some of the history of the actual locals, to a younger audience. Even though some tales were better than others, altogether this series was a surprising delight to read!
I have to say it was most excellent how Luciano and Arianna finally got married! That moment has been building up through all of the books, and in this book it finally happened! The Talian Stravaganti are all awesome people and reading about them was my favorite part of reading these books (and getting to know an alternate Italy). I feel that these stories were a nifty way of introducing Renaissance Italy, and some of the history of the actual locals, to a younger audience. Even though some tales were better than others, altogether this series was a surprising delight to read!
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