What do you think?
Rate this book
Heirs of Alexandria #1
The Shadow of the Lion
It is the year 1537. The great winged Lion stares over a Venice where magic thrives. The rich Venetian Republic is a bastion of independence and tolerance. Perhaps for that reason, it is also corrupt, and rotten with intrigue.
But for the young brothers Marco and Benito Valdosta, vagabond and thief, Venice is simply--home. They have no idea that they stand at the center of the city's coming struggle for its very life. They know nothing of the powerful forces moving in the background. They have barely heard of Chernobog, demon-lord of the North, who is shifting his pawns to attack Venice in order to cut into the underbelly of the Holy Roman Empire. All Marco and Benito know is that they're hungry and in dangerous company: Katerina the smuggler, Caesare the sell-sword, Montagnard assassins, church inquisitors, militant Knights of the Holy Trinity, Dottore Marina the Strega mage... and Maria. Maria might be an honest canaler, but she had the hottest temper a boy could find.
Yet among the dark waters of the canals lurk far worse dangers than a hot-tempered girl. Chernobog has set a monster loose to wreak havoc on the city. Magic, murder and evil are all at work to pull Venice down. Fanatical monks seek to root out true witchcraft with fire and sword. Steel-clad Teutonic knights, wealth traders, church dignitaries and great Princes fight and plot for control of the jewel of the Mediterranean.
And somehow all of these, from thieves to mages to princes, must gather around Marco and his brother Benito, under the shadow of the great winged lion of Venice.
But for the young brothers Marco and Benito Valdosta, vagabond and thief, Venice is simply--home. They have no idea that they stand at the center of the city's coming struggle for its very life. They know nothing of the powerful forces moving in the background. They have barely heard of Chernobog, demon-lord of the North, who is shifting his pawns to attack Venice in order to cut into the underbelly of the Holy Roman Empire. All Marco and Benito know is that they're hungry and in dangerous company: Katerina the smuggler, Caesare the sell-sword, Montagnard assassins, church inquisitors, militant Knights of the Holy Trinity, Dottore Marina the Strega mage... and Maria. Maria might be an honest canaler, but she had the hottest temper a boy could find.
Yet among the dark waters of the canals lurk far worse dangers than a hot-tempered girl. Chernobog has set a monster loose to wreak havoc on the city. Magic, murder and evil are all at work to pull Venice down. Fanatical monks seek to root out true witchcraft with fire and sword. Steel-clad Teutonic knights, wealth traders, church dignitaries and great Princes fight and plot for control of the jewel of the Mediterranean.
And somehow all of these, from thieves to mages to princes, must gather around Marco and his brother Benito, under the shadow of the great winged lion of Venice.
817 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2002
63 people are currently reading
1844 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
441 books9,542 followersMercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts & Music, a small recording company specializing in science fiction folk music.
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
July 15, 2009
I had two major problems with this book. I really wanted to like. A Venice with magic and a real griffin. Cool! Sadly, not cool here. One problem I had was the male characters act like boys. I suppose this really isn't a problem, considering the male characters are in fact boys, but the female characters are the same age or younger, but act years older. I'm a woman, I suppose this shouldn't bother me, but it does. True the sexes mature at different rates, but not one male character is mature or likable.
The second problem I had was the book dawdles. There is no other word for it.
The second problem I had was the book dawdles. There is no other word for it.
June 25, 2019
It’s been a while since I’ve read a hefty fantasy book, and I loved getting back to the genre that made me fall in love with reading in the first place. While I was thoroughly confused as to what exactly was happening for the first 50-75 pages of this book, it all eventually came together beautifully and I ended up really enjoying the slow way I was able to get to know the characters and fall in love with them.
The worldbuilding in this story is incredible; it really made me feel as though I was in 16th century Venice, and the added bonus of religious magic being a real thing is such a great twist. The plot is pitted as a good vs. evil kind of story, and I liked how each religious sect had its baddies and good guys. This book has complex situations that make it feel so genuine and really just helped me to immerse myself in the plot.
The characters were what sold it for me, though. I absolutely loved every single one of them, and I really enjoyed being able to get the story through each of their eyes. It made me feel really connected to everything that was going on, and added to that wonderful dramatic irony that these authors are so good at building. The mix of personalities is so fun and different that I feel like any reader would be able to latch onto at least one character as a favorite.
I am very much looking forward to the sequels and hope that they continue to be this immersive!
Also posted on Purple People Readers.
The worldbuilding in this story is incredible; it really made me feel as though I was in 16th century Venice, and the added bonus of religious magic being a real thing is such a great twist. The plot is pitted as a good vs. evil kind of story, and I liked how each religious sect had its baddies and good guys. This book has complex situations that make it feel so genuine and really just helped me to immerse myself in the plot.
The characters were what sold it for me, though. I absolutely loved every single one of them, and I really enjoyed being able to get the story through each of their eyes. It made me feel really connected to everything that was going on, and added to that wonderful dramatic irony that these authors are so good at building. The mix of personalities is so fun and different that I feel like any reader would be able to latch onto at least one character as a favorite.
I am very much looking forward to the sequels and hope that they continue to be this immersive!
Also posted on Purple People Readers.
November 9, 2013
I think this is my fifth time reading this book, but since it's now goodreads official I'll write a real review. I read this book as a variety starved teen in Yellowstone. Considering that it's an epic fantasy written by three people not really in that genre (Mercesdes Lackey maybe, but Eric Flint writes sci-fi and David Freer writes satire) it was definitely different. Ten years later I still love it. The story is set in alternate history Venice (!!!) and stars a huge cast that due to outrageous mannerisms I can keep strait. It's good vs. evil in a big way. I would call this the popcorn fluff of epic fantasy. If you don't want to get into that draggy stuff that they're coming out with over the last two years, this is a good series to read.
March 16, 2018
“Just as simple as original sin and just as seductive.”
Excellent. Amazingly deep, rich epic fantasy set in an alternate timeline very close to Renaissance northern Italy. The nations, myths, religions, factions and families are close enough to historical that the student of history has a leg up on the fun. Yet Lackey has shifted emphasis, history there, motives somewhere else just enough to create a fascinating new universe.
“There is such a thing as evil in the world, which cannot be persuaded, but only defeated.”
Amazing that Lackey produces such good word so quickly. Nonetheless, there are signs of this story being rushed to print. For example, modern expressions, like “A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do” or “Give me a break,” occasionally knock the reader out of the story. Also occasional repetition, perhaps stemming from the team of authors.
“He’s only half a saint. The other half is pure idiot, I promise.”
Completely satisfying conclusion, despite this being the first of a series. The reason is that the other installments are written by different authors and focus on different main characters, characters who play a part in this drama.
“The ultimate coin in this sinful world is trust.”
Excellent. Amazingly deep, rich epic fantasy set in an alternate timeline very close to Renaissance northern Italy. The nations, myths, religions, factions and families are close enough to historical that the student of history has a leg up on the fun. Yet Lackey has shifted emphasis, history there, motives somewhere else just enough to create a fascinating new universe.
“There is such a thing as evil in the world, which cannot be persuaded, but only defeated.”
Amazing that Lackey produces such good word so quickly. Nonetheless, there are signs of this story being rushed to print. For example, modern expressions, like “A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do” or “Give me a break,” occasionally knock the reader out of the story. Also occasional repetition, perhaps stemming from the team of authors.
“He’s only half a saint. The other half is pure idiot, I promise.”
Completely satisfying conclusion, despite this being the first of a series. The reason is that the other installments are written by different authors and focus on different main characters, characters who play a part in this drama.
“The ultimate coin in this sinful world is trust.”
July 7, 2008
Shadow of the Line has three authors, each of whom apparently brought their own cast of characters to the book. There are over a dozen main characters, and probably twice that many supporting characters that are still important enough to have names, back stories, and plot lines of their own. While I was trying to keep track of everyone, I had the voice of a baseball game crier in my head: "Get a scorecard, can't tell the players without a scorecard!" They could have eliminated half the characters and a handful of the plots and had a better, tighter book that was a joy to read instead of a confusing mess. The other alternative would have been to split it into one of Lackey's famous trilogies, with only two or three plots per book. But trying to do it all at once was too ambitious, and though there were a few good points and enjoyable scenes, for the most part trying to keep everything straight was only a headache. A book that has to include a prologue, an epilogue, maps, a timeline, a cast of characters and a glossary clearly as too much going on.
February 9, 2012
I read this years ago in Baen's free library and quite liked it, but the series was never finished. Now that a third (or fourth, depending on how you're counting) book has come out, I picked it up again.
I don't know Dave Freer's work at all, but I can say this book - and series, really - is exactly what you'd expect from Lackey and Flint working together. Complex plotting, lots of military and history tidbits for their own sake, and many, many viewpoints from Flint, and straightforward, likable, if not tremendously deep or original characters and prose from Lackey. (While "the whore with a heart of gold" is done often, it's seldom done better than here - Francesca is probably my favorite character in these books.)
The book's biggest flaw is the pacing. The worldbuilding and plotting is painstakingly done, but it takes pages and pages and pages, and I'm not sure a mad editor with a hatchet wouldn't have improved the tale. But, you know, it's Eric Flint - anyone who's encountered his work should be expecting it.
I don't know Dave Freer's work at all, but I can say this book - and series, really - is exactly what you'd expect from Lackey and Flint working together. Complex plotting, lots of military and history tidbits for their own sake, and many, many viewpoints from Flint, and straightforward, likable, if not tremendously deep or original characters and prose from Lackey. (While "the whore with a heart of gold" is done often, it's seldom done better than here - Francesca is probably my favorite character in these books.)
The book's biggest flaw is the pacing. The worldbuilding and plotting is painstakingly done, but it takes pages and pages and pages, and I'm not sure a mad editor with a hatchet wouldn't have improved the tale. But, you know, it's Eric Flint - anyone who's encountered his work should be expecting it.
February 14, 2021
16th century Venice with magic and a guardian lion that protects it from evil but only with the personal sacrifice of its noble families. Will be interesting to see where the series goes.
August 27, 2015
***Crossposted from 'Outside of Dogs: a Reviewer's Blog'***
I'm often wary of collaborations, but in this case as I was reading I kept forgetting that the book has more than one author, no mean feat, in my opinion.
I picked The Shadow of the Lion from the Baen Free Library, I was intrigued by the premise, a fantasy set in 16th century Venice, and I figured that, it being free, at worst I would just lose a couple of hours before deciding it wasn't for me (I'm past the phase in my reading life in which I forced myself to finish each and every book I started).
In that couple of hours, or even less, I was hooked. The alternate history is intriguing (also 'alternate theology' if you wish, thanks to the conversion of Saint Hypatia), the characters are nuanced and three dimensional, there are as many intriguing and strong females as males, and it manages to completely sidestep one of my biggest turn-offs in fantasy (the 'big, bad, fanatic church' and 'poor, persecuted magic users/pagans' trope) here there is bad and good on both sides. I loved equally the dottor Marina (a family name here) the strega, and father Eneko Lopez, a Basque former soldier of venture turned priest who, I believe, is the fictional alter ego of Íñigo López Loiola
The plot is complex, many of the major players on the European checkerboard of the time are there (but for France, the rival of the Empire is different in this story, and the Empire itself is headed by the Hohenstaufen, not the Habsburg), it may not be your cup of tea if you don't like politics in your fantasy but the politics is neatly balanced by the action, in my opinion, and neither feels overdone.
And, most of all, Venice feels real. The one in the book is the city were I studied, with its pride, its history, its special mix of sea and island that sets it apart from any other city in Italy, the strong esprit de corps of the workers at the arsenal, the strenght and world-view of the canalers, the pomp and sense of duty of the best of the aristocracy... I could go on for hours. Venice is a character in the novel, and not a minor one.
This is not to say that the book is perfect, but my problems with it (if that's even the right word), are definitely minor.
I did a couple of double-takes reading of the Swiss guard of the Doge and of the Scaliger of Verona as an enemy of Venice in 1538 (in this world the Scaligers were thrown out of Verona in 1387 and Verona gave itself to Venice in 1405), but I think it likely that these aren't mistakes but points of divergence (note to writers of alternate history: please, please put a note on historical matters somewhere in your book spelling out what is intentionally different , this reader, for one, would be grateful) .
All through the narrative there are Italian words for flavor, I've no doubt they work fairly well for readers that don't know Italian, for me... the mis-spelled words were like a constant itch I could not scratch.
Giaccomo for Giacomo, Polestine for Polesine, Caesare for Cesare, Fruili for Friuli, Veneze for Veneziani, capi (a plural word) used also as a singular, in one instance slices of prosecco on a platter (prosecco is a wine, neither cheese nor salame) and why should Kat, a scion of one of the 'old houses' of Venice bear the definitely non-Venetian family name Montescue ?
They are all small, silly things, but an Italian beta-reader would have weeded them out, and I believe an already good book would have been made even better by it.
One caveat : I read The Shadow of the Lion on its own merit, some reviews I happened across point out that the novel is a reworking of Lakey's contribution to Merovingen Nights, a series set in a shared SF world originally created by C.J.Cherryh, apparently the series was never completed and is now out of print, not having any knowledge of it I cannot weight in either way.
I'm often wary of collaborations, but in this case as I was reading I kept forgetting that the book has more than one author, no mean feat, in my opinion.
I picked The Shadow of the Lion from the Baen Free Library, I was intrigued by the premise, a fantasy set in 16th century Venice, and I figured that, it being free, at worst I would just lose a couple of hours before deciding it wasn't for me (I'm past the phase in my reading life in which I forced myself to finish each and every book I started).
In that couple of hours, or even less, I was hooked. The alternate history is intriguing (also 'alternate theology' if you wish, thanks to the conversion of Saint Hypatia), the characters are nuanced and three dimensional, there are as many intriguing and strong females as males, and it manages to completely sidestep one of my biggest turn-offs in fantasy (the 'big, bad, fanatic church' and 'poor, persecuted magic users/pagans' trope) here there is bad and good on both sides. I loved equally the dottor Marina (a family name here) the strega, and father Eneko Lopez, a Basque former soldier of venture turned priest who, I believe, is the fictional alter ego of Íñigo López Loiola
The plot is complex, many of the major players on the European checkerboard of the time are there (but for France, the rival of the Empire is different in this story, and the Empire itself is headed by the Hohenstaufen, not the Habsburg), it may not be your cup of tea if you don't like politics in your fantasy but the politics is neatly balanced by the action, in my opinion, and neither feels overdone.
And, most of all, Venice feels real. The one in the book is the city were I studied, with its pride, its history, its special mix of sea and island that sets it apart from any other city in Italy, the strong esprit de corps of the workers at the arsenal, the strenght and world-view of the canalers, the pomp and sense of duty of the best of the aristocracy... I could go on for hours. Venice is a character in the novel, and not a minor one.
This is not to say that the book is perfect, but my problems with it (if that's even the right word), are definitely minor.
I did a couple of double-takes reading of the Swiss guard of the Doge and of the Scaliger of Verona as an enemy of Venice in 1538 (in this world the Scaligers were thrown out of Verona in 1387 and Verona gave itself to Venice in 1405), but I think it likely that these aren't mistakes but points of divergence (note to writers of alternate history: please, please put a note on historical matters somewhere in your book spelling out what is intentionally different , this reader, for one, would be grateful) .
All through the narrative there are Italian words for flavor, I've no doubt they work fairly well for readers that don't know Italian, for me... the mis-spelled words were like a constant itch I could not scratch.
Giaccomo for Giacomo, Polestine for Polesine, Caesare for Cesare, Fruili for Friuli, Veneze for Veneziani, capi (a plural word) used also as a singular, in one instance slices of prosecco on a platter (prosecco is a wine, neither cheese nor salame) and why should Kat, a scion of one of the 'old houses' of Venice bear the definitely non-Venetian family name Montescue ?
They are all small, silly things, but an Italian beta-reader would have weeded them out, and I believe an already good book would have been made even better by it.
One caveat : I read The Shadow of the Lion on its own merit, some reviews I happened across point out that the novel is a reworking of Lakey's contribution to Merovingen Nights, a series set in a shared SF world originally created by C.J.Cherryh, apparently the series was never completed and is now out of print, not having any knowledge of it I cannot weight in either way.
February 5, 2017
The things I liked about this book, I loved. The things I didn't like, I didn't like at all.
On one hand, it took only the first couple of chapters to pleasantly surprise me with the story's epic scope, meticulous historical detail, alternate-universe/fantasy speculation, vivid characters, and capable, gripping writing style.
On the other hand, I felt that the book didn't ultimately live up to its promise. It brought its multiple plot strands to a satisfying, but not a stunning conclusion. And by the latter half it was bogged down in a welter of detail and complexity that made it more difficult for me to care.
On one hand, I loved how the authors dealt with religion. It came with enough of a twist to be a fun AU version of real history, but enough historical know-how and sympathy to be convincing. There are good characters and bad characters in all factions. There is a terrific scene where
On the other hand, I was really hoping there wouldn't be, but there were about three or four sex scenes, mostly toward the end. There's also a bunch of magical/violent content that some of my followers may find inappropriate.
But overall, I'm really glad I read this book. As a historical-fantasy doorstopper, it provided me with some very helpful notes on how to construct such a historical-fantasy doorstopper of my own, especially with regards to using a third-person omniscient POV. It's just a shame that people aren't writing books of this technical calibre for a YA audience, or for the many adults who read YA because they prefer their books to be fairly "clean".
3.5 stars.
On one hand, it took only the first couple of chapters to pleasantly surprise me with the story's epic scope, meticulous historical detail, alternate-universe/fantasy speculation, vivid characters, and capable, gripping writing style.
On the other hand, I felt that the book didn't ultimately live up to its promise. It brought its multiple plot strands to a satisfying, but not a stunning conclusion. And by the latter half it was bogged down in a welter of detail and complexity that made it more difficult for me to care.
On one hand, I loved how the authors dealt with religion. It came with enough of a twist to be a fun AU version of real history, but enough historical know-how and sympathy to be convincing. There are good characters and bad characters in all factions. There is a terrific scene where
On the other hand, I was really hoping there wouldn't be, but there were about three or four sex scenes, mostly toward the end. There's also a bunch of magical/violent content that some of my followers may find inappropriate.
But overall, I'm really glad I read this book. As a historical-fantasy doorstopper, it provided me with some very helpful notes on how to construct such a historical-fantasy doorstopper of my own, especially with regards to using a third-person omniscient POV. It's just a shame that people aren't writing books of this technical calibre for a YA audience, or for the many adults who read YA because they prefer their books to be fairly "clean".
3.5 stars.
April 22, 2009
This is, absolutely, the best fantasy book I’ve probably read in a long time. It’s a perfect twist of historical fiction and fantasy swirled with romance and epic adventure. If I ever crave to read the Odyssey, Romeo and Juliet, all Greek Mythology, and some good ol’ Mercedes Lackey Valdemar books, then all I have to do is pick up this book (and it’s brother) and sink into a captivating story combining all these elements into a steamy pie of wholesome goodness.
April 14, 2010
I really really want to find the second of this series. Because the first book was so good. My most favorite part of this book is actually the beginning, the fight scene. I can read that scene a few times and not get bored.
But the rest of the society and build up of the world is just as fascinating! I'm sure that the second book in the series is just as amazing!
But the rest of the society and build up of the world is just as fascinating! I'm sure that the second book in the series is just as amazing!
December 17, 2010
On page 56 is explained the pivotal point that makes this an alternative universe. The Library of Alexandria is NOT burned, thus preserving the knowledge of magic from the ancient times. Also Hypatia rather than being murdered becomes the Saint of a liberal order of religious philosophers...the Order of Hypatia worshiping Hagia Sophia, Holy Wisdom. Outstanding!
Can't wait to get to the next book
Can't wait to get to the next book
February 13, 2018
Interesting Read
Little tedious. Took 60 chapters before story started moving. Characters well developed. Good read for believers and non believers, draws on many forms of theology
Little tedious. Took 60 chapters before story started moving. Characters well developed. Good read for believers and non believers, draws on many forms of theology
January 14, 2019
The prologue was so wordy and complicated that I’d lost the will to read any more by chapter one.
July 29, 2021
Take Venice at the time of the Renaissance, mix in a modified Christine church - Pauline verses Petrine and a saint of Hypatia of Alexandria - a bit of magic and some naiads and shape-changing shamans and a few demons and a vital colony in Vinland, and you have most of the elements of the first in Mercedes Lackey's Heirs of Alexandria series.
There is political maneuvering and feuds and assassins and witch-hunts and treachery and lost noble family heirs and love and jealousy and smuggling and slaves and betrayal and . . . lots more. Overall, it took a while to really get the plot going as the authors had to set the background, introduce a lot of characters and move them into place. Marco, Benito, Maria and Kat dominate the story and the year which is revealed in the book.
Due to its lengthy world-setting, it took a while for me to get into the story. I'm glad I stayed with it as it did get more interesting. Admittedly, 800 pages is definitely a long first in a series and I'm still on the fence regarding whether I liked the first part enough to continue the series. The ending did seem a bit forced but I will attribute that to the consecutive attacks made on nearby cities as well as the internal treasonous assaults on and by various factions within Venice.
Will probably investigate the next in the series before making a firm decision on the series overall.
2021-153
There is political maneuvering and feuds and assassins and witch-hunts and treachery and lost noble family heirs and love and jealousy and smuggling and slaves and betrayal and . . . lots more. Overall, it took a while to really get the plot going as the authors had to set the background, introduce a lot of characters and move them into place. Marco, Benito, Maria and Kat dominate the story and the year which is revealed in the book.
Due to its lengthy world-setting, it took a while for me to get into the story. I'm glad I stayed with it as it did get more interesting. Admittedly, 800 pages is definitely a long first in a series and I'm still on the fence regarding whether I liked the first part enough to continue the series. The ending did seem a bit forced but I will attribute that to the consecutive attacks made on nearby cities as well as the internal treasonous assaults on and by various factions within Venice.
Will probably investigate the next in the series before making a firm decision on the series overall.
2021-153
Read
May 1, 2021Absolutely love this series! I have The entire series of Heirs of Alexandria. This is book 1, A Mankind Witch, 2, This Rough Magic (also book 2), Much Fall of Blood, 3, Burdens of The Dead 4, and now All the Plagues of Hell, 5.
They are all written with Eric Flint, but also bring in writers like Mercedes Lackey, and David Freer. As a History Geek, I love these for bringing in real places and people, but from another leaf in the book of history. One where magic works and the Church utilizes it, Torquemada is a priestly Magic Worker and is interested in working against the Real legions of Hell, not torturing human beings, Elizabeth Bathory and The Emperor Macmillan deal with the bastard son of Sfortza and Del Este! Knights, Damsels capable of rowing across Venice or breaking your head with a rudder. Over all the Winged Lion of Venice!
Read and re-read several times for the love of its prose and the vigor and humor of its plot!
They are all written with Eric Flint, but also bring in writers like Mercedes Lackey, and David Freer. As a History Geek, I love these for bringing in real places and people, but from another leaf in the book of history. One where magic works and the Church utilizes it, Torquemada is a priestly Magic Worker and is interested in working against the Real legions of Hell, not torturing human beings, Elizabeth Bathory and The Emperor Macmillan deal with the bastard son of Sfortza and Del Este! Knights, Damsels capable of rowing across Venice or breaking your head with a rudder. Over all the Winged Lion of Venice!
Read and re-read several times for the love of its prose and the vigor and humor of its plot!
September 2, 2017
I don't normally go in for really long sweeping hard fantasy novels but damn if this series never fails me every time I reread it. Seriously some food the least oppressive writing ever, amazing characters, and just ace research. The cast of characters is a bit much and the politics may be hard to follow but it's worth it to just get to know everyone featured. I,anime game of thrones, but less problematic. Will say that the lack of POCs did bother me a little this time around but if I recall, there are definitely POCS in the next books.
January 11, 2020
If you want a “meaty” historical fantasy series, this is it. The descriptions of Venice and Italy are rich and detailed, bringing to solid life the history, characters, places and plots. There is no skimming of this book; every page is like Italian food — filling, full of flavor, and impossible to stop consuming.
July 15, 2024
I guess I'm done with this. I got about 150 pp in, realized I didn't really care about any character or their trajectory ... with a book that's so long it's difficult to tell at what point you've invested enough energy vs. what's just a sunk cost fallacy.
Nothing wrong with it. The prose is breezy, the world feels fairly solid, but I just didn't connect with anyone or anything. *shrug*
Nothing wrong with it. The prose is breezy, the world feels fairly solid, but I just didn't connect with anyone or anything. *shrug*
January 3, 2018
I totally read this series out of order, and it made sense anyway. Great writing.
December 15, 2018
catching up on books
December 20, 2018
Read with pleasure again
April 30, 2021
This book takes place in a magical Venice in the 1530s. It is the first of a series, but a good stand-alone book. Has characters I cared about and an interesting setting.
October 30, 2022
820 pages. I managed to complete it in 3 days. I am satisfied with it.
Read
November 12, 2022I must have read this a long time ago.
I tried to listen on Audiobooks (Nov 2022), but it was too involved to process.
I gave up.
I don's show reading the following books in GR.
I tried to listen on Audiobooks (Nov 2022), but it was too involved to process.
I gave up.
I don's show reading the following books in GR.
August 12, 2023
Great characters, interesting setting, so many people and back stories! I enjoyed it but I’ll need to rest up before attempting book 2!
July 16, 2024
For me it had a good star a slow middle and a great finish!
October 10, 2024
Fantastic series. So much history, magic, and intrigue. I'm interested to see what happens in the next book.
July 11, 2025
Brilliant
October 24, 2022
I love all the authors of this book, so of course, I had to have it. I knew it would be worth reading just seeing their names as I loved their other collaborative book The Wizard of Karres. This was such a well-written alt-history/SciFiFan novel that I can't wait to read them all over again. I highly recommend you pick up a copy for yourself. A lot of people feel that coming-of-age stories have been done to death, but when you have such high-quality talent who have really thought about not just the characters, world-building, plot, and action but making all those things so believeable that you feel like you are right there with the characters, trying to figure out what and who they are and where they should go from here to become the person they want to be. Enjoy!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews