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Star-Cross'd #2
Voice of the Falconer
Italy, 1325. Eight years after the tumultuous events of THE MASTER OF VERONA, Pietro Alaghieri is living in exile in Ravenna, enduring the loss of his famous father while secretly raising Cesco, bastard heir to Verona's prince, Cangrande della Scala. But when word of Cangrande's death reaches him, Pietro must race back to Verona to prevent Cesco's rivals from usurping his rightful place. But young Cesco is determined not to be anyone's pawn. Willful and brilliant, he defies even the stars. And far behind the scenes is a mastermind pulling the strings, one who stands to lose - or gain - the most.
Born from Shakespeare's Italian plays, this novel explores the danger, deceit, and deviltry of early Renaissance Italy, and the terrible choices one must make just to stay alive.
Born from Shakespeare's Italian plays, this novel explores the danger, deceit, and deviltry of early Renaissance Italy, and the terrible choices one must make just to stay alive.
615 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
34 people are currently reading
350 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 3, 2013
It's not Dorothy Dunnett but it is probably the next best thing to reading the Dame. I highly recommend this book (and its predecessor - Master of Verona) to historical fiction readers, especially those who appreciate witty repartee, Italian history and political subterfuge.
July 6, 2014
Book two in the star crossed series was another intelligent and imagination grabbing story. It moved a little slower than the first book, but was still a great read. The story keeps you from putting the book down, because you have to know what is going to happen next to Cesco and Pietro. It will challenge your thoughts and feelings for characters you thought you liked. If you haven't picked up a Blixt book you are seriously missing out on an author with an awe striking sense of history and imagination.
Danielle
Danielle
July 17, 2013
"Voice of the Falconer" the second of the Star Cross'd series which I won from Goodreads Giveaways is a historical thriller set in the 13th century in Italy. Into this novel of political intrigue and warring factions David Blixt weaves a taste of Shakespeare in a unique and dramatic way like the tension and bitter rivalry that strains the relationship between Anthony Capulleto and Mariotto Montecchio so reminiscent of the animosity between the families in Romeo and Juliet. And to wet the reader's historical taste buds he adds famous personages like Dante, Taddeo Gaddi and others to the background.
As the story unfolds ten year old Cesco, raised in exile in Ravenna by Pietro Alaghieri, and his friend Detto Nogarolo are instrumental in the beating of Cianfa Donati for not only the sexual coercion of a young girl, but also for trying to steal the poet Dante's ashes, the worst of the two crimes. Although the action is reckless for one so young, Cesco will have to face even bigger challenges after news of Cangrande della Scala's death arrives and Pietro's house is burned to the ground. Alaghieri, the Knight of the Mastiff races to Verona to prevent Cesco's enemies from usurping his rightful place as its prince, but what this entails is more than the bastard heir can imagine. Only trusted friends like Pietro, his sister Antonia,the assassin Tharwat al-Dhaamin, and reputable doctor Morsicato will protect Cesco from the poisonous hands of vengeful relatives,from conspiracy and deadly treachery.
The plot is as captivating as its heroes are haunting; the determined, brilliant and willful Cesco; the independent and shrewd Pietro;the loyal and dedicated Moor Thawart; insightful Morsicato; mercurial Cangrande della Scala, and the devoted, intelligent Antonia or Suor Beatrice.
And just when the reader thinks all the secrets, enemies and schemes have been uncovered, a new twist in the story is born and I for one cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
As the story unfolds ten year old Cesco, raised in exile in Ravenna by Pietro Alaghieri, and his friend Detto Nogarolo are instrumental in the beating of Cianfa Donati for not only the sexual coercion of a young girl, but also for trying to steal the poet Dante's ashes, the worst of the two crimes. Although the action is reckless for one so young, Cesco will have to face even bigger challenges after news of Cangrande della Scala's death arrives and Pietro's house is burned to the ground. Alaghieri, the Knight of the Mastiff races to Verona to prevent Cesco's enemies from usurping his rightful place as its prince, but what this entails is more than the bastard heir can imagine. Only trusted friends like Pietro, his sister Antonia,the assassin Tharwat al-Dhaamin, and reputable doctor Morsicato will protect Cesco from the poisonous hands of vengeful relatives,from conspiracy and deadly treachery.
The plot is as captivating as its heroes are haunting; the determined, brilliant and willful Cesco; the independent and shrewd Pietro;the loyal and dedicated Moor Thawart; insightful Morsicato; mercurial Cangrande della Scala, and the devoted, intelligent Antonia or Suor Beatrice.
And just when the reader thinks all the secrets, enemies and schemes have been uncovered, a new twist in the story is born and I for one cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
December 24, 2012
On Friday I reposted my review of Master of Verona by David Blixt. There were a couple of reasons for doing so. The first was that I hadn't finished reading this book (bad blog tour participant) but another reason was that I really, really loved that book.
When I read it back in 2009, I was super excited at the prospect of a follow up book. So I waited and waited, and there was no news and then there was bad news - Voice of the Falconer wasn't going to be published. That is until David Blixt decided to self publish the whole series.
Back in January I named this book as my my most anticipated new HF release and I bought it as soon as it came out! Luckily I still managed to read this book in the year I declared that, and I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting the world that David Blixt has created.
Voice of the Falconer starts 8 years after the events of the ending of Master of Verona. Pietro Alaghieri (son of the famed poet Dante) has been charged with raising the illegitimate heir to the great Cangrande, ruler of Verona. There are very few people who know of Cesco's existence and that is the way that everyone likes it. The plan is for Cangrande to name his heir officially when the boy is 15 years old, but when Cangrande appears to be be dead it is necessary to bring forward the reveal, setting in motion a chain events that twists and turns all over the place. Revealing Cesco's existence is bound to lead to questions but also danger, especially seeing there are other members of the della Scala family who are trying to position themselves to be the next ruler of the city-state of Verona.
To read more of my thoughts about this book head to
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2012...
January 25, 2013
So how could you top MASTER OF VERONA, in terms of historical splendor, mystery, fast-moving pace and typically, a masterpiece? Well honestly, David Blixt did it again! I absolutely loved MASTER OF VERONA (my review here )- and as soon as I finished reading it, I immediately began VOICE OF THE FALCONER.
In this equally satisfying novel, Verona is at its prime. The story takes place a few years after Master of Verona, and it follows the life of Cesco, Cangrande’s illegitimate son, with Pietro as his guardian. The mystery, intrigue and suspense are de rigueur throughout, but it’s once it appears that Cangrande is dead that it gets particularly good. Pietro must get Cesco to be pronounced rightful heir…obstacles, obstacles and more…There is danger everywhere- and to boot- not everyone knows of Cesco’s existence!
Great plot, lots of excitement, rich historical detail and a setting that is to die for (pun intended). A great story told by a brilliant author. VOICE OF THE FALCONER throws you into a capitulating series of events that keeps the suspense and momentum going, throughout. It's just one of those thriller type mysteries that just keeps on getting better page after page- and additionally it's rich in history and impeccably written. Most entertaining!
Read this- you absolutely MUST!
August 10, 2012
I love this series by David Blixt! The first, "Master of Verona", completely hooked me and sent me off to read about Cangrande della Scala -- one of the many real, historical figures in the series. Sadly, my favorite character from MoV -- Pietro (son of the poet Dante) didn't progress as much as I wished in this novel, but the relationship between Cangrande and Cesco is completely compelling, at times hard to read. This book read and felt like a transitional arc from MoV to the third book in the series ("Fortune's Fool"), and now that I've read that book as well and the author's notes at the end, I understand completely.
Minor gripe about this book: as in the others, there are numerous typos and MINOR editorial mistakes throughout. These did not put me off from the book in the least because David Blixt has written such complex characters, page-turning intrigue and terrific action sequences that I can forgive the occasional mistakes.
Read this series!
Minor gripe about this book: as in the others, there are numerous typos and MINOR editorial mistakes throughout. These did not put me off from the book in the least because David Blixt has written such complex characters, page-turning intrigue and terrific action sequences that I can forgive the occasional mistakes.
Read this series!
August 14, 2013
I received this book for free via a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
Unlike many of the other reviewers, I have not read the first book in the series, so my review is for this book as a stand alone novel.
From the first page, I was fascinated by this book. Before the story even begins we are given a cast of characters, most of whom were either real people or were characters from some of Shakespeare's plays (or both!). The prologue had me hesitating a bit, as it seemed full of complicated politics. But then I turned to Chapter 1 and I was hooked.
The action is quick, but not so much that I felt left behind. The characters are deftly portrayed with quick strokes that in no way slows the pacing of the story. The affection between the main characters, and the villainy of the "bad guys" feels very real. Just all around an incredible story.
And yes, I will be seeking out the first book now. And reading any sequels.
Unlike many of the other reviewers, I have not read the first book in the series, so my review is for this book as a stand alone novel.
From the first page, I was fascinated by this book. Before the story even begins we are given a cast of characters, most of whom were either real people or were characters from some of Shakespeare's plays (or both!). The prologue had me hesitating a bit, as it seemed full of complicated politics. But then I turned to Chapter 1 and I was hooked.
The action is quick, but not so much that I felt left behind. The characters are deftly portrayed with quick strokes that in no way slows the pacing of the story. The affection between the main characters, and the villainy of the "bad guys" feels very real. Just all around an incredible story.
And yes, I will be seeking out the first book now. And reading any sequels.
May 9, 2018
I found this book to be much more entertaining than the first in the series. In the first, I constantly had to check the list of who's who and I had the hardest time with everyone having multiple names (Cangrande, Scaligieri, della Scalla, etc). I would be reading and think four people were having a conversation until I figured out it was only two people with multiple names.
But not in this book. Now, I know who everyone is (mostly), there are way more recognizable characters from Shakespeare, and the main character isn't a child anymore (Pietro) and the main child character (Cesco) is a far more interesting child than the three Alaghieri kids were last book. All in all, a good sequel and plenty to keep me reading the series.
But not in this book. Now, I know who everyone is (mostly), there are way more recognizable characters from Shakespeare, and the main character isn't a child anymore (Pietro) and the main child character (Cesco) is a far more interesting child than the three Alaghieri kids were last book. All in all, a good sequel and plenty to keep me reading the series.
December 16, 2014
Much more engaging than Master of Verona, but still a bit dense. I think there is just too much detail that some of it is unnecessary, not that I can pinpoint oh this paragraph should go. Maybe this is his love for Dorothy Dunnett coming through, so thick and heavy with underlying drama that the reader has a lot to work through and only some of it actually pays off. I do enjoy Cesco's antics especially now that he is his own little person rather than a crafty infant. Like Lymond chronicles I really have no idea why some of these things were presented to me but I am sure I will eventually, mostly.
April 22, 2013
This is quite simply an awesomely fascinating book. It is even harder to put down than the first one in this series, The Master of Verona. I am not even a third of the way in yet and it has sucked me in hook, line and sinker. I don't even want to put the darn thing down to cook and that is really something hard to achieve with me!
I do believe this author is rapidly gaining ground on Dorothy Dunnett, my heretofore, favorite writer of "puzzlers" and intrigue all rolled up with a healthy dose of historical background. I can't wait to read the third one in this series.
I do believe this author is rapidly gaining ground on Dorothy Dunnett, my heretofore, favorite writer of "puzzlers" and intrigue all rolled up with a healthy dose of historical background. I can't wait to read the third one in this series.
August 25, 2012
So a little shorter then Master of Verona which means that just as I was getting into the story, it ended. As I am really unfamiliar with Shakespeare, I recognize that I am missing out on most of references. It wasn't distract from the humor of the plot though. I will be purchasing the third book shortly even if there are no planned releases of the final two books. Ugh!
January 17, 2015
Book 2 of the Star Crossed series. The politics is getting more interesting as historical characters are intertwined with Shakespeare's characters.
December 13, 2020
In this second installment of David Blixt's busy and ridiculously entertaining Star Cross'd quartet, the author continues to riff on the culture and politics of the Renaisasnce Italian city-states to thread together plausible real-life backstories for the fictional characters featured in Shakespeare's Italian-set plays. The grand finale of the series will be the tale of Romeo and Juliet, but Blixt's series begins a generation earlier and features fleeting guest appearances by Petruchio, Kate, Shylock, and many others along the way.
Once again the protagonist is the engaging knight, Pietro Alighieri, son of the poet, Dante, recently deceased, who has been charged with raising Francesco dell Scala, bastard son of the prince of Verona. The boy is only eleven, but already audaciously clever, when they must rush back to Verona, where Cesco is thrust into the Gordian intrigues for which the court of his father, Cangrande della Scala, is so justly famed.
When the dazzlingly precocious and verbally witty Cesco is teased as a little Mercury (Mercutito), a cryptic message in code begins with the letters M A B, and it's revealed that Cesco is dabbling in hashish, we see how meticulously Blixt is laying the foundation for what will become one of the most famous, weirdly inexplicable, and yet madly poetic interludes in all of Shakespeare.
That eagerly anticipated moment, along with the rest of the Romeo and Juliet tale that we know is still a couple of volumes away. But, hey, I am so here for the long haul!
Once again the protagonist is the engaging knight, Pietro Alighieri, son of the poet, Dante, recently deceased, who has been charged with raising Francesco dell Scala, bastard son of the prince of Verona. The boy is only eleven, but already audaciously clever, when they must rush back to Verona, where Cesco is thrust into the Gordian intrigues for which the court of his father, Cangrande della Scala, is so justly famed.
When the dazzlingly precocious and verbally witty Cesco is teased as a little Mercury (Mercutito), a cryptic message in code begins with the letters M A B, and it's revealed that Cesco is dabbling in hashish, we see how meticulously Blixt is laying the foundation for what will become one of the most famous, weirdly inexplicable, and yet madly poetic interludes in all of Shakespeare.
That eagerly anticipated moment, along with the rest of the Romeo and Juliet tale that we know is still a couple of volumes away. But, hey, I am so here for the long haul!
January 3, 2020
I enjoyed this book a great deal and will continue with the series. My favorite series of all time is Dunnett's The Lymond Chronicles, followed by House of Niccolo. Blixt's Star-Cross'd series was recommended to me as what to read after completing them. This was both an inducement and a deterrent to start Blixt's series - although I love Dunnett's work, it requires more time and energy than I generally invest in my recreational reading. For those similarly concerned, I found Blixt's work much more accessible than Dunnett's, while still being intelligent, stimulating and fun.
I was engaged in this book from start to finish. It didn't lag at all. I grew to love the main characters and followed their stories eagerly. My only quibbles are the lack of editing (typos, obvious errors, repetitive, wordiness that should be pruned) and that Cesco was presented as such a ridiculous child prodigy. I am more than willing to leave rationality and credulity at the door, but Cesco's character was so overly accomplished, wise, canny, shrewd, physically agile, strong and amazing that I was pulled out of the story at times. Fortunately other characters also had prominent roles and the action was fast paced, and saved Cesco from ruining the story for me. Overall, I highly recommend this book.
I was engaged in this book from start to finish. It didn't lag at all. I grew to love the main characters and followed their stories eagerly. My only quibbles are the lack of editing (typos, obvious errors, repetitive, wordiness that should be pruned) and that Cesco was presented as such a ridiculous child prodigy. I am more than willing to leave rationality and credulity at the door, but Cesco's character was so overly accomplished, wise, canny, shrewd, physically agile, strong and amazing that I was pulled out of the story at times. Fortunately other characters also had prominent roles and the action was fast paced, and saved Cesco from ruining the story for me. Overall, I highly recommend this book.
March 15, 2025
Fantastic!
A series I can't put down. Not adventure. Not romance. Not thriller. Not mystery. Yet all of those at once. The amazing works of William Shakespeare worked together with historical facts and the author's own vivid imagination. You get to meet Dante who wrote the epic poem The Inferno, and his son, Pietro. Pietro becomes a main figure along with a young boy name Cesco, short for Francesco. We also meet the Cangrande, the master of all he surveys. With these characters you experience Shakespeare and Italian history in a whole new way. You find yourself rooting for one side or the other and trying to figure out who is behind the secrets. The author makes the characters matter and pulls you in until you find yourself forgetting to do the laundry or start supper or go to bed. Highly recommended.
A series I can't put down. Not adventure. Not romance. Not thriller. Not mystery. Yet all of those at once. The amazing works of William Shakespeare worked together with historical facts and the author's own vivid imagination. You get to meet Dante who wrote the epic poem The Inferno, and his son, Pietro. Pietro becomes a main figure along with a young boy name Cesco, short for Francesco. We also meet the Cangrande, the master of all he surveys. With these characters you experience Shakespeare and Italian history in a whole new way. You find yourself rooting for one side or the other and trying to figure out who is behind the secrets. The author makes the characters matter and pulls you in until you find yourself forgetting to do the laundry or start supper or go to bed. Highly recommended.
December 19, 2018
Actually I'm guessing at when I started and finished this book. I obviously forgot to comment on it at the time. It's an interesting story and, like the first book, with a very large cast of characters and a sort of combination of real characters and characters derived in an altered fashion from Shakespeare. At times it's a bit hard to keep the people and what they are each up to straight.
September 7, 2023
As with the first book in this series, the characters interesting and well written. The story is a lot of fun but does has some slow moments. The biggest problem is the number of characters and remembering their relationships. This caused me to consider not finishing the book when I had to put it down but, once I started reading it again, putting it down was difficult.
December 31, 2017
Good
This was a good read but lacked the excitement of the first. Cesco is an interesting character but too cocky for his own good. I will certainly read the next one as Pietro in Avignon should be good.
This was a good read but lacked the excitement of the first. Cesco is an interesting character but too cocky for his own good. I will certainly read the next one as Pietro in Avignon should be good.
November 26, 2019
Very readable novel, and I enjoyed the characters. Main drawback were some of the chapter endings, which oh, so obviously left cliff hangers (albeit sometimes smallish ones) so the reader would continue.
October 16, 2025
Disappointing follow-up to the solid series opener, Master of Verona. Turgid, slow-moving, predictable characters.
January 20, 2018
This is the second volume in David Blixt’s Star Cross’d series, combining the history and politics of 14th century Italy with characters and storylines inspired by Shakespeare. I read the first novel, The Master of Verona, in 2012 and it won a place on my ‘books of the year’ list that year, which gives you an idea of how much I loved it. I really hadn’t meant to let so much time go by before continuing the series, and I worried that I might have trouble picking up the threads of the story again, but as soon as I started to read Voice of the Falconer things fell back into place and I felt as if only five days had passed since reading the first book rather than five years!
Voice of the Falconer opens in 1325, eight years after the events described in The Master of Verona. Pietro Alaghieri, son of the late poet Dante, has been living in exile in Ravenna, entrusted with the guardianship of the illegitimate heir of Cangrande della Scala, the ruler of Verona. The child, Cesco, has already been the target of several assassination attempts so it has been decided that he should be raised in secret, with as few people as possible aware of his location. When news of Cangrande’s death begins to circulate, however, Pietro must hurry back to Verona to ensure that the eleven-year-old Cesco receives his rightful inheritance – but as other members of the della Scala family also have their eyes on the throne of Verona, this won’t be an easy task. And now that Cesco’s existence has been revealed, his life could be in danger again…
Cesco, who was only a baby in the previous novel, has developed into a wonderful character – even if you do need to suspend disbelief to accept that a boy of his age could be so intellectually advanced, quick-witted and talented in every way! I loved the little circle of friends and protectors who surround him, too: Morsicato the doctor, Antonia the nun, Tharwat the Moor and, of course, Pietro himself. The characters in the novel are a mixture of those who are fictitious and those who are based on real historical figures, such as Cangrande and the rest of the Scaligeri family. If you don’t know the history, I would recommend not looking things up until you’ve finished the book; if you just let the story carry you along, there will be one or two surprises in store for you as there were for me.
I won’t say too much more about the plot, then, but I do need to mention another very important aspect of the book…the Shakespearean connection. In The Master of Verona we witnessed the beginnings of a feud between Pietro’s two friends, Mariotto Montecchio and Antonio Capulletto. In this book, we meet Mariotto’s young son Romeo and Antonio’s baby daughter Giulietta (Juliet), as well as Giulietta’s cousin Thibault (Tybalt); obviously there is still a long way to go before the tragedy of the star-cross’d lovers is played out, but the foundations of the story have now been laid. I also had fun spotting other characters from Shakespeare’s plays such as Shalakh (Shylock) from The Merchant of Venice and Petruchio and Kate from The Taming of the Shrew, but if you have no knowledge of Shakespeare I don’t think it would be a problem at all – it’s just another of the novel’s many layers.
In case you can’t tell, I enjoyed this book as much as the first one! I am looking forward to visiting Renaissance Italy again soon with the third in the series, Fortune’s Fool…and certainly won’t be waiting five years this time.
Voice of the Falconer opens in 1325, eight years after the events described in The Master of Verona. Pietro Alaghieri, son of the late poet Dante, has been living in exile in Ravenna, entrusted with the guardianship of the illegitimate heir of Cangrande della Scala, the ruler of Verona. The child, Cesco, has already been the target of several assassination attempts so it has been decided that he should be raised in secret, with as few people as possible aware of his location. When news of Cangrande’s death begins to circulate, however, Pietro must hurry back to Verona to ensure that the eleven-year-old Cesco receives his rightful inheritance – but as other members of the della Scala family also have their eyes on the throne of Verona, this won’t be an easy task. And now that Cesco’s existence has been revealed, his life could be in danger again…
Cesco, who was only a baby in the previous novel, has developed into a wonderful character – even if you do need to suspend disbelief to accept that a boy of his age could be so intellectually advanced, quick-witted and talented in every way! I loved the little circle of friends and protectors who surround him, too: Morsicato the doctor, Antonia the nun, Tharwat the Moor and, of course, Pietro himself. The characters in the novel are a mixture of those who are fictitious and those who are based on real historical figures, such as Cangrande and the rest of the Scaligeri family. If you don’t know the history, I would recommend not looking things up until you’ve finished the book; if you just let the story carry you along, there will be one or two surprises in store for you as there were for me.
I won’t say too much more about the plot, then, but I do need to mention another very important aspect of the book…the Shakespearean connection. In The Master of Verona we witnessed the beginnings of a feud between Pietro’s two friends, Mariotto Montecchio and Antonio Capulletto. In this book, we meet Mariotto’s young son Romeo and Antonio’s baby daughter Giulietta (Juliet), as well as Giulietta’s cousin Thibault (Tybalt); obviously there is still a long way to go before the tragedy of the star-cross’d lovers is played out, but the foundations of the story have now been laid. I also had fun spotting other characters from Shakespeare’s plays such as Shalakh (Shylock) from The Merchant of Venice and Petruchio and Kate from The Taming of the Shrew, but if you have no knowledge of Shakespeare I don’t think it would be a problem at all – it’s just another of the novel’s many layers.
In case you can’t tell, I enjoyed this book as much as the first one! I am looking forward to visiting Renaissance Italy again soon with the third in the series, Fortune’s Fool…and certainly won’t be waiting five years this time.
February 21, 2012
I had to wait 4 and a half years to finally get my hands on this sequel to one of 2007's best books (The Master of Verona), and the results didn't disappoint.
This book, and its predecessor, undertake the task of presenting the feuding families of Romeo and Juliet in their historical context, namely, Verona under the rule of the legendary Cangrande della Scala. The previous book set up the political savvy of Cangrande and the basis for the fued between the Montagues and the Capulets. Blixt does a fine job of creating the historical environment of Verona at that time, and adds Dante's son and daughter as additional main characters in their own right. The book is also peppered with Shakespearean allusions throughout, from Petruchio of Taming of the Shrew to Shylock from Merchant of Venice.
But the star, and central achievement of this book, is the way it brings alive the character of Mercutio, herein named Cesco, as a thirteen year old boy. Whenever Mercutio's on the page in this book, it soars with the vitality of that remarkable character and is a true joy to read. We also meet Tybalt as a frustrated teen in love with Lady Capulet (herself but a child), Romeo as a toddler, and Juliet as a newborn. I'm so happy someone of Blixt's skill has taken it upon himself to provide a sort of "Romeo and Juliet" re-boot and let us encounter these characters from their beginnings.
I had a one minor issue with the book, namely that the descriptions of physical character action was often so little as to be nonexistent, leading to many pages of pure dialogue. Countrary to this, descriptions of fights or dynamic chases was superb and enthralling, and Blixt's expertise as a fight choreographer really shows in ease with which he renders such moments vividly.
If you're looking for a fresh and entertaining historical fiction read in 2012, I'd recommend this highly.
This book, and its predecessor, undertake the task of presenting the feuding families of Romeo and Juliet in their historical context, namely, Verona under the rule of the legendary Cangrande della Scala. The previous book set up the political savvy of Cangrande and the basis for the fued between the Montagues and the Capulets. Blixt does a fine job of creating the historical environment of Verona at that time, and adds Dante's son and daughter as additional main characters in their own right. The book is also peppered with Shakespearean allusions throughout, from Petruchio of Taming of the Shrew to Shylock from Merchant of Venice.
But the star, and central achievement of this book, is the way it brings alive the character of Mercutio, herein named Cesco, as a thirteen year old boy. Whenever Mercutio's on the page in this book, it soars with the vitality of that remarkable character and is a true joy to read. We also meet Tybalt as a frustrated teen in love with Lady Capulet (herself but a child), Romeo as a toddler, and Juliet as a newborn. I'm so happy someone of Blixt's skill has taken it upon himself to provide a sort of "Romeo and Juliet" re-boot and let us encounter these characters from their beginnings.
I had a one minor issue with the book, namely that the descriptions of physical character action was often so little as to be nonexistent, leading to many pages of pure dialogue. Countrary to this, descriptions of fights or dynamic chases was superb and enthralling, and Blixt's expertise as a fight choreographer really shows in ease with which he renders such moments vividly.
If you're looking for a fresh and entertaining historical fiction read in 2012, I'd recommend this highly.
February 23, 2013
For some reason this one seemed just a little harder for me to get into than the first book in the series, Master of Verona. But after some perseverance, I found my stride and enjoyed the book. This part of the story focuses on Cesco, Cangrande's bastard heir. In this book, Blixt's storytelling is reminiscent of Orson Scott Card's signature motif of the precocious, wise child. Only Cesco is almost supernaturally precocious, so much so that my willing suspension of disbelief was strained a little. Maybe that's why I didn't get into this book quite as quickly. At any rate, Blixt is clearly enamored of this character.
The editing of this book was also noticeably rougher than MoV. Maybe Blixt was in a hurry to get it published so he could finish his story.
Bottom line though, I enjoyed the book and am ready to finish the trilogy with Fortune's Fool.
The editing of this book was also noticeably rougher than MoV. Maybe Blixt was in a hurry to get it published so he could finish his story.
Bottom line though, I enjoyed the book and am ready to finish the trilogy with Fortune's Fool.
July 6, 2015
At the beginning of this second volume in Blixt's Star-Cross'd series, Dante's son Pietro Alaghieri is living in Ravenna and raising the young prodigy Cesco, heir to Verona's ruler Cangrande della Scala. After he hears a report of Cangrande's death, which soon proves to be false, he returns to Verona to assert Cesco's rights as heir against his enemies. Once again, he is caught up in the intrigues of the court of Verona and the feud between his two friends, Mariotto Montecchio and Antonio Capulletto. You will meet Romeo as a toddler and Juliet as an infant. Once again, Blixt combines history with Shakespeare in this wonderful series. The Voice of the Falconer, like the other volumes in the series, stands on its own, but I highly recommend starting with the first volume, the Master of Verona.
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July 21, 2012Still great. There were parts of this one where it felt as if the author were rusing to finish; the plot seemed to advance a little quickly, and the vocabulary was weak. However, it ended strong and I'm' ready to start reading the next one. I've found my new favorite author.
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