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The Medici Curse
She was the most beautiful girl Arnaldo had ever seen.
In Renaissance Florence, a young painter visits Lorenzo de Medici's palace to paint his beautiful daughter, Alessandra.
In present-day Italy, Maria, a young English girl, is drawn to an unremarkable painting but begins to discover an extraordinary picture underneath.
Why is the painter secretly armed with a dagger? What dark event ties him to the Medici's bloody past?
Centuries later, Maria is determined to uncover an ancient mystery of love, power and bitter feuds that still burns in the present...
In Renaissance Florence, a young painter visits Lorenzo de Medici's palace to paint his beautiful daughter, Alessandra.
In present-day Italy, Maria, a young English girl, is drawn to an unremarkable painting but begins to discover an extraordinary picture underneath.
Why is the painter secretly armed with a dagger? What dark event ties him to the Medici's bloody past?
Centuries later, Maria is determined to uncover an ancient mystery of love, power and bitter feuds that still burns in the present...
240 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2007
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213 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 27, 2018
“She was the most beautiful girl Arnaldo had ever seen”
Rainaissance Florence; Arnaldo visits the house of the Medici in order to paint the portrait of Lorenzo The Magnificent’s daughter. What he doesn’t expect is the beauty and the character that lies beneath her face. But the Medici is a powerful family, and Alessandra de Medici is already betrothed to a powerful man.
Florence, present. Maria discovers a beautiful painting underneath a mediocre drawing. Strange things start happening around her family, and she is determined to find out why.
In the Medici Curse, to stories seemingly different from each other start to unravel before the reader’s eyes. One takes you to the past, the other keeps you in the present. But just as you will start wondering what they have in common, things start to perplex, and the plot starts to unravel.
This is a pleasant, well written story. Easily read through a day, it is short enough not to tire the reader, long enough to stand decently as a novel. The plot does not bore you, and it is quite pleasant. There is, however, the other side of the story. In this case, if you are a strong reader and have read plenty, you will probably unravel the plot correctly in your head long before the writer does. This doesn’t mean that this is just another everyday love story. It is not, although I have to admit that there is a lot of Romeo-and-Juliet going on in it. It is just not the exceptional “I did not see this coming” plot. Again, if you haven’t read much, it is quite fine.
All in all, should you read this book? Do you need a light reading? Then yes. Are you a romantic? Definitely, you’ll like it plenty. Do you seek the exceptional? Maybe not. This is an easy, pleasant reading for a day or two, but it’s probably one of the books I would only read once in my life.
Rainaissance Florence; Arnaldo visits the house of the Medici in order to paint the portrait of Lorenzo The Magnificent’s daughter. What he doesn’t expect is the beauty and the character that lies beneath her face. But the Medici is a powerful family, and Alessandra de Medici is already betrothed to a powerful man.
Florence, present. Maria discovers a beautiful painting underneath a mediocre drawing. Strange things start happening around her family, and she is determined to find out why.
In the Medici Curse, to stories seemingly different from each other start to unravel before the reader’s eyes. One takes you to the past, the other keeps you in the present. But just as you will start wondering what they have in common, things start to perplex, and the plot starts to unravel.
This is a pleasant, well written story. Easily read through a day, it is short enough not to tire the reader, long enough to stand decently as a novel. The plot does not bore you, and it is quite pleasant. There is, however, the other side of the story. In this case, if you are a strong reader and have read plenty, you will probably unravel the plot correctly in your head long before the writer does. This doesn’t mean that this is just another everyday love story. It is not, although I have to admit that there is a lot of Romeo-and-Juliet going on in it. It is just not the exceptional “I did not see this coming” plot. Again, if you haven’t read much, it is quite fine.
All in all, should you read this book? Do you need a light reading? Then yes. Are you a romantic? Definitely, you’ll like it plenty. Do you seek the exceptional? Maybe not. This is an easy, pleasant reading for a day or two, but it’s probably one of the books I would only read once in my life.
July 23, 2017
A really nice story very much enjoyed it. Helped that we were in Florence last week and saw some of the locations so I could imagine it / visualise it better.
Good story line and well written.
Good story line and well written.
December 24, 2018
Beautiful story
April 13, 2019
Amusing and relaxing read where many lines come together nicely near the end, a bit of love, tragedy, art and all in different centuries. Nice and relaxing read.
December 16, 2019
Pretty good book. I'm always a fan of dual timelines stories. Ending was a tad mehhh, but still satisfying.
September 7, 2020
This was a treat to read! Suspense, mystery, and romance all wrapped into one!
July 18, 2022
A lovely historically fictional love story that spans the ages.
A nice easy read.
A nice easy read.
Read
June 10, 2024Really good story.
April 29, 2016
With a nice book summary at the back and a rather intersting cover, you'd thought this book would be a good read.....boy did it miss a lot of marks....but at least the plot was interesting, the only thing big problem that i had was the way it was arrange and the pace of the story. At times you can pretty much predict what's going to happen and you will find yourself skipping many parts of the sentences, which isn't very engaging when you read books. I swear i skipped soooo many parts of the book because it was making me so impatient, I almost wanted to put this book down,but curse my stubborn determination to never judge a book till the end XD. Anyways I don't really recommend this is you are a lover of historical fiction.
total stars: 1.5/5
total stars: 1.5/5
May 28, 2015
The book is for a bit younger public and tells the story of star-crossed lovers in 15th century Florence and the continuing story happening in these times. It all involves this one painting.
What I did like, as an art historian myself, was a little bit more about the restauration of the painting. What really bothered me was the misuse of the last name of the de' Medici family.
Lorenzo de' Medici was constantly called 'Medici' throughout the book.
It is a book of fiction, including a few actual historical characters. It was very clear from the beginning who was involved with what, but Chamings had a nice subtle way of throwing me off sometimes.
It's an easy read for anyone who likes a bit of mystery, history or art. And of course a star-crossed love with a happy ending.
What I did like, as an art historian myself, was a little bit more about the restauration of the painting. What really bothered me was the misuse of the last name of the de' Medici family.
Lorenzo de' Medici was constantly called 'Medici' throughout the book.
It is a book of fiction, including a few actual historical characters. It was very clear from the beginning who was involved with what, but Chamings had a nice subtle way of throwing me off sometimes.
It's an easy read for anyone who likes a bit of mystery, history or art. And of course a star-crossed love with a happy ending.
September 18, 2016
Never had I thought I would want to read a book like this-one centered around deep and (what I thought at first was) boring history. However, this novel was actually anything but. This book was SUCH a fun read. First of all, it contained crazy plot twists (UHM HELLO MARIE'S DAD "KILLING" ZAPPINI?! MAJOR SHOCKER). Second of all, the two stories integrated in one novel was so exciting. I loved reading the tragic story of Alessandra and Arnoldo, while also being witness to the tumultuous, chaotic, and intense events that occurred with Marie and her family. I honestly would definitely recommend this novel because it was exciting, romantic, dangerous, interesting, and just incredibly fun to read.
August 26, 2008
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book... while it wasn't the best thing I've ever read, it wasn't the worst by a long shot. Though the setting, characters and plot were cliché and very predictable, there was still something lovely about it that kept me reading and wanting to know how the story progressed. Ultimately though, anyone above fifteen-ish probably won't enjoy this book nearly as much as a slightly younger audience would do.
January 19, 2013
When I read this, I remember absolutely loving it! What's more, after having spent an amazing week in Florence with my classmates only a bit more than a year earlier, and having loved studying the Renaissance period, this book reminded me of that city I fell in love with (yes, even at the young age of 12).
July 8, 2013
I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did.
It was a little predictable but I kept reading anyway because the story was so 'cute'. It is for the younger audience, though I only read it last year when I was 20.
I really think everyone should give this book a go. I read it in a couple of hours.
It was a little predictable but I kept reading anyway because the story was so 'cute'. It is for the younger audience, though I only read it last year when I was 20.
I really think everyone should give this book a go. I read it in a couple of hours.
April 24, 2015
I loved this book! The plot was amazing! I loved how the past and present combined in this book into a mystery filled with action, love, and a curse that has lasted for centuries. I never wanted to stop reading this book and I couldn't stop thinking about it every time I put it down. This book should be wayyyyy more popular than it is.
August 4, 2015
I was expecting a historical-fiction book, and it's not. It's very predictable, I ended up skipping paragraphs. The love story could have been more interesting and deep, but it was just a basic platonic and kind of superficial love story. However, I loved the idea of the painting behind the painting.
February 5, 2011
Bought this book on my second-to-last day in Florence and managed to finish it on a 5 hour train ride to Rome. Fantastic writing! I was hooked from the first page. History buffs (especially Renaissance buffs) will love this book!
March 2, 2014
I loved this book! The writing is beautiful and clear, the plot was great, the characters are very easy to love and the theory and history behind it is brilliant. All ages can read this and appreciate it, it was just a lovely story to get lost in.
5 out of 5 stars :)
5 out of 5 stars :)
August 14, 2011
Loved this book, thestory was simply amaging, what i would not have given to be lived like that
March 22, 2013
GREAT BOOK!! If you like tragic love stories go ahead, You'll love it!
May 28, 2015
I give up. I've only managed it to CD 2 but I'm just not interested and life is too short to read / listen to books that are boring you to tears.
March 13, 2014
Very easy read, felt like I'd read it before as the story is very predictable. Saying that it was still a good holiday read.
August 13, 2014
Entertaining.
November 17, 2014
Very basic
August 18, 2015
Amazing...
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews