What do you think?
Rate this book
La saga dei Florio #2, part 2
Fall of the Florios: A Compelling Historical Fiction Novel of Decadence, Romance, and Tragedy in Palermo―Get Lost in the Pages of This Captivating Summer Read
The epic saga behind the Disney-produced Hulu series The Lions of Sicily
The magnificent third installment of the Florio story–a sweeping, decadent, and romantic finale that tells the story of Italy’s most powerful and notorious family as it faces its dramatic end.
After triumph and brilliance, the Sicilian Lions enter their fall . . .
Glory is fleeting, fate sometimes cruel. For more than sixty years, the Florios have reigned supreme, establishing the city of Palermo as a European beacon of commerce, and making Sicily one of Italy’s most powerful regions. But now fate has taken a turn. As social and economic pressures erode the stability of a young Italy, the Florios—despite their wealth and power—must watch as their iron grip over the South begins to weaken.
Following in the steps of the father he idolized, Ignazzidu, now Don Ignazio, finds himself commanding the Florio family’s interests and enterprises. Negligent, impetuous, and headstrong, he is everything his industrious father was not. But while he struggles to live up to the family name, his charming and loyal wife Franca rises to the occasion. A gracious and formidable host, Franca’s hospitality becomes unmatched across Europe, informally crowned the “Queen of Palermo” as she holds court with an esteemed coterie of luminaries from the womanizing Puccini to the scandalous Boldini.
Yet as the tides of fortune change– economic hardships, war, and human loss- their relationship will be put to the test and Franca will find that even a love as devoted as hers may falter. But the biggest threat to their survival is the death of an heir. In losing the flesh of his flesh, Ignazio—who succeeded his father without the strength or conviction to do so—will ultimately oversee the collapse of an empire built by his family’s ambition, cunning, and sweat.
What kind of future will the Florios have now? Will anything remain of their greatness?
Translated from the Italian by Katherine Gregor and Howard Curtis.
The magnificent third installment of the Florio story–a sweeping, decadent, and romantic finale that tells the story of Italy’s most powerful and notorious family as it faces its dramatic end.
After triumph and brilliance, the Sicilian Lions enter their fall . . .
Glory is fleeting, fate sometimes cruel. For more than sixty years, the Florios have reigned supreme, establishing the city of Palermo as a European beacon of commerce, and making Sicily one of Italy’s most powerful regions. But now fate has taken a turn. As social and economic pressures erode the stability of a young Italy, the Florios—despite their wealth and power—must watch as their iron grip over the South begins to weaken.
Following in the steps of the father he idolized, Ignazzidu, now Don Ignazio, finds himself commanding the Florio family’s interests and enterprises. Negligent, impetuous, and headstrong, he is everything his industrious father was not. But while he struggles to live up to the family name, his charming and loyal wife Franca rises to the occasion. A gracious and formidable host, Franca’s hospitality becomes unmatched across Europe, informally crowned the “Queen of Palermo” as she holds court with an esteemed coterie of luminaries from the womanizing Puccini to the scandalous Boldini.
Yet as the tides of fortune change– economic hardships, war, and human loss- their relationship will be put to the test and Franca will find that even a love as devoted as hers may falter. But the biggest threat to their survival is the death of an heir. In losing the flesh of his flesh, Ignazio—who succeeded his father without the strength or conviction to do so—will ultimately oversee the collapse of an empire built by his family’s ambition, cunning, and sweat.
What kind of future will the Florios have now? Will anything remain of their greatness?
Translated from the Italian by Katherine Gregor and Howard Curtis.
416 pages, Paperback
Published August 27, 2024
22 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Stefania Auci
24 books352 followersStefania Auci è nata a Trapani ma vive da anni a Palermo, dopo aver girato l’Italia. Insegnante, ex avvocato, ex cancelliere, si dedica alla narrativa urban fantasy, horror e romance sin dall’adolescenza.
A ottobre 2011 è uscito il suo romance di esordio, Fiore di Scozia, edito da Harlequin Mondadori e a dicembre 2012 il suo seguito La Rosa Bianca. Nel 2010 ha pubblicato con edizioni 0111 Hidden in the dark, breve raccolta di racconti urban fantasy tratti dalla saga di Moray Place 12, Edimburgo.
A ottobre 2011 è uscito il suo romance di esordio, Fiore di Scozia, edito da Harlequin Mondadori e a dicembre 2012 il suo seguito La Rosa Bianca. Nel 2010 ha pubblicato con edizioni 0111 Hidden in the dark, breve raccolta di racconti urban fantasy tratti dalla saga di Moray Place 12, Edimburgo.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 30, 2024
Fall of the Florios is the third installment of trilogy which ends the dramatic story of Italy’s most powerful and notorious family. It started with an impoverished shopkeeper and ends with the grandson who doesn’t have the same drive as he was already born into privilege. He changes the family fate as he wants to enjoy his status.
The story picks up in January 1894 with turbulent events. A state of siege was declared on the island of Sicily as riots continued, ignited by organization that drew unhappy workers. The chaos on the island needed military intervention and the Florios become prisoners in their own house, hiding for their own safety.
Franca is not happy in her marriage with Ignazio Florio as he continues his philandering. Her unhappiness and how to handle her husband’s infidelities fills big part of this story.
Ignazio, on the other hand, faces big lay-offs as he continues to lose contracts. He finds faults with the system but doesn’t see his own lack for innovation.
This last installment is quite different from the two previous books. The drive to achieve something was an engrossing part of the previous two books. The tone of this one is more of blame and much less ambition. The pace of this story has a slower feel.
The author does excellent research in regards to historical background. The characters are well-imagined, with combination of dramatic social and economic situations.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story picks up in January 1894 with turbulent events. A state of siege was declared on the island of Sicily as riots continued, ignited by organization that drew unhappy workers. The chaos on the island needed military intervention and the Florios become prisoners in their own house, hiding for their own safety.
Franca is not happy in her marriage with Ignazio Florio as he continues his philandering. Her unhappiness and how to handle her husband’s infidelities fills big part of this story.
Ignazio, on the other hand, faces big lay-offs as he continues to lose contracts. He finds faults with the system but doesn’t see his own lack for innovation.
This last installment is quite different from the two previous books. The drive to achieve something was an engrossing part of the previous two books. The tone of this one is more of blame and much less ambition. The pace of this story has a slower feel.
The author does excellent research in regards to historical background. The characters are well-imagined, with combination of dramatic social and economic situations.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2023
https://italy-trails.com/the-florios-...
Poslední díl...
Nejlepší je číst je za sebou nebo ne s velkým rozestupem. Je to ideální kniha pro všechny milovníky historie i Itálie. Poodhaluje to, jak to chodilo na Sicílii.
Poslední díl tak nějak uzavírá ságu. Nicméně... doporučuji navštívit i ty stránky, dozvíte se více.
Svět Itálie byl vždy drsný v případě těch, kteří chtěli mít moc a bohatství, rozhodně to nebylo zadarmo a někdy si i člověk říkal, zda to za to někdy stálo. Taky je tam ale vidět postavení žen a mužů. Co všechno si mohli muži dovolit a jak to bylo nehorázné. Také bylo fascinující, že ženy byť s větším majetkem se do té pozice samy uvrhaly a ještě své syny stejně vychovávaly. Přístup k dcerám byl také druhořadý. Když děti umíraly, ženy to schytaly ze všech stran.
Celý příběh představuje to nejvíce fascinující, co patří k Sicílii a čím místní žijí.. příběh o legendě. Příběh o jejich panovnících. Měli spoustu smůly, kterou dovršila válka, která už doklepla to, co jelo už předtím. Pak se misky vah překlopily směrem na sever a zůstalo tomu tak dodnes. I dnes je Itálie bohatá na severu a chudá na jihu. Sever táhne jih a je to i vidět a existuje o tom i spousta knih.
Rozhodně stojí za přečtení.
Dopisuji. Doporučuji po přečtení pogooglit a dohledat si, co se dělo dál. Víte, že knihy jsou ideální inspirací pro výlet do Palerma. Existuje tam spousta míst Florio a dokonce se tam pořádají i výlety. Aktuálně je tam dokonce i spor, kdo může nést příjmení Florio, protože se ho rozhodli zneužít i lidé, kteří nebyli přímými potomky.
Příběh je hodně smutný i kvůli France. Franca byla tak krásná a v dobrém postavení, že dostala nabídku sňatku i od Viléma II. Německého a ještě od někoho dalšího velmi dobře postaveného.. a ona se zamilovala do Floria a pak trpěla a on všechno ničil, měl milenky až to dotáhl do konce a ona přišla i o rodinné šperky a šperky, které měla od královny za svou práci... potupně o ně přišla za to, že muž nasekal dluhy s milenkou v Římě... no na facku... paradox.. dožila se 76 let a vlastně se nerozvedla. No a její dvě dcery měly poměrně dost dětí.
Poslední díl...
Nejlepší je číst je za sebou nebo ne s velkým rozestupem. Je to ideální kniha pro všechny milovníky historie i Itálie. Poodhaluje to, jak to chodilo na Sicílii.
Poslední díl tak nějak uzavírá ságu. Nicméně... doporučuji navštívit i ty stránky, dozvíte se více.
Svět Itálie byl vždy drsný v případě těch, kteří chtěli mít moc a bohatství, rozhodně to nebylo zadarmo a někdy si i člověk říkal, zda to za to někdy stálo. Taky je tam ale vidět postavení žen a mužů. Co všechno si mohli muži dovolit a jak to bylo nehorázné. Také bylo fascinující, že ženy byť s větším majetkem se do té pozice samy uvrhaly a ještě své syny stejně vychovávaly. Přístup k dcerám byl také druhořadý. Když děti umíraly, ženy to schytaly ze všech stran.
Celý příběh představuje to nejvíce fascinující, co patří k Sicílii a čím místní žijí.. příběh o legendě. Příběh o jejich panovnících. Měli spoustu smůly, kterou dovršila válka, která už doklepla to, co jelo už předtím. Pak se misky vah překlopily směrem na sever a zůstalo tomu tak dodnes. I dnes je Itálie bohatá na severu a chudá na jihu. Sever táhne jih a je to i vidět a existuje o tom i spousta knih.
Rozhodně stojí za přečtení.
Dopisuji. Doporučuji po přečtení pogooglit a dohledat si, co se dělo dál. Víte, že knihy jsou ideální inspirací pro výlet do Palerma. Existuje tam spousta míst Florio a dokonce se tam pořádají i výlety. Aktuálně je tam dokonce i spor, kdo může nést příjmení Florio, protože se ho rozhodli zneužít i lidé, kteří nebyli přímými potomky.
Příběh je hodně smutný i kvůli France. Franca byla tak krásná a v dobrém postavení, že dostala nabídku sňatku i od Viléma II. Německého a ještě od někoho dalšího velmi dobře postaveného.. a ona se zamilovala do Floria a pak trpěla a on všechno ničil, měl milenky až to dotáhl do konce a ona přišla i o rodinné šperky a šperky, které měla od královny za svou práci... potupně o ně přišla za to, že muž nasekal dluhy s milenkou v Římě... no na facku... paradox.. dožila se 76 let a vlastně se nerozvedla. No a její dvě dcery měly poměrně dost dětí.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2023
Ultra déçue de la fin de cette trilogie mais bon très bonne lecture d’été
June 28, 2025
A slow and painful decline for the Florio family indeed. This whole series was wonderful. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading novels about the triumphs and foibles of mankind.
April 22, 2025
A história e a forma como ela foi conduzida é muito boa, mas as pessoas principais desse volume são difíceis de engolir. Franca, antes mesmo de todas as perdas, teve muito de seu brilho apagado de um livro para o outro por conta da necessidade de se adequar ao nome da família Florio, para cair nas graças de Giovanna e, ao mesmo tempo, por conta de todas as traições do Ignazio. Para mim, foi muito difícil acompanhar toda sua jornada ao longo do livro. No fim, também estava com raiva dela com seu apego às joias e a forma como tratou a namorada de Vicenzo, sendo extremamente preconceituosa mesmo estando na merda e ensinando suas filhas a irem para o mesmo caminho. Já o Ignazio, cada vez que ele aparecia na história era um revirar de olhos diferente. Ele basicamente só sabia gastar dinheiro com as suas amantes e em negócios ruins. Ele não tinha a boa visão dos negócios como os seus antepassados e, em paralelo, ele tomou péssimas decisões ao demitir alguns dos parceiros mais próximos dos Florio. Ao mesmo tempo em que eu estava feliz pela derrocada estar acontecendo com ele, fiquei triste ao pensar em todo trabalho que os outros Ignazios e Vicenzos tiveram para chegar ao auge para depois vir um mimado e destruir tudo. Quem eu achei que seria outra decepção e, no fim, me surpreendeu bastante positivamente foi o Vicenzo. O único que tentou ter boas ideias para tirar os negócios da família da lama e quem se apaixonou por duas mulheres extremamente fortes e que fugiam dos padrões da época. Ainda bem que aparentemente ele teve uma vida confortável.
É um livro extremamente denso de se ler, mas a escrita da autora e sua sensibilidade são muito bonitas. Para mim, a história da Família Florio foi muito bem romantizada nas mãos da Stefania.
É um livro extremamente denso de se ler, mas a escrita da autora e sua sensibilidade são muito bonitas. Para mim, a história da Família Florio foi muito bem romantizada nas mãos da Stefania.
November 20, 2024
Have you heard of the Lions of Sicily?🦁
It’s a Disney produced, Hulu Original Series!
Fall of the Florios is the third book in the series A Lions of Sicily by Stefania Auci. This is translated from Italian by Katherine Gregor and Howard Curtis!
“Glory is fleeting, fate sometimes cruel. For more than sixty years, the Florios have reigned supreme, establishing the city of Palermo as a European beacon of commerce, and making Sicily one of Italy’s most powerful regions. But now fate has taken a turn. As social and economic pressures erode the stability of a young Italy, the Florios—despite their wealth and power—must watch as their iron grip over the South begins to weaken.
Following in the steps of the father he idolized, Ignazzidu, now Don Ignazio, finds himself commanding the Florio family’s interests and enterprises. Negligent, impetuous, and headstrong, he is everything his industrious father was not. But while he struggles to live up to the family name, his charming and loyal wife Franca rises to the occasion. A gracious and formidable host, Franca’s hospitality becomes unmatched across Europe, informally crowned the “Queen of Palermo” as she holds court with an esteemed coterie of luminaries from the womanizing Puccini to the scandalous Boldini.”
This is a compelling story, and I wish I had read the first 2 books first! However, it still reads as a standalone. I rarely read historical fiction about Sicily and now I want to visit!
Thank you @harperviabooks for this gifted copy!
Fall of the Florios was published in August and is available on our Amazon storefront!🧜🏼♀️🌺
It’s a Disney produced, Hulu Original Series!
Fall of the Florios is the third book in the series A Lions of Sicily by Stefania Auci. This is translated from Italian by Katherine Gregor and Howard Curtis!
“Glory is fleeting, fate sometimes cruel. For more than sixty years, the Florios have reigned supreme, establishing the city of Palermo as a European beacon of commerce, and making Sicily one of Italy’s most powerful regions. But now fate has taken a turn. As social and economic pressures erode the stability of a young Italy, the Florios—despite their wealth and power—must watch as their iron grip over the South begins to weaken.
Following in the steps of the father he idolized, Ignazzidu, now Don Ignazio, finds himself commanding the Florio family’s interests and enterprises. Negligent, impetuous, and headstrong, he is everything his industrious father was not. But while he struggles to live up to the family name, his charming and loyal wife Franca rises to the occasion. A gracious and formidable host, Franca’s hospitality becomes unmatched across Europe, informally crowned the “Queen of Palermo” as she holds court with an esteemed coterie of luminaries from the womanizing Puccini to the scandalous Boldini.”
This is a compelling story, and I wish I had read the first 2 books first! However, it still reads as a standalone. I rarely read historical fiction about Sicily and now I want to visit!
Thank you @harperviabooks for this gifted copy!
Fall of the Florios was published in August and is available on our Amazon storefront!🧜🏼♀️🌺
October 13, 2022
Ukončenie knižnej trilógie o silnom rode Floriovcov bolo, ako inak, fenomenálne.
Známe meno a biznis neznamená vždy len bezstarostný život, ktorý by Ignazio určite rád žil, ale to by do tejto rodiny nemohol patriť, ba čo viac. Nemohol by sa stať dedičom. S prestížou zdedil najmä bremeno udržať podnik na výslní a úspešne pokračovať v tradícii a jeho zveľaďovaniu, čo však s jeho rozmaznanou a ľahkovážnou povahou nejak spolu nesúzní. Samozrejme, ako aj v predošlých dieloch, tak aj on má pri sebe silnú osobnosť nežnejšieho pohlavia. Nie nadarmo sa na každej obálke kníh o Floriovcoch vyníma krásna žena. Veď práve ony stoja za nepriamým úspechom podniku, keďže boli "krkom" rodiny a stáli pri svojich mužoch aj v neľahkých časoch.
Milujem rodinné ságy. V kombinácii s talianskou horkokrvnosťou a talentovanou autorkou nemôže vzniknúť nič iné, ako skvelé dielo, ktoré chcete čítať. Aj keď začiatok knihy mi prišiel slabší a pomalší ako pri predchádzajúcich častiach, ale hŕba emócii, ktorými bola kniha naplnená, mi to vynahradala až až. Famózne zakončenie trilógie, ktorá bola plná poznatkov o rode, za ktorým sa skrýva plno driny, chtíču, cieľavedomosti, ale aj pádov, bolesti a podrazov.
Známe meno a biznis neznamená vždy len bezstarostný život, ktorý by Ignazio určite rád žil, ale to by do tejto rodiny nemohol patriť, ba čo viac. Nemohol by sa stať dedičom. S prestížou zdedil najmä bremeno udržať podnik na výslní a úspešne pokračovať v tradícii a jeho zveľaďovaniu, čo však s jeho rozmaznanou a ľahkovážnou povahou nejak spolu nesúzní. Samozrejme, ako aj v predošlých dieloch, tak aj on má pri sebe silnú osobnosť nežnejšieho pohlavia. Nie nadarmo sa na každej obálke kníh o Floriovcoch vyníma krásna žena. Veď práve ony stoja za nepriamým úspechom podniku, keďže boli "krkom" rodiny a stáli pri svojich mužoch aj v neľahkých časoch.
Milujem rodinné ságy. V kombinácii s talianskou horkokrvnosťou a talentovanou autorkou nemôže vzniknúť nič iné, ako skvelé dielo, ktoré chcete čítať. Aj keď začiatok knihy mi prišiel slabší a pomalší ako pri predchádzajúcich častiach, ale hŕba emócii, ktorými bola kniha naplnená, mi to vynahradala až až. Famózne zakončenie trilógie, ktorá bola plná poznatkov o rode, za ktorým sa skrýva plno driny, chtíču, cieľavedomosti, ale aj pádov, bolesti a podrazov.
July 13, 2025
Ignazio et sa famille affrontent les différentes crises économiques au travers de leurs entreprises.
C'est le dernier tome. La fin du précédent annonçait le début des problèmes.
Ce qui arrive à la famille est pire que prévu, la perte de leurs enfants, la crise.
Les principaux intéressés, Franca et Ignazio, ne sont pas lucides. J'avoue avoir détesté Franca qui claquait l'argent dans du superflu alors qu'il y avait un meilleur usage.
C'est toujours aussi bien raconté, Stefani Auci est une excellente narratrice. On quitte la famille Florio avec nostalgie mais avec la certitude que l'histoire est belle et bien terminée.
C'est le dernier tome. La fin du précédent annonçait le début des problèmes.
Ce qui arrive à la famille est pire que prévu, la perte de leurs enfants, la crise.
Les principaux intéressés, Franca et Ignazio, ne sont pas lucides. J'avoue avoir détesté Franca qui claquait l'argent dans du superflu alors qu'il y avait un meilleur usage.
C'est toujours aussi bien raconté, Stefani Auci est une excellente narratrice. On quitte la famille Florio avec nostalgie mais avec la certitude que l'histoire est belle et bien terminée.
March 13, 2025
“Facinating Glimpse into Florio Family and Sicily”
I found this trilogy by Stefania Auci to shed a probing light into human nature and bring to life Sicily’s turbulent history during the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century through the Florio family. Reading a lot of historical fiction, I think Auci is better than most. Her characters were multidimensional. I did skim a little of the business dealings and even some of the details of the historical clashes, but was fully focused on the dynamics of the characters so amazingly brought to life.
I found this trilogy by Stefania Auci to shed a probing light into human nature and bring to life Sicily’s turbulent history during the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century through the Florio family. Reading a lot of historical fiction, I think Auci is better than most. Her characters were multidimensional. I did skim a little of the business dealings and even some of the details of the historical clashes, but was fully focused on the dynamics of the characters so amazingly brought to life.
November 11, 2023
Un dernier tome incroyable qui montre la descente aux enfers des Florio, par un héritier pas près/ qui avait tout et n’a peut être jamais compris le sacrifice du travail réalisé par ces aïeuls. L’importance et le poids du nom y sont omniprésents.
November 26, 2024
Ces personnages que nous connaissons déjà depuis 2 volumes sont projetés dans la déchéance , principalement à cause de leur égoïsme. Ce que nous avions pu ressentir comme drame se réalise . La tristesse ne vient pas de leur perte de pouvoir mais de leur incompréhension face aux événements.
March 9, 2025
De loin mon tome préféré ! J’ai tellement été touchée par le personnage de Franca Florio. Observer et comprendre tout le déclin de cette famille globalement à cause d’un seul homme est quelque chose de fascinant.
May 1, 2023
Ach tazko sa citala tato posledna cast 🙁
November 2, 2023
l'histoire vraie de cette famille sicilienne qui est monté si haute pour finir ruinée
March 17, 2025
The same as first part.
August 15, 2025
The history is fascinating but the voice/manner of the narrator was awfully distracting. I may have give 3 stars if I had done my own reading.
November 4, 2025
Audiobook.
Historical saga, set in Italy.
Historical saga, set in Italy.
January 28, 2024
Eu amei demais a escrita da autora, tão cheia de sensibilidade e que me prendeu na leitura do início ao fim.
A narrativa é super descritiva quanto aos acontecimentos históricos, políticos e culturais, mas também é muito fluida.
Eu chorei, ri, torci, me emocionei e senti raiva.. Realmente me senti dentro da história!
Foi especial demais acompanhar as gerações dessa família ao longo dos 150 anos ❤️ com certeza vou sentir saudade!!
"Teve tanta gente rica e importante em Palermo, mas não como o senhor. Vocês são os Florio."
A narrativa é super descritiva quanto aos acontecimentos históricos, políticos e culturais, mas também é muito fluida.
Eu chorei, ri, torci, me emocionei e senti raiva.. Realmente me senti dentro da história!
Foi especial demais acompanhar as gerações dessa família ao longo dos 150 anos ❤️ com certeza vou sentir saudade!!
"Teve tanta gente rica e importante em Palermo, mas não como o senhor. Vocês são os Florio."
February 3, 2023
Il était temps que cette saga se termine. Il y a beaucoup trop de longueurs et de répétitions. Quel destin quand même que celui de cette famille sicilienne.
September 7, 2024
love every minute of this series. a must if you ever go to Sicily.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews