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Mio signore della notte
Per Laura Bandello, giovane e talentuosa pittrice, la carriera artistica è l’unica cosa che conta. Per finanziare i propri studi ha addirittura deciso di vendere la verginità al miglior offerente e diventare cortigiana. Sandro Cavalli, uomo intransigente e disilluso dalla vita, da anni è responsabile della sicurezza di Venezia e capo dei Signori della Notte. Incontra Laura la prima volta durante un’indagine su uno spietato omicidio, mentre lei sta posando come modella. Da quel momento le loro vite non saranno più le stesse, sconvolte dalla incoercibile attrazione che si accende tra loro, alla quale si ostinano a sfuggire. E mentre una serie di crimini sconvolge la città, per proteggere Laura Sandro arriverà a mettere in gioco tutto se stesso, persino il proprio titolo nobiliare, scoprendo che l’unica vera ricchezza è l’amore…
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 1993
3 people are currently reading
611 people want to read
About the author
Susan Wiggs
169 books7,528 followersSusan Wiggs's life is all about family, friends...and fiction. She lives at the water's edge on an island in Puget Sound, and she commutes to her writers' group in a 17-foot motorboat. She serves as author liaison for Field's End, a literary community on Bainbridge Island, Washington, bringing inspiration and instruction from the world's top authors to her seaside community. (See www.fieldsend.org) She's been featured in the national media, including NPR's "Talk of the Nation," and is a popular speaker locally and nationally.
According to Publishers Weekly, Wiggs writes with "refreshingly honest emotion," and the Salem Statesman Journal adds that she is "one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who] knows how to capture emotion on virtually every page of every book." Booklist characterizes her books as "real and true and unforgettable." She is the recipient of three RITA (sm) awards and four starred reviews from Publishers Weekly for her books. The Winter Lodge and Passing Through Paradise have appeared on PW’s annual "Best Of" lists. Several of her books have been listed as top Booksense picks and optioned as feature films. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have made national bestseller lists, including the USA Today, Washington Post and New York Times lists.
The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book. Readers can learn more on the web at www.susanwiggs.com and on her lively blog at www.susanwiggs.wordpress.com.
According to Publishers Weekly, Wiggs writes with "refreshingly honest emotion," and the Salem Statesman Journal adds that she is "one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who] knows how to capture emotion on virtually every page of every book." Booklist characterizes her books as "real and true and unforgettable." She is the recipient of three RITA (sm) awards and four starred reviews from Publishers Weekly for her books. The Winter Lodge and Passing Through Paradise have appeared on PW’s annual "Best Of" lists. Several of her books have been listed as top Booksense picks and optioned as feature films. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have made national bestseller lists, including the USA Today, Washington Post and New York Times lists.
The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book. Readers can learn more on the web at www.susanwiggs.com and on her lively blog at www.susanwiggs.wordpress.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
May 15, 2020
4,5 stars
Venezia, la Serenissima, anno domini 1531.
È in quell'anno che si svolge la storia tra Laura Bandello, aspirante pittrice che pur di veder realizzato il suo sogno, venderà la sua verginità, e Sandro Cavalli, capo dei Signori della notte.
Anni sicuramente non facili per le donne, soprattutto se volevano emergere in campi di esclusivo appannaggio maschile.
"Le donne hanno solo tre possibilità: essere mogli, suore o prostitute"
Quello che ho più apprezzato del romanzo della Wiggs è sicuramente l'intreccio, oserei definire perfetto, di eventi e personaggi di fantasia, con eventi e personaggi reali.
Ecco chi suppone che le donne che leggano romance lo fanno solo per evasione, probabilmente, non hanno mai letto un romance storico così ben fatto.
Innanzitutto se amate l'arte vi coinvolgerà in maniera particolare perché uno dei personaggi di spicco, che ha anche un ruolo fondamentale nella storia è Tiziano, il celebre pittore che trascorse gran parte della sua vita a Venezia.
Adesso lo so!!!
Ho scoperto che i "Signori della notte" sono realmente esistiti a Venezia in quel periodo e vigilavano sulla città quando il buio ammantava ogni cosa.
Adesso lo so!!!
Ho letto con rabbia la "pratica del 31" che ahimè era veramente messa in pratica ai danni delle cortigiane della città. Vedrete, la rabbia monterà anche in voi.
Adesso lo so!!!
Quindi anche da un romance, categoria tanto bistrattata, si può ampliare la propria cultura.
Peccato che nell'ultima parte perda un pochino il ritmo serrato e coinvolgente, ma penso che sia assolutamente un libro da leggere, non fosse altro per le splendide descrizioni della Serenissima.
Venezia, la Serenissima, anno domini 1531.
È in quell'anno che si svolge la storia tra Laura Bandello, aspirante pittrice che pur di veder realizzato il suo sogno, venderà la sua verginità, e Sandro Cavalli, capo dei Signori della notte.
Anni sicuramente non facili per le donne, soprattutto se volevano emergere in campi di esclusivo appannaggio maschile.
"Le donne hanno solo tre possibilità: essere mogli, suore o prostitute"
Quello che ho più apprezzato del romanzo della Wiggs è sicuramente l'intreccio, oserei definire perfetto, di eventi e personaggi di fantasia, con eventi e personaggi reali.
Ecco chi suppone che le donne che leggano romance lo fanno solo per evasione, probabilmente, non hanno mai letto un romance storico così ben fatto.
Innanzitutto se amate l'arte vi coinvolgerà in maniera particolare perché uno dei personaggi di spicco, che ha anche un ruolo fondamentale nella storia è Tiziano, il celebre pittore che trascorse gran parte della sua vita a Venezia.
Adesso lo so!!!
Ho scoperto che i "Signori della notte" sono realmente esistiti a Venezia in quel periodo e vigilavano sulla città quando il buio ammantava ogni cosa.
Adesso lo so!!!
Ho letto con rabbia la "pratica del 31" che ahimè era veramente messa in pratica ai danni delle cortigiane della città. Vedrete, la rabbia monterà anche in voi.
Adesso lo so!!!
Quindi anche da un romance, categoria tanto bistrattata, si può ampliare la propria cultura.
Peccato che nell'ultima parte perda un pochino il ritmo serrato e coinvolgente, ma penso che sia assolutamente un libro da leggere, non fosse altro per le splendide descrizioni della Serenissima.
February 3, 2022
Venezia, 1531.
Laura Bandello ha 18 anni ed è una talentosa pittrice. È allieva di Tiziano ma in quanto donna deve lavorare il doppio di qualsiasi altro uomo per essere presa lontanamente sul serio. Abbandonata da neonata sull’uscio di un convento raggiunta la maggiore età e bisognosa di soldi vuole diventare una cortigiana per entrare nell’accademia veneziana, possedere uno studio e dedicarsi alla sua arte.
“Le donne hanno solo tre possibilità: essere mogli, suore o prostitute”
Sandro Cavalli è il capo dei Signori della Notte, ricchi e titolati veneziani, unico organo di polizia della città. Sandro è un rigidissimo trentanovenne vedovo e intransigente.
Conosce Laura durante un indagine di omicidio mentre sta posando nuda per il celebre Tiziano sul subito ne rimane rapito, non ha mai visto donna più bella di lei ma quando Laura le dice che sta per mettere la sua verginità all’asta è come una doccia fredda.
Devo ammetterlo, sul subito dal titolo mi sembrava un paranormal romance zozzo con i vampiri (dai, era comunque un’idea non male, vampiri nella Serenissima del XVI secolo…)
Invece per mia grande sorpresa mi sono ritrovata alle prese con un gran bel romance storico, un mix perfetto tra passione e mystery il plot twist finale mi ha abbastanza intrigato e non ci sono arrivata subito. L’assassino si può capire benissimo chi è già a metà romanzo ma i suoi motivi no e mi è piaciuta molto la cosa.
I personaggi sono ben caratterizzati.
Laura è indomabile, quando dipinge dedica anima e corpo fino ad arrivare ad estraniarsi del tutto dal mondo che la circonda; esiste solo una cosa: la sua arte.
È anche molto avventata, sembra che non abbia paura di nulla e rischia il collo in svariate occasioni. È una calamita per i guai.
Sandro pare un pezzo di legno calzato è vestito ma Laura afferma sempre che lui abbia un cuore e un animo gentile che non mostra a chicchessia.
Offre un posto di lavoro ad un nobile decaduto per aver sposato una ragazza di rango inferiore e visita settimanalmente una vecchia cortigiana malata di sifilide all’ospedale perché se non lo facesse lui non lo farebbe nessun altro.
Cerca sempre di mantenere le distanze da Laura perché si sente troppo vecchio e soprattutto non vuole perdere i suoi privilegi sposandola. Riuscirà a mettere da parte l’orgoglio quando c’è di mezzo il vero amore?
Laura Bandello ha 18 anni ed è una talentosa pittrice. È allieva di Tiziano ma in quanto donna deve lavorare il doppio di qualsiasi altro uomo per essere presa lontanamente sul serio. Abbandonata da neonata sull’uscio di un convento raggiunta la maggiore età e bisognosa di soldi vuole diventare una cortigiana per entrare nell’accademia veneziana, possedere uno studio e dedicarsi alla sua arte.
“Le donne hanno solo tre possibilità: essere mogli, suore o prostitute”
Sandro Cavalli è il capo dei Signori della Notte, ricchi e titolati veneziani, unico organo di polizia della città. Sandro è un rigidissimo trentanovenne vedovo e intransigente.
Conosce Laura durante un indagine di omicidio mentre sta posando nuda per il celebre Tiziano sul subito ne rimane rapito, non ha mai visto donna più bella di lei ma quando Laura le dice che sta per mettere la sua verginità all’asta è come una doccia fredda.
Devo ammetterlo, sul subito dal titolo mi sembrava un paranormal romance zozzo con i vampiri (dai, era comunque un’idea non male, vampiri nella Serenissima del XVI secolo…)
Invece per mia grande sorpresa mi sono ritrovata alle prese con un gran bel romance storico, un mix perfetto tra passione e mystery il plot twist finale mi ha abbastanza intrigato e non ci sono arrivata subito. L’assassino si può capire benissimo chi è già a metà romanzo ma i suoi motivi no e mi è piaciuta molto la cosa.
I personaggi sono ben caratterizzati.
Laura è indomabile, quando dipinge dedica anima e corpo fino ad arrivare ad estraniarsi del tutto dal mondo che la circonda; esiste solo una cosa: la sua arte.
È anche molto avventata, sembra che non abbia paura di nulla e rischia il collo in svariate occasioni. È una calamita per i guai.
Sandro pare un pezzo di legno calzato è vestito ma Laura afferma sempre che lui abbia un cuore e un animo gentile che non mostra a chicchessia.
Offre un posto di lavoro ad un nobile decaduto per aver sposato una ragazza di rango inferiore e visita settimanalmente una vecchia cortigiana malata di sifilide all’ospedale perché se non lo facesse lui non lo farebbe nessun altro.
Cerca sempre di mantenere le distanze da Laura perché si sente troppo vecchio e soprattutto non vuole perdere i suoi privilegi sposandola. Riuscirà a mettere da parte l’orgoglio quando c’è di mezzo il vero amore?
April 24, 2014
Chi erano i “signori della notte” ? non stiamo parlando di un paranormal e quindi non erano vampiri. Nella Venezia del 1531 erano sei patrizi veneziani incaricati di sorvegliare su tutto ciò che succedeva nella notte della Serenissima. Sandro Cavalli è il capo di questi poliziotti rinascimentali, un ricco patrizio veneziano, vedovo, retto e intransigente guardato con timore e rispetto da nobili e popolani.
Durante un’indagine su un efferato delitto, Sandro conosce nello studio del maestro Tiziano: Laura giovane e bellissima modella, promettente e talentuosa pittrice, nonché aspirante cortigiana. In quell’epoca dove a una donna erano date solo tre possibilità: sposarsi, prendere il velo oppure vendersi agli uomini, Laura vorrebbe mettere all’asta la sua verginità per riuscire ad ottenere quell’ indipendenza economica che le permetterebbe di seguire, anima e corpo la sua vera aspirazione: entrare nell’accademia veneziana, essere riconosciuta pittrice, maestra e avere finalmente un suo atelier.
Sia Laura che Sandro sono personaggi vivi e ben disegnati, lottano per combattere l'attrazione immediata e profonda tra di loro. Sandro la nega, perché si sente molto più vecchio e dolorosamente consapevole della differenza di classe sociale, ma anche perché la ragazza, continua ad apparire come una sospettata nell'inchiesta di omicidio da lui condotta. Laura d’altra parte letteralmente non può permettersi di cedere alla passione, deve raggiungere l’indipendenza agognata senza guardare in faccia nessuno, il sacro fuoco dell’arte brucia infatti la sua anima.
La nostra protagonista dopo essere cresciuta in un convento, vive ora in uno dei bordelli più eleganti e ricercati della Serenissima, è amica di un omosessuale che si scopre essere stato l'amante, nonché l’ultima persona che ha visto in vita la vittima dell’omicidio, su cui indaga il signore della notte: un alto funzionario del governo. Il serial killer continua a mietere vittime, sempre molto vicine alla ragazza, Laura stessa subisce aggressioni da parte di Bravi assoldati dal misterioso assassino, malgrado tutto e nonostante i tentativi di Sandro di dissuaderla dai suoi intenti, arriva il martedì grasso, l’apice dei festeggiamenti del carnevale veneziano e la sera in cui Laura venderà all’incanto la sua purezza.
Un tratto peculiare e distintivo di un grande Romance è la capacità di rendere avvincente la storia più scontata. Ad esempio, non appena la lettrice scopre che Laura prevede di mettere all'asta la sua verginità, tutte già sappiamo chi sarà il migliore offerente. Eppure, quando si arriverà, alla scena tanto agognata, la Wiggs gioca con il dramma, e ciò che ne consegue oltre essere plausibile a livello storico, renderà il libro ancora più avvincente.
Entrambi i personaggi sono realistici e simpatici, con manie e debolezze credibili. Laura è testarda nei suoi tentativi di rimanere indipendente, ma non degenera mai come altre eroine nella sindrome “troppo stupida per vivere”. Il perbenismo e la rettitudine di Sandro sono a volte fastidiose, ma è un uomo scafato che conosce la dura realtà dei bassifondi oltre alle pessime abitudini dei giovani e sfaccendati rampolli della nobiltà veneziana, come quando conduce la ragazza in visita a una ex prostituta malata di sifilide, vittima del “trentuno” (*), punizione terribile in voga all’epoca; esponendo la nostra eroina così, alla brutale realtà nascosta dallo sfarzo e dai denari che invogliano Laura nella volontà di intraprendere la carriera della cortigiana.
I personaggi di supporto completano bene la storia, sia quelli realmente esistiti come Tiziano, Pietro Aretino e lo scultore Sansovino, che come confermano le mie ricerche personali, furono veramente compagni di eccessi, di feste e frequentatori di bordelli. Anche quelli creati dalla penna dell’autrice risultano essere perfettamente inseriti nell’epoca descritta.
Vi è anche una storia d'amore di contorno molto commovente tra l'amica di Laura Yasmin, che viene rapita dalla sua patria africana e costretta a prostituirsi e Jamal, assistente di Sandro che ha perso la lingua (letteralmente) a causa dei suoi giorni in schiavitù. Una donna che odia il genere maschile, ma che lentamente soccombe a un uomo che non può dire bugie e che sa ascoltarla.
Il personaggio secondario, però a mio parere unico e straordinario, è Venezia stessa, all’apice della sua potenza. Quando sconfitta anche Genova si ritrova padrona dei traffici sul Mediterraneo. Le immagini e i suoni, gli odori e i sapori del Rinascimento Italiano hanno fornito una cornice vibrante a tutta la storia.
Questo è quello che mi è più piaciuto di questo libro: tutto è reale. La passione, il crepacuore, il dolore del tradimento e l'inganno sono tutti vividamente descritti, contornati da uno scenario in cui la dissolutezza e la religione coesistono come ci racconta la storia dell’epoca. Un plauso a questa scrittrice d’oltreoceano, che non si è fermata agli stereotipi conosciuti, ma che ha svolto un’accuratissima ricerca storica sulla Repubblica Veneziana, sul rinascimento italiano sia a livello cronologico che di costume, arrivando a scrivere un libro pieno di suspense, sentimento e Storia con la S maiuscola, non a caso premiato con il Rita come migliore romanzo nell’anno di pubblicazione il “lontano” 1994, in fondo abbiamo aspettato solo vent’anni per leggere questo ottimo romanzo storico in Italia.
(*)
Il trentuno era la punizione più terribile che un amante potesse infliggere a una cortigiana. L' amante induceva la vittima che non sospettava di nulla a recarsi in un luogo isolato, come una vigna o un' isola, e poi la assoggettava alle voglie di trentuno uomini allo scopo di degradarla.” Il trentuno della Zaffetta” del Venier è un brioso poemetto di oltre novecento versi che narra un' avventurosa escursione sulle acque della laguna veneziana, che termina nell' amichevole stupro collettivo di ottanta uomini sull' altezzosa cortigiana e amica dell' Aretino, Angela del Moro (nota come la Zaffetta perché il suo patrigno faceva lo zaffo, cioè il poliziotto). Poiché le leggi veneziane proibivano la violenza, il ratto e lo stupro, si tratta del racconto di un reato; un reato che resta impunito per la nobile condizione sociale del suo ispiratore, un aristocratico appartenente all' illustre famiglia Venier, iscritta nel Libro d' oro, il Gotha della nobiltà veneta, che contava tra i suoi membri perfino un doge. Lo stupro di Angela del Moro risale probabilmente al 6 aprile 1531.
Sull’amicizia tra Tiziano Aretino e Sansovino:
http://tizianoultimoatto.provincia.be...
----------------
Alcuni link di approfondimento:
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucintoro
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_G...
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signori_...
Durante un’indagine su un efferato delitto, Sandro conosce nello studio del maestro Tiziano: Laura giovane e bellissima modella, promettente e talentuosa pittrice, nonché aspirante cortigiana. In quell’epoca dove a una donna erano date solo tre possibilità: sposarsi, prendere il velo oppure vendersi agli uomini, Laura vorrebbe mettere all’asta la sua verginità per riuscire ad ottenere quell’ indipendenza economica che le permetterebbe di seguire, anima e corpo la sua vera aspirazione: entrare nell’accademia veneziana, essere riconosciuta pittrice, maestra e avere finalmente un suo atelier.
Sia Laura che Sandro sono personaggi vivi e ben disegnati, lottano per combattere l'attrazione immediata e profonda tra di loro. Sandro la nega, perché si sente molto più vecchio e dolorosamente consapevole della differenza di classe sociale, ma anche perché la ragazza, continua ad apparire come una sospettata nell'inchiesta di omicidio da lui condotta. Laura d’altra parte letteralmente non può permettersi di cedere alla passione, deve raggiungere l’indipendenza agognata senza guardare in faccia nessuno, il sacro fuoco dell’arte brucia infatti la sua anima.
La nostra protagonista dopo essere cresciuta in un convento, vive ora in uno dei bordelli più eleganti e ricercati della Serenissima, è amica di un omosessuale che si scopre essere stato l'amante, nonché l’ultima persona che ha visto in vita la vittima dell’omicidio, su cui indaga il signore della notte: un alto funzionario del governo. Il serial killer continua a mietere vittime, sempre molto vicine alla ragazza, Laura stessa subisce aggressioni da parte di Bravi assoldati dal misterioso assassino, malgrado tutto e nonostante i tentativi di Sandro di dissuaderla dai suoi intenti, arriva il martedì grasso, l’apice dei festeggiamenti del carnevale veneziano e la sera in cui Laura venderà all’incanto la sua purezza.
Un tratto peculiare e distintivo di un grande Romance è la capacità di rendere avvincente la storia più scontata. Ad esempio, non appena la lettrice scopre che Laura prevede di mettere all'asta la sua verginità, tutte già sappiamo chi sarà il migliore offerente. Eppure, quando si arriverà, alla scena tanto agognata, la Wiggs gioca con il dramma, e ciò che ne consegue oltre essere plausibile a livello storico, renderà il libro ancora più avvincente.
Entrambi i personaggi sono realistici e simpatici, con manie e debolezze credibili. Laura è testarda nei suoi tentativi di rimanere indipendente, ma non degenera mai come altre eroine nella sindrome “troppo stupida per vivere”. Il perbenismo e la rettitudine di Sandro sono a volte fastidiose, ma è un uomo scafato che conosce la dura realtà dei bassifondi oltre alle pessime abitudini dei giovani e sfaccendati rampolli della nobiltà veneziana, come quando conduce la ragazza in visita a una ex prostituta malata di sifilide, vittima del “trentuno” (*), punizione terribile in voga all’epoca; esponendo la nostra eroina così, alla brutale realtà nascosta dallo sfarzo e dai denari che invogliano Laura nella volontà di intraprendere la carriera della cortigiana.
I personaggi di supporto completano bene la storia, sia quelli realmente esistiti come Tiziano, Pietro Aretino e lo scultore Sansovino, che come confermano le mie ricerche personali, furono veramente compagni di eccessi, di feste e frequentatori di bordelli. Anche quelli creati dalla penna dell’autrice risultano essere perfettamente inseriti nell’epoca descritta.
Vi è anche una storia d'amore di contorno molto commovente tra l'amica di Laura Yasmin, che viene rapita dalla sua patria africana e costretta a prostituirsi e Jamal, assistente di Sandro che ha perso la lingua (letteralmente) a causa dei suoi giorni in schiavitù. Una donna che odia il genere maschile, ma che lentamente soccombe a un uomo che non può dire bugie e che sa ascoltarla.
Il personaggio secondario, però a mio parere unico e straordinario, è Venezia stessa, all’apice della sua potenza. Quando sconfitta anche Genova si ritrova padrona dei traffici sul Mediterraneo. Le immagini e i suoni, gli odori e i sapori del Rinascimento Italiano hanno fornito una cornice vibrante a tutta la storia.
Questo è quello che mi è più piaciuto di questo libro: tutto è reale. La passione, il crepacuore, il dolore del tradimento e l'inganno sono tutti vividamente descritti, contornati da uno scenario in cui la dissolutezza e la religione coesistono come ci racconta la storia dell’epoca. Un plauso a questa scrittrice d’oltreoceano, che non si è fermata agli stereotipi conosciuti, ma che ha svolto un’accuratissima ricerca storica sulla Repubblica Veneziana, sul rinascimento italiano sia a livello cronologico che di costume, arrivando a scrivere un libro pieno di suspense, sentimento e Storia con la S maiuscola, non a caso premiato con il Rita come migliore romanzo nell’anno di pubblicazione il “lontano” 1994, in fondo abbiamo aspettato solo vent’anni per leggere questo ottimo romanzo storico in Italia.
(*)
Il trentuno era la punizione più terribile che un amante potesse infliggere a una cortigiana. L' amante induceva la vittima che non sospettava di nulla a recarsi in un luogo isolato, come una vigna o un' isola, e poi la assoggettava alle voglie di trentuno uomini allo scopo di degradarla.” Il trentuno della Zaffetta” del Venier è un brioso poemetto di oltre novecento versi che narra un' avventurosa escursione sulle acque della laguna veneziana, che termina nell' amichevole stupro collettivo di ottanta uomini sull' altezzosa cortigiana e amica dell' Aretino, Angela del Moro (nota come la Zaffetta perché il suo patrigno faceva lo zaffo, cioè il poliziotto). Poiché le leggi veneziane proibivano la violenza, il ratto e lo stupro, si tratta del racconto di un reato; un reato che resta impunito per la nobile condizione sociale del suo ispiratore, un aristocratico appartenente all' illustre famiglia Venier, iscritta nel Libro d' oro, il Gotha della nobiltà veneta, che contava tra i suoi membri perfino un doge. Lo stupro di Angela del Moro risale probabilmente al 6 aprile 1531.
Sull’amicizia tra Tiziano Aretino e Sansovino:
http://tizianoultimoatto.provincia.be...
----------------
Alcuni link di approfondimento:
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucintoro
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_G...
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signori_...
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June 11, 2018Šī bija man trešā izvēle Grāmtu kluba mēnesim, kurā lasa. Romāns 1994. gadā saņēma RITA balvu kā 1993. gada labākais romantiskais romāns (Best Romance of 1993). Meklēt tieši Ritas saņēmēju bija apzināta izvēle, taču izrādījās, ka jaunāko no latviski tulkotājiem laureātiem kāds visu laiku bibliotēkā pagarina, bet visu pārējos atcerējos lasītus. Galā gan izrādījās, ka arī nakts Lords bija lasīts, bet ļoti sen. Lasot bija tāda pazīstama sajūta, un kad tika pieminēts trentuno, atcerējos, kurš bija vainīgais detektīvintrigā: .
Bet atturos no zvaigžņu piešķiršanas - jo nudien nesaprotu cik. Tā kā acīmredzot notikumi bija gana spilgti sarakstīti, lai tomēr kaut kur aizķertos arī pēc padsmit gadiem, un arī tagad lasījās strauji it kā jau labi. Bet tas darbs ir kā tāda princeses Diānas kāzu kleita, Modern Talking vai krāsainās 90 gadu parašūtbikses: savā traki stilīgs un foršs, bet ar laika atstarpi nedaudz smieklīgs. Nedrīkst aizdomāties līdzi notikumu pavērsieniem un it sevišķi tam ko dara vai saka galvenie varoņi, un tad jau ir labi.
Bet atturos no zvaigžņu piešķiršanas - jo nudien nesaprotu cik. Tā kā acīmredzot notikumi bija gana spilgti sarakstīti, lai tomēr kaut kur aizķertos arī pēc padsmit gadiem, un arī tagad lasījās strauji it kā jau labi. Bet tas darbs ir kā tāda princeses Diānas kāzu kleita, Modern Talking vai krāsainās 90 gadu parašūtbikses: savā traki stilīgs un foršs, bet ar laika atstarpi nedaudz smieklīgs. Nedrīkst aizdomāties līdzi notikumu pavērsieniem un it sevišķi tam ko dara vai saka galvenie varoņi, un tad jau ir labi.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2020
In questo romanzo c'è tutto: passione, dolore, tradimenti, inganni, misteri... il tutto sapientemente mixato.
L'autrice ha trasformato una classica storia d'amore in una storia bella e avvincente, con personaggi ben delineati e un'accurata ricostruzione storica e geografica.
Solo 4 stelle perché ci sono dei punti in cui mi è calata la palpebra, ma fortunatamente sono stati pochi e la lettura è filata via come il vento.
L'autrice ha trasformato una classica storia d'amore in una storia bella e avvincente, con personaggi ben delineati e un'accurata ricostruzione storica e geografica.
Solo 4 stelle perché ci sono dei punti in cui mi è calata la palpebra, ma fortunatamente sono stati pochi e la lettura è filata via come il vento.
October 7, 2024
Mi è piaciuta l'ambientazione veneziana, forse è la prima volta che leggo in un romance storico de "La Serenissima" e ho tanto apprezzato anche tutta la storia de "I signori della notte". Dovevano essere tempi difficili!
Ho trovato anche i personaggi secondari degni di nota, soprattutto quelli esistiti nella vita reale e la scrittrice gestisce la storia d'amore in evoluzione tra Laura e Sandro in modo esperto.
Ho trovato anche i personaggi secondari degni di nota, soprattutto quelli esistiti nella vita reale e la scrittrice gestisce la storia d'amore in evoluzione tra Laura e Sandro in modo esperto.
June 3, 2011
The story is not only just a romance, but it's also a great murder mystery. I love when authors of Historical Romances adds more depth to the story then just the typical love theme. I tend to get bored with those easily. Susan Wiggs did an amazing job balancing the murder mystery with the romance aspect. It was nicely balanced.
I will admit it though....I read the first chapter and was annoyed. The main character, Laura, was one of those perfect characters with virtually no flaws to speak of, so I just walked away from the book for a couple days and then I forced myself to continue reading. She may have limited flaws, but once you read more you start finding yourself really liking Laura. Even though her name seemed silly; I didn't know if 'Laura' was an Italian name or not, but I'm not an expert on names, so I can't pass judgement...
Yet again I figured out who the murderer was WAY before the end of the book. I'm not sure if it was obvious or not, but I pieced all the clues together before Sandro or any of the other characters. I just have a sixth sense about stuff like that, I guess. I might have figured that part out, but I couldn't figure out the motive behind the horrific murders. It baffled me! When the reason was told, I was...STUNNED! I had re-read it a couple of times to wrap my mind around it. Also, there was a huge twist at the end that I didn't see coming at all! That twist boggled my mind! However, it does make sense though! It answered so many unanswered questions. I love it when authors do that too you! I love being stunned and having my mind boggled.
The only thing I didn't like about the book was the some of interactions between Sandro and Laura...for some reason they annoyed me a little bit. It's not Laura's fault, it's Sandro. I couldn't stand him. The only thing I liked about him was his loyalty and how naive he was too love. That's about it, other than that I couldn't stand the man. I just wanted to push him into one of canals and hope that an Italian alligator would eat him. He was so whiny and just plain stupid. Ugh, just thinking about him irritates me. Also I didn't like Laura's name, I kept forgetting she was Italian...I'm not even sure if the name was in existence in the 1531. Huh. Oh well.
All-in-all I really liked this book. It had humor, romance, drama, mystery, and revenge. It covered all the bases of your emotions and I felt every emotion reading this book. So out of five stars I grant this one 5 stars. In all reality, it would be 4.5, but I rounded up. So I recommend this book to any one who love Historical Romance novels and/or mysteries. Or if you just like a nice book to read during the summer, so you can avoid the sun.
I will admit it though....I read the first chapter and was annoyed. The main character, Laura, was one of those perfect characters with virtually no flaws to speak of, so I just walked away from the book for a couple days and then I forced myself to continue reading. She may have limited flaws, but once you read more you start finding yourself really liking Laura. Even though her name seemed silly; I didn't know if 'Laura' was an Italian name or not, but I'm not an expert on names, so I can't pass judgement...
Yet again I figured out who the murderer was WAY before the end of the book. I'm not sure if it was obvious or not, but I pieced all the clues together before Sandro or any of the other characters. I just have a sixth sense about stuff like that, I guess. I might have figured that part out, but I couldn't figure out the motive behind the horrific murders. It baffled me! When the reason was told, I was...STUNNED! I had re-read it a couple of times to wrap my mind around it. Also, there was a huge twist at the end that I didn't see coming at all! That twist boggled my mind! However, it does make sense though! It answered so many unanswered questions. I love it when authors do that too you! I love being stunned and having my mind boggled.
The only thing I didn't like about the book was the some of interactions between Sandro and Laura...for some reason they annoyed me a little bit. It's not Laura's fault, it's Sandro. I couldn't stand him. The only thing I liked about him was his loyalty and how naive he was too love. That's about it, other than that I couldn't stand the man. I just wanted to push him into one of canals and hope that an Italian alligator would eat him. He was so whiny and just plain stupid. Ugh, just thinking about him irritates me. Also I didn't like Laura's name, I kept forgetting she was Italian...I'm not even sure if the name was in existence in the 1531. Huh. Oh well.
All-in-all I really liked this book. It had humor, romance, drama, mystery, and revenge. It covered all the bases of your emotions and I felt every emotion reading this book. So out of five stars I grant this one 5 stars. In all reality, it would be 4.5, but I rounded up. So I recommend this book to any one who love Historical Romance novels and/or mysteries. Or if you just like a nice book to read during the summer, so you can avoid the sun.
May 24, 2024
A lite bodice ripper with a murder mystery, set in 16th century Venice. The hero, Sandro is the high ranking official, Lord of the Night who keeps the peace in the city by apprehending thrives and criminals. He’s a very proper, goes by the rules, 39 year old widower who first sees the heroine, 18 year old Laura as she’s posing for the artist Titian at his studio. Naked. She’s a free spirited full of life person who’s a gifted artist working to be accepted by the Academy. Tragedy brings them together but then honor keeps them apart at times until the very end of the book.
Much of the story is about solving the mysterious murders which seem to point to someone who wants to kill the doge. At times I felt that it overwhelmed the romance. Both MCs burn for each other almost immediately but then it’s a slow burn for Sandro and Laura. Wiggs has done an incredible job of portraying Renaissance Venice with vivid descriptions of the people and places.
I really liked the book, the writing’s good … and Venice itself is one of the attractions in this romance. It’s one of my very favorite cities in Europe so it was a joy to read this engaging murder mystery romance set in La Serenissima… bella!
Lord of the Night got the RITA award for best book of the year, 1994. First edition has a steamy hot stepback by the artist Robert A Maguire.
Much of the story is about solving the mysterious murders which seem to point to someone who wants to kill the doge. At times I felt that it overwhelmed the romance. Both MCs burn for each other almost immediately but then it’s a slow burn for Sandro and Laura. Wiggs has done an incredible job of portraying Renaissance Venice with vivid descriptions of the people and places.
I really liked the book, the writing’s good … and Venice itself is one of the attractions in this romance. It’s one of my very favorite cities in Europe so it was a joy to read this engaging murder mystery romance set in La Serenissima… bella!
Lord of the Night got the RITA award for best book of the year, 1994. First edition has a steamy hot stepback by the artist Robert A Maguire.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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September 25, 2019Sandro Cavalli walked into Titian's art studio where he got his first glimpse of Laura Bandello. He was there to gather information about a murder he was investigating. Laura was 18 and posing for Titian who was helping her perfect her own ability to paint. He was helping her to gain admittance to the Academy for artists.
Sandro told him self repeatedly that he was too old for her. He shouldn't be attracted to her and she couldn't possibly be attracted to him. Sandro had come to see Titian to see if he could offer any insight into the murder of a man that made no sense to him. Titian often heard rumors passing on the streets of Venice. In this case, Laura listened at the door and overheard their conversation. She heard that the man's genital had been cut off after he was stabbed with a poison glass shaft.
Laura went home and told her landlady about the murder and found out that the man had been in their house the previous evening. Laura went to find Sandro to share what she knew. Sandro was surprised and somewhat intrigued that she would have information for him.
Sandro took her back home and found out that she was living in a bordello. Laura had been raised in a convent and her art had led her to live where she now was. She needed money for her art studies and the fastest way she knew was to sell herself. This was supposed to happen after Lent. Sandro tried to talk her out of it after finding out she was a virgin. He even took her to a prostitute who was dying in the hospital. He was disappointed that he couldn't talk her out of selling herself to the highest bidder. Laura didn't want to do this but she owed her landlady a lot of money and she needed to be able to purchase her art supplies.
The murder had Sandro stumped. He found out that the dead man had a messenger bag with him that was now missing. He then received a note telling him that Laura was in danger. He took the warning seriously and went to find her. She had gone to the convent to see her best friend there, Magdalena. They talked for a bit and Laura picked up some pigment from Magdalena's mother who lived in the convent. She had come to live in the convent after the birth of Magdalena. Magdalena had a humped back but she was Laura's best friend.
There was an attempt made to kidnap Laura but she escaped. She was trying to find Magdalena one night and ended up at a print shop where she found another body. Sandro was called and Laura ran to him when she saw him. The printer had some type on it and they couldn't determine why he was killed. Sandro was worried that an attempt was being made on the ruler of the city. He couldn't convince the doge that there was a plan in place to murder him though.
The night came that Laura was to be sold during a costume party. Sandro bid against his own son for Laura. Laura had met Sandro's son and didn't care for him. She put him off by telling him she was living in a bordello. Sandro's son was very angry. Sandro won Laura and attempted to make her sorry for selling herself but his own lust for her took away some of his angry attitude. They were interrupted by the fact that the man who had been caught trying to kidnap Laura was stabbed in the hospital where he was beginning to recover. He died and Sandro didn't understand what he was trying to tell him before he died.
Sandro returned to find that Laura had been taken. Sandro set about trying to rescue her. His son had arranged for her to be taken. She was on board a ship that had 31 young rich men aboard. They were there to rape Laura. Laura knew she would never survive the night and had heard about things like this happening before but thought it a legend. Sandro's son had meant to scare Laura and pay her back for rejecting him. One of the men was determined to rape Laura and see her tortured. Laura was convinced that he was the murderer that was loose.
Sandro arrived in time to save Laura but was sent out of the city for interfering with the sons of the wealthy patrons of Venice. Laura went to find Sandro's son who told the truth of what happened to her. She wouldn't be listened to because she was though of being a prostitute. Sandro was sent into exile for 40 days. He went to one of his estates outside of town and took Laura with him. He didn't want her outside of his protection.
Sandro provided Laura with a studio in his house and she was surprised and thankful. She now knew she was in love with Sandro especially after he had bought another of the prostitutes and given her to his associate. The woman had fallen in love with his assistant. Laura explained to him how he needed to set her free and Jamal let her go. Jamal thought he would lose her but he gained her love after she gained her freedom.
Laura convinced Sandro that he loved her while they were together at his estate. He allowed Laura to paint him naked and to prove his love for her, he snuck back into the city to take the painting to the Academy to help her get accepted. He was caught though and he was still in exile.
Sandro convinced the doge to let Sandro go and another murder caused Sandro to be freed. It wasn't Adolfo, one of the 31 sons. The sons had all been ordered to leave Venice for a time by their families. Sandro had asked Laura to be his mistress and she turned him down. She told him that if she couldn't have all of him, he would get none of her.
Laura went back to the convent and found some paintings of hers that had been stolen from Titian's studio. They were all slashed. They were in the closet of Magdalena. Laura decided that she wouldn't tell Sandro that she had found them.
There was a festival going on and the wealthy men were all on a ship for the celebration. Laura had been commissioned by the Doge's wife to paint her. The unveiling happened and Laura was disappointed that this painting was also slashed.
Sandro had received a note telling him that Laura was on board the ship and her life was in danger. He headed out of his house and was hit over the head. Sandro recovered and with his head hurting, headed to save Laura.
Sandro figured out that the ship the men were on was about to be blown up. He had to save them and figured out that some stolen gunpowder was in the lanterns on the ship. He convinced people on the ship to put out the lanterns. They saved the Doge's life. There was one more attempt to kill him and he was stopped. When the man realized he was trapped, he poisoned himself. Laura was surprised to see that the murderer was Magdalena. She left to go to the convent to tell Magdalena's mother.
Sandro didn't know the entire story but he figured out that Magdalena's mother was the mastermind of the murder of all the individuals.
The Doge had not realized that he had left Magdalena's mother pregnant when she was younger. He had been in the military and had left for a tour. He tried to find the woman when he was finished but was told that she had become a nun and refused to see him. The woman was found to be pregnant and was taken to a ship where 31 sons of the wealthy town patrons had raped and tortured her. She blamed the deformity of Magdalena on what had happened to her. The men still alive that had done that to her and been sent invitations to attend the festival and be on board the ship when it should have blown up. Magdalena had been born a man and his mother had castrated him in order to let her stay with her at the convent. She couldn't prevent Magdalena from falling in love with Laura though. Magdalena had been used by her mother to help in the plot against the Doge. Magdalena was determined to murder the man who didn't know he was her father.
The ship didn't blow up and all the men were saved. Magdalena had died and her mother killed herself too. Sandro arrived at the convent before Laura could be killed.
Sandro asked Laura to marry him and she became his bride. The Doge forgave Sandro for marrying someone with no status and claimed Laura to be the daughter of the city. Sandro didn't lose his position with the police dept either.
Sandro told him self repeatedly that he was too old for her. He shouldn't be attracted to her and she couldn't possibly be attracted to him. Sandro had come to see Titian to see if he could offer any insight into the murder of a man that made no sense to him. Titian often heard rumors passing on the streets of Venice. In this case, Laura listened at the door and overheard their conversation. She heard that the man's genital had been cut off after he was stabbed with a poison glass shaft.
Laura went home and told her landlady about the murder and found out that the man had been in their house the previous evening. Laura went to find Sandro to share what she knew. Sandro was surprised and somewhat intrigued that she would have information for him.
Sandro took her back home and found out that she was living in a bordello. Laura had been raised in a convent and her art had led her to live where she now was. She needed money for her art studies and the fastest way she knew was to sell herself. This was supposed to happen after Lent. Sandro tried to talk her out of it after finding out she was a virgin. He even took her to a prostitute who was dying in the hospital. He was disappointed that he couldn't talk her out of selling herself to the highest bidder. Laura didn't want to do this but she owed her landlady a lot of money and she needed to be able to purchase her art supplies.
The murder had Sandro stumped. He found out that the dead man had a messenger bag with him that was now missing. He then received a note telling him that Laura was in danger. He took the warning seriously and went to find her. She had gone to the convent to see her best friend there, Magdalena. They talked for a bit and Laura picked up some pigment from Magdalena's mother who lived in the convent. She had come to live in the convent after the birth of Magdalena. Magdalena had a humped back but she was Laura's best friend.
There was an attempt made to kidnap Laura but she escaped. She was trying to find Magdalena one night and ended up at a print shop where she found another body. Sandro was called and Laura ran to him when she saw him. The printer had some type on it and they couldn't determine why he was killed. Sandro was worried that an attempt was being made on the ruler of the city. He couldn't convince the doge that there was a plan in place to murder him though.
The night came that Laura was to be sold during a costume party. Sandro bid against his own son for Laura. Laura had met Sandro's son and didn't care for him. She put him off by telling him she was living in a bordello. Sandro's son was very angry. Sandro won Laura and attempted to make her sorry for selling herself but his own lust for her took away some of his angry attitude. They were interrupted by the fact that the man who had been caught trying to kidnap Laura was stabbed in the hospital where he was beginning to recover. He died and Sandro didn't understand what he was trying to tell him before he died.
Sandro returned to find that Laura had been taken. Sandro set about trying to rescue her. His son had arranged for her to be taken. She was on board a ship that had 31 young rich men aboard. They were there to rape Laura. Laura knew she would never survive the night and had heard about things like this happening before but thought it a legend. Sandro's son had meant to scare Laura and pay her back for rejecting him. One of the men was determined to rape Laura and see her tortured. Laura was convinced that he was the murderer that was loose.
Sandro arrived in time to save Laura but was sent out of the city for interfering with the sons of the wealthy patrons of Venice. Laura went to find Sandro's son who told the truth of what happened to her. She wouldn't be listened to because she was though of being a prostitute. Sandro was sent into exile for 40 days. He went to one of his estates outside of town and took Laura with him. He didn't want her outside of his protection.
Sandro provided Laura with a studio in his house and she was surprised and thankful. She now knew she was in love with Sandro especially after he had bought another of the prostitutes and given her to his associate. The woman had fallen in love with his assistant. Laura explained to him how he needed to set her free and Jamal let her go. Jamal thought he would lose her but he gained her love after she gained her freedom.
Laura convinced Sandro that he loved her while they were together at his estate. He allowed Laura to paint him naked and to prove his love for her, he snuck back into the city to take the painting to the Academy to help her get accepted. He was caught though and he was still in exile.
Sandro convinced the doge to let Sandro go and another murder caused Sandro to be freed. It wasn't Adolfo, one of the 31 sons. The sons had all been ordered to leave Venice for a time by their families. Sandro had asked Laura to be his mistress and she turned him down. She told him that if she couldn't have all of him, he would get none of her.
Laura went back to the convent and found some paintings of hers that had been stolen from Titian's studio. They were all slashed. They were in the closet of Magdalena. Laura decided that she wouldn't tell Sandro that she had found them.
There was a festival going on and the wealthy men were all on a ship for the celebration. Laura had been commissioned by the Doge's wife to paint her. The unveiling happened and Laura was disappointed that this painting was also slashed.
Sandro had received a note telling him that Laura was on board the ship and her life was in danger. He headed out of his house and was hit over the head. Sandro recovered and with his head hurting, headed to save Laura.
Sandro figured out that the ship the men were on was about to be blown up. He had to save them and figured out that some stolen gunpowder was in the lanterns on the ship. He convinced people on the ship to put out the lanterns. They saved the Doge's life. There was one more attempt to kill him and he was stopped. When the man realized he was trapped, he poisoned himself. Laura was surprised to see that the murderer was Magdalena. She left to go to the convent to tell Magdalena's mother.
Sandro didn't know the entire story but he figured out that Magdalena's mother was the mastermind of the murder of all the individuals.
The Doge had not realized that he had left Magdalena's mother pregnant when she was younger. He had been in the military and had left for a tour. He tried to find the woman when he was finished but was told that she had become a nun and refused to see him. The woman was found to be pregnant and was taken to a ship where 31 sons of the wealthy town patrons had raped and tortured her. She blamed the deformity of Magdalena on what had happened to her. The men still alive that had done that to her and been sent invitations to attend the festival and be on board the ship when it should have blown up. Magdalena had been born a man and his mother had castrated him in order to let her stay with her at the convent. She couldn't prevent Magdalena from falling in love with Laura though. Magdalena had been used by her mother to help in the plot against the Doge. Magdalena was determined to murder the man who didn't know he was her father.
The ship didn't blow up and all the men were saved. Magdalena had died and her mother killed herself too. Sandro arrived at the convent before Laura could be killed.
Sandro asked Laura to marry him and she became his bride. The Doge forgave Sandro for marrying someone with no status and claimed Laura to be the daughter of the city. Sandro didn't lose his position with the police dept either.
April 23, 2021
I have mixed feelings on this one. I loved the setting, and the world building was lovely. The MCs were just alright. We have the ever-perfect heroine, which in this case was alright because she was a trained "soon-to-be courtesan" who was artsy and mature, and that was her draw.
The hero, well…. he was a mixed bag. On one hand he was exceedingly egotistical and self-centered. He thought he was some savior and was giving lots on unsolicited advice where it was not wanted.
I despise men like him, I would never find him attractive IRL. However, in the book it works and ultimately, he is brought to his knees by the heroine. He grew up a tiny bit. I wish there had been more groveling, but whatever.
The murder/mystery was sort of obvious from the beginning, but it was still enjoyable to work it out. I really do not know how to rate this one…. I probably will never read it again, but I also would recommend it to anyone who likes “lite” bodice rippers.
The hero, well…. he was a mixed bag. On one hand he was exceedingly egotistical and self-centered. He thought he was some savior and was giving lots on unsolicited advice where it was not wanted.
I despise men like him, I would never find him attractive IRL. However, in the book it works and ultimately, he is brought to his knees by the heroine. He grew up a tiny bit. I wish there had been more groveling, but whatever.
The murder/mystery was sort of obvious from the beginning, but it was still enjoyable to work it out. I really do not know how to rate this one…. I probably will never read it again, but I also would recommend it to anyone who likes “lite” bodice rippers.
August 2, 2012
I first read this book in college and remember loving it. On re-read, I noticed more of the ridiculous plot points, but I still adore the setting and basically like the characters even if sometimes I think they're crazy.
November 9, 2013
The kind of book you find in a parking lot, when you are desperate for anything to read, and wish you had put it back on the ground.
April 8, 2023
Mio signore della notte di Susan Wiggs
Nella mia biblioteca da… tipo sempre, per un motivo o per un altro ho rimandato la lettura. Uno di questi è che solitamente cerco di evitare i romanzi della Mondadori proprio perché hanno un certo target che non amo più. Infatti anche questo pur rimanendo sicuramente di quelli belli della casa editrice suddetta,rimane fissato in determinati schemi che alla fine sono sempre quelli.
La storia è ambientata in una cornice che in pratica vale tutto il libro: Venezia nell’apice della sua potenza , considerando che la Wiggs è americana e quindi il rischio di cadere in luoghi comuni e in grossolani errori fosse dietro l’angolo bisogna riconoscere che una minuziosa opera di ricerca sia storica che ambientale degna di plauso, e non parlo soltanto della contestualizzazione ,ma anche di alcune consuetudini dell’epoca: il 31 ad esempio terribile pratica punitiva per le cortigiane o la caduta in disgrazia di un nobile quando prendeva in moglie qualcuna che non era all’altezza del suo rango .Inoltre ci sono dei personaggi realmente esistiti come Aretino e Tiziano che fanno da supporto anche abbastanza consistente a tutta la storia. La protagonista è Laura Bandello , aspirante pittrice cresciuta in un convento perché orfana. Come tutti gli artisti per la sua arte è disposta a qualunque cosa, anche a vendere la sua innocenza e la sua incredibile bellezza al miglior offerente. Sandro cavalli è un nobile, un “signore della notte” che sebbene suoni tanto da romanzo paranormal, erano invece nobili patrizi che vigilavano nella notte nei vicoli della Venezia del doge .
In mezzo un omicidio anzi più di uno dei quali il colpevole si capisce praticamente quasi subito , forse più peculiari rimangono le motivazioni…
Tra Sandro e Laura sarà incredibile attrazione subito , accolta con garbo dalla giovane Laura, combattuta invece da Sandro per varie motivazioni. Una sicuramente la consistente differenza d’età: Sandro potrebbe essere addirittura il padre di Laura tanto le è maggiore , e anche il notevole gap sociale non da trascurare.
Ovviamente data la natura stessa del romanzo sappiamo bene che ci sarà il lieto fine, diciamo che la forza del libro sta nel contrasto caratteriale dei due personaggi principali. Laura l’ho considerata immediatamente adorabile un carattere frizzante e determinato mai stupida e anche piuttosto disincantata,disposta a tutto per alimentare il fuoco della passione dell’arte.
Mi è arrivato meno Sandro e forse questo è per quanto mi riguarda l’unica nota dolente del libro: compassato ,scafato, fin troppo ligio al dovere a volte l’ho considerato noioso per dirla spiccia sembrava perennerete avere un bastone infilato nel didietro… ho sperato che lei lo lasciasse perdere un milione di volte…
Si riprende ovviamente nel finale come è giusto che sia ( in fondo è il protagonista maschile) ma questo ha influito molto sul mio godere della storia stessa… che comunque rimane un buon lavoro nella sua totalità ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
April 16, 2018
Mio signore della notte, ha il pregio di essere abbastanza originale, vero che ragazze che decidono di vendere la propria verginità ce ne sono molte negli storici, ultimamente, e ci sono anche molte cortigiane, ma la nostra protagonista è diversa. Dopo innumerevoli innocenti che si vendono per amore dei loro cari, per sostenere la famiglia, perché qualcuno le ha sedotte o sono rimaste in miseria, insomma per nobili ideali la nostra protagonista no. Laura, decide di vendere se stessa per poter seguire il suo cuore e la sua grande passione diventare una pittrice, in un epoca in cui questo rasentava l’assurdo. Donna di grande talento, Tiziano la prende come sua allieva e modella , non può mantenersi come pittrice pur avendone tutte le qualità, solo perché è una donna e l’accademia per questo la rifiuta nonostante ne riconoscano la bravura. Disposta a tutto pur di trovare i soldi per pennelli e tele ha deciso di vendere l’unica cosa che possiede, e diventare cortigiana. Anche il protagonista esce dall’ordinario, non è un bel gentiluomo giovane e attraente, ma è il capo dei Signori della notte sorta di polizia del Doge, un uomo che ha figli della stessa età della protagonista, vedovo da 20 anni e privo di qualsiasi illusione sull’amore. Mai una coppia sembra peggio assortita, ma mentre Sandro cerca di pensare a lei come se fosse una figlia, fin da subito Laura rimane affascinata da quest’uomo che presenta al mondo un aspetto coriaceo e vive una vita priva di allegria piena solo di dovere e onore. Lei vede in Sandro una bellezza interiore e un bisogno d’amore che nessuno immagina, ma anche se ne è intrigata non intende rinunciare alla sua arte e hai suoi sogni. In una Venezia ben documentata, la trama da subito si tinge di giallo, e mentre atroci delitti vengono commessi, Laura si troverà al centro degli eventi, e di una vendetta che ha radici nel passato, ma che è molto più vicina di quanto lei immagini. Sandro cercherà in ogni modo di farla desistere dai suoi propositi di diventare una cortigiana, arrivando a un azione estrema, mentre la curiosità che mai abbandona Laura la porterà in grave pericolo, sotto la lama di un’assassino. Suspense, intrigo , vendetta per un bel romance, che può non piacere a tutti, ma che ho trovato molto bello e con tocchi di originalità.
Lucia63 - per RFS
Lucia63 - per RFS
May 19, 2020
Adoro la città di Venezia e quindi questa ambientazione mi ha soddisfatto.
La vera protagonista potrebbe essere proprio la città mela sua versione cinquecentesca.
Buona la ricostruzione storica e coinvolgente la storia con un tocco di giallo.
La vera protagonista potrebbe essere proprio la città mela sua versione cinquecentesca.
Buona la ricostruzione storica e coinvolgente la storia con un tocco di giallo.
January 8, 2025
Mio signore della Notte❤️ Quanto ho amato questo incredibile libro! Mi ha fatto rivivere i tempi della Serenissima del 1500 e mi ha trascinata negli angoli più belli e anche pericolosi della splendida Venezia di allora.
Bellissimo! 😍
Bellissimo! 😍
August 15, 2021
Not at all convincing plot or historical applications to characters.
August 29, 2021
Absolutely loved this story...especially the surprises at the end.
March 6, 2025
TW : Attempted rape. The use of the word whore. Murder. Presence of OW.
FMC, Laura was a trained courtesan who had been taken in from a convent where was dumped by her mother since young. Growing up, she was taken care of by the nuns there and developed an interest in arts and paintings. In order to pursue such expensive interest, she had no choice but to barter her only possession she had ; her body. She went to a brothel to seek for guidance from the seasoned courtesans there which then blossomed into a friendship, thus making that brothel her new home. MMC, Sandro was a policeman who was assigned to a case of homicide. He met Laura at a villa where she was naked as a newborn, reclining on a sofa to pose for a painting and he was awestruck since.
The blurb certainly ticked off a lot of boxes of what I usually love in HR! I probably need to point out one thing would ‘enrage’ a portion of contemporary readers here ; the huge age gap between the MCs. Sandro was 39 while Laura was 18. So there was 21 years of difference between them. Not to mention that Sandro used to be married (it was an arranged marriage with him being 15 at the time) but the wife died about 20 years ago. The marriage bore him a son, Marcantino and a daughter , Adriana (of the same age as Laura). I’m not one to feel squeamish about the age gap here because I don’t read HR with contemporary eyes so I always try to keep an open mind but I find it unsettling that the even the son was lusting over Laura with the father clearly fighting against his moral ethics to claim her for his own. There was a scene where the son tried to force-kiss Laura and Sandra happened to come upon them by accident. Instead of giving the son the lashout he needed, Sandro called Laura a whore instead🥲 Actually, there had been a handful of times where Laura was called a whore by Sandro. Although he only meant to make her hate him, but the use of the word whore was just jarring and irredeemable to me! Such audacity he had to make her feel so cheap and insignificant while all these while, he still kept 4 mistresses around the town!! Such hypocrisy! Also, for someone who prided himself as Lord of the Night due to his strict moral codes and policeman ethics, he surely lost his composure a lot over her.
Lusting over Laura, wanting to claim her yet all these while, he still has 4 mistresses kept somewhere across the town. Laura and Sandro met them by accident during a soiree in Venice. The women had a verbal spat with one another due to jealousy. This scene kinda left a bitter feeling in my mouth because at this point, Sandro’s integrity as a man kinda diminished for me. He was supposedly a man of 4 decades yet he was an absolute man-child! Laura deserved better!
Also, there was an attempted gang rape by Sandro’s son, Marcantino and his friends as a retaliation against Laura’s refusal to Marcantino’s offer to be his mistress.
I was surprised this book was written in 2009. With all the problematic issues afromentioned, I assumed it was written in the late 80’s / early 90’s. Either way, a very gripping story with a murder plot wedged in between. This was my very first book set in Renaissance so it was interesting to imagine the atmosphere and a fervent art period.
FMC, Laura was a trained courtesan who had been taken in from a convent where was dumped by her mother since young. Growing up, she was taken care of by the nuns there and developed an interest in arts and paintings. In order to pursue such expensive interest, she had no choice but to barter her only possession she had ; her body. She went to a brothel to seek for guidance from the seasoned courtesans there which then blossomed into a friendship, thus making that brothel her new home. MMC, Sandro was a policeman who was assigned to a case of homicide. He met Laura at a villa where she was naked as a newborn, reclining on a sofa to pose for a painting and he was awestruck since.
The blurb certainly ticked off a lot of boxes of what I usually love in HR! I probably need to point out one thing would ‘enrage’ a portion of contemporary readers here ; the huge age gap between the MCs. Sandro was 39 while Laura was 18. So there was 21 years of difference between them. Not to mention that Sandro used to be married (it was an arranged marriage with him being 15 at the time) but the wife died about 20 years ago. The marriage bore him a son, Marcantino and a daughter , Adriana (of the same age as Laura). I’m not one to feel squeamish about the age gap here because I don’t read HR with contemporary eyes so I always try to keep an open mind but I find it unsettling that the even the son was lusting over Laura with the father clearly fighting against his moral ethics to claim her for his own. There was a scene where the son tried to force-kiss Laura and Sandra happened to come upon them by accident. Instead of giving the son the lashout he needed, Sandro called Laura a whore instead🥲 Actually, there had been a handful of times where Laura was called a whore by Sandro. Although he only meant to make her hate him, but the use of the word whore was just jarring and irredeemable to me! Such audacity he had to make her feel so cheap and insignificant while all these while, he still kept 4 mistresses around the town!! Such hypocrisy! Also, for someone who prided himself as Lord of the Night due to his strict moral codes and policeman ethics, he surely lost his composure a lot over her.
Lusting over Laura, wanting to claim her yet all these while, he still has 4 mistresses kept somewhere across the town. Laura and Sandro met them by accident during a soiree in Venice. The women had a verbal spat with one another due to jealousy. This scene kinda left a bitter feeling in my mouth because at this point, Sandro’s integrity as a man kinda diminished for me. He was supposedly a man of 4 decades yet he was an absolute man-child! Laura deserved better!
Also, there was an attempted gang rape by Sandro’s son, Marcantino and his friends as a retaliation against Laura’s refusal to Marcantino’s offer to be his mistress.
I was surprised this book was written in 2009. With all the problematic issues afromentioned, I assumed it was written in the late 80’s / early 90’s. Either way, a very gripping story with a murder plot wedged in between. This was my very first book set in Renaissance so it was interesting to imagine the atmosphere and a fervent art period.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2011
I have enjoyed some Susan Wiggs books in the past and couldn't let the opportunity pass of trying this one when I found it through Bookmooch. Not only it has been rated highly in several review sites but the Venice setting and the Italian characters sounded original and very appealing.
It is an older book though and in some ways it shows. There's a big age difference between the hero and the heroine for instance, but I do have to say that in terms of maturity they seemed better balanced than in most books where this happens, Laura does some pretty naive things sometimes but so does Sandro and he does seem upset at finding himself attracted to someone half his age so the subject comes up within the plot. Laura does seem more mature when she is dealing with the opportunities open to her and the work she is so very focused on.
The main plot is a mystery. There's a murder and Sandro and Laura come together when he is investigating that death. He is an older nobleman, a member of one of the most important families in Venice. She is an aspiring painter, who has decided to become a courtesan to pay for her art, since women are not allowed at the Academy, and thus receive commissions.
Although the attraction is there from the beginning the obstacles to them being together are more than many. They can't marry because Sandro's position in society would be ruined and Laura virginity is about to be auctioned to the highest bidder. However they keep meeting as more murders occur and danger seems to follow Laura around. I did like them as characters but wasn't completely convinced of their falling in love, Laura was beautiful but they didn't seem to have that much in common besides their interest in solving the murders.
I did like to know about Venice's society and the bit of history included. I have no idea if the "trentuno" was real or not (I would certainly hope not) and those bits did make me uncomfortable, I did not feel it was needed to make the story more tragic. The ending was quite surprising; I definitely did not see that twist coming. In the end it made for an entertaining read although it did not find its way into my favourites' shelf.
Grade: 4/5
It is an older book though and in some ways it shows. There's a big age difference between the hero and the heroine for instance, but I do have to say that in terms of maturity they seemed better balanced than in most books where this happens, Laura does some pretty naive things sometimes but so does Sandro and he does seem upset at finding himself attracted to someone half his age so the subject comes up within the plot. Laura does seem more mature when she is dealing with the opportunities open to her and the work she is so very focused on.
The main plot is a mystery. There's a murder and Sandro and Laura come together when he is investigating that death. He is an older nobleman, a member of one of the most important families in Venice. She is an aspiring painter, who has decided to become a courtesan to pay for her art, since women are not allowed at the Academy, and thus receive commissions.
Although the attraction is there from the beginning the obstacles to them being together are more than many. They can't marry because Sandro's position in society would be ruined and Laura virginity is about to be auctioned to the highest bidder. However they keep meeting as more murders occur and danger seems to follow Laura around. I did like them as characters but wasn't completely convinced of their falling in love, Laura was beautiful but they didn't seem to have that much in common besides their interest in solving the murders.
I did like to know about Venice's society and the bit of history included. I have no idea if the "trentuno" was real or not (I would certainly hope not) and those bits did make me uncomfortable, I did not feel it was needed to make the story more tragic. The ending was quite surprising; I definitely did not see that twist coming. In the end it made for an entertaining read although it did not find its way into my favourites' shelf.
Grade: 4/5
April 18, 2014
Questo libro è stato recensito Per Romanticamente Fantasy Sito da Lucia 63:
Mio signore della notte, ha il pregio di essere abbastanza originale, vero che ragazze che decidono di vendere la propria verginità ce ne sono molte negli storici, ultimamente, e ci sono anche molte cortigiane, ma la nostra protagonista è diversa. Dopo innumerevoli innocenti che si vendono per amore dei loro cari, per sostenere la famiglia, perché qualcuno le ha sedotte o sono rimaste in miseria, insomma per nobili ideali la nostra protagonista no. Laura, decide di vendere se stessa per poter seguire il suo cuore e la sua grande passione diventare una pittrice, in un epoca in cui questo rasentava l’assurdo. Donna di grande talento, Tiziano la prende come sua allieva e modella , non può mantenersi come pittrice pur avendone tutte le qualità, solo perché è una donna e l’accademia per questo la rifiuta nonostante ne riconoscano la bravura. Disposta a tutto pur di trovare i soldi per pennelli e tele ha deciso di vendere l’unica cosa che possiede, e diventare cortigiana. Anche il protagonista esce dall’ordinario, non è un bel gentiluomo giovane e attraente, ma è il capo dei Signori della notte sorta di polizia del Doge, un uomo che ha figli della stessa età della protagonista, vedovo da 20 anni e privo di qualsiasi illusione sull’amore. Mai una coppia sembra peggio assortita, ma mentre Sandro cerca di pensare a lei come se fosse una figlia, fin da subito Laura rimane affascinata da quest’uomo che presenta al mondo un aspetto coriaceo e vive una vita priva di allegria piena solo di dovere e onore. Continua a leggere...
Mio signore della notte, ha il pregio di essere abbastanza originale, vero che ragazze che decidono di vendere la propria verginità ce ne sono molte negli storici, ultimamente, e ci sono anche molte cortigiane, ma la nostra protagonista è diversa. Dopo innumerevoli innocenti che si vendono per amore dei loro cari, per sostenere la famiglia, perché qualcuno le ha sedotte o sono rimaste in miseria, insomma per nobili ideali la nostra protagonista no. Laura, decide di vendere se stessa per poter seguire il suo cuore e la sua grande passione diventare una pittrice, in un epoca in cui questo rasentava l’assurdo. Donna di grande talento, Tiziano la prende come sua allieva e modella , non può mantenersi come pittrice pur avendone tutte le qualità, solo perché è una donna e l’accademia per questo la rifiuta nonostante ne riconoscano la bravura. Disposta a tutto pur di trovare i soldi per pennelli e tele ha deciso di vendere l’unica cosa che possiede, e diventare cortigiana. Anche il protagonista esce dall’ordinario, non è un bel gentiluomo giovane e attraente, ma è il capo dei Signori della notte sorta di polizia del Doge, un uomo che ha figli della stessa età della protagonista, vedovo da 20 anni e privo di qualsiasi illusione sull’amore. Mai una coppia sembra peggio assortita, ma mentre Sandro cerca di pensare a lei come se fosse una figlia, fin da subito Laura rimane affascinata da quest’uomo che presenta al mondo un aspetto coriaceo e vive una vita priva di allegria piena solo di dovere e onore. Continua a leggere...
June 4, 2013
Era già da un pò che avevo questo romanzo in coda di lettura ma chissà perchè non mi decidevo ad iniziarlo. Invece nonostante le alte aspettative che mi ero fatta, mi ha piacevolmente sorpreso: un romanzo storico con un ambientazione inusuale (Venezia nel 1531), una protagonista inusuale (una pittrice) e una storia d'amore inusuale tra due persone profondamente diverse (età, classe sociale, carattere...). All'inizio Sandro ci viene presentato come un uomo duro, ligio al dovere e per il quale conta solo l'onore e il suo lavoro come "Signore della Notte", ovvero capo della polizia di Venezia. Quando indagando su un efferato delitto si trova davanti Laura tutte le sue certezze e convinzioni iniziano a crollare. Laura ha una meta nella vita: riuscire ad entrare all'accademia di belle arti per essere riconosciuta come pittrice. Non ha soldi, non ha famiglia ma ha molti amici; è bella, giovane, solare ed espansiva. Lei si innamora a prima vista di quell'uomo serio e posato che fa di tutto per tenerla a distanza. Molto bello l'evolversi dei loro sentimenti, la lotta di entrambi per non cedere e il trionfo del loro amore nonostante tutto e tutti. L'unica critica riguarda un pò il lato giallo del romanzo: non è difficile capire chi si celi dietro gli omicidi, ma il tutto è molto ben costruito. Da leggere.
February 5, 2011
My very first Susan Wiggs book - I am no longer a Wiggs virgin! Like many reviewers on this site, the setting of Renaissance Venice was superb and gave this book an otherwordly feel that was refreshing and unique. The book reminded me very much of movie "Dangerous Beauty" about the courtesan Veronica Franco - I wonder how much of an inspiration one was to the other?
The Lord of the Night is Sandro Cavalli, a city magistrate who polices the streets and canals of Venice. He is also nobility, an older widower who is stiff and pompous and inflexible. In his investigation of a gruesome murder, he meets a young female painter Laura, who is - let's see if I can get this straight - raised by nuns, modeling nude for the famous Renaissance artist Titian, aspiring to become a painter in the Academy despite her gender, living in a cathouse, and about to sell her virginity to the highest bidder so she can afford her pigments and brushes. And she's a nice girl to boot.
Aside from the beautiful setting, I was intrigued by the huge age gap between Sandro and Laura - twenty years or so - since this is not a usual motif in historical romance novels, despite its historical accuracy.
All in all, this novel was highly entertaining and I would recommend it to fans of the genre.
The Lord of the Night is Sandro Cavalli, a city magistrate who polices the streets and canals of Venice. He is also nobility, an older widower who is stiff and pompous and inflexible. In his investigation of a gruesome murder, he meets a young female painter Laura, who is - let's see if I can get this straight - raised by nuns, modeling nude for the famous Renaissance artist Titian, aspiring to become a painter in the Academy despite her gender, living in a cathouse, and about to sell her virginity to the highest bidder so she can afford her pigments and brushes. And she's a nice girl to boot.
Aside from the beautiful setting, I was intrigued by the huge age gap between Sandro and Laura - twenty years or so - since this is not a usual motif in historical romance novels, despite its historical accuracy.
All in all, this novel was highly entertaining and I would recommend it to fans of the genre.
May 23, 2015
Sometimes it doesn't work to write a review for a book as soon as you have finished it. Last night I posted this review and gave the book 3 stars, said I thought it deserved 3½, but as I was telling my husband about the book this morning, I realized that I enjoyed it more than I thought I had, and gained some knowledge as well. So I have upped the number of stars, and my review from last night continues from here...This was a different book for me. It takes place in 16th century Venice, so the setting felt strange as I am used to reading books set in England or the US. I am not familiar with Italian history, so I cannot say how accurate the settings and depiction of the times were, but I will say that I did enjoy the book. The story was well written, there was a mystery involved and although I guessed part of it, I was unable to figure it out completely. I doubt I would read this book again, but not because of the story or the way it was written. I have no fault with any of it, and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in art, history, romance, and the Venetian setting....it really is an excellent book, and I am glad I read it, but it's just not set in a place that would hold my interest for a second reading.
May 25, 2015
3 stars
Non male, sinceramente non quello che mi aspettavo. Un libro leggero, ma mi ci voleva per staccare un po' dopo tutti i volumi impegnativi di questo periodo.
La storia è piuttosto banale e prevedibile tanto che il colpevole del complotto è chiaro al lettore quasi fin da subito. La storia d'amore invece ha un intreccio interessante, molto vitale, non trovo altri aggettivi per definirlo. Ciò che rapisce davvero il lettore però è Venezia, sicuramente una dei personaggi principali al pari di Laura e Sandro con i suoi canali, le gondole, gli edifici, le cortigiane e gli illustri personaggi. Un affresco notevole della città che fa venir voglia, a chi come me non ci è mai stato, di visitarla da cima a fondo. Peccato la storia sia stata così labile, altrimenti il voto sarebbe stato molto più alto.
Non male, sinceramente non quello che mi aspettavo. Un libro leggero, ma mi ci voleva per staccare un po' dopo tutti i volumi impegnativi di questo periodo.
La storia è piuttosto banale e prevedibile tanto che il colpevole del complotto è chiaro al lettore quasi fin da subito. La storia d'amore invece ha un intreccio interessante, molto vitale, non trovo altri aggettivi per definirlo. Ciò che rapisce davvero il lettore però è Venezia, sicuramente una dei personaggi principali al pari di Laura e Sandro con i suoi canali, le gondole, gli edifici, le cortigiane e gli illustri personaggi. Un affresco notevole della città che fa venir voglia, a chi come me non ci è mai stato, di visitarla da cima a fondo. Peccato la storia sia stata così labile, altrimenti il voto sarebbe stato molto più alto.
June 20, 2016
Not a bad read. A commoner girl meets a prestige man, forbidden love, but they fall in love in anyways. During the course, there have been murders, which he blamed her for one, but soon realized she couldn't have done it. Along the way, her paintings have been stolen that were of her. She was also a painter hoping to get into the academy, despite the fact she was a woman and in that era, many women weren't allowed in, to which she became accepted to after a painting she did of the Lord of the Night, was submitted. In the end, he realized how much he loved her and when her life was in mortal danger along with several others, he was able to save them and asked her to marry him, which would strip him of his status and he'd become a commoner himself. But, in the end, she was giving a prestige title and he was able to continue to be Lord of the Night.
September 28, 2013
c1993: FWFTB: Venice, plot, courtesan, honour, underworld. This is one of those books that end up in your TBR pile that you have absolutely no recollection of buying or ordering. It is soul-destroyingly fluffy - and I think my History shelf might just sue me for shelving this book under that tag. Additionally, I was perturbed with the age difference of the romantic twosome in this book and thus unable to recommend to anyone in the normal crew. Slightly overwrought style of writing eg " Petrarch's Laura, he though. Yes, she could move a man to poetry. Some other man, he reminded himself. Not Sandro Cavalli. The only verse he new was the rhyme of the criminal and the meter of desperate souls."
April 12, 2011
Just read Lord of the Night (although it was first released in the nineties) It's a real page turner - a little gory, lots of overkill, but it keeps you reading that's for sure. It wasn't quite what I was expecting from this author - I had imagined she wrote more in the style of women's fiction than this - not sure why I thought that. I am very curious about Susan Wiggs and how her writing style has evolved. I liked the Venetian setting, I thought the subsidiary characters were great and the writer handles the evolving love affair between Laura and Sandro expertly. I liked the 'tortured artist' scenes - as a writer myself I could really relate to some of those!
September 8, 2010
This is the first Susan Wiggs I've ever read. Not sure if I want to try another.
The beginning had promise! But then as I read on, it became just plain silly. I actually said "you've got to be kidding" out loud. I liked the characters enough and the setting was fun so I gave it 2 stars. But, there are so many intelligent, well written books in the romance genre, that I recommend skipping this one.
The beginning had promise! But then as I read on, it became just plain silly. I actually said "you've got to be kidding" out loud. I liked the characters enough and the setting was fun so I gave it 2 stars. But, there are so many intelligent, well written books in the romance genre, that I recommend skipping this one.
May 28, 2012
I've read Susan Wiggs before and loved her work. This one? Not so much. I enjoyed Laura. She's everything you could want in a heroine-intelligent, independent, loyal, etc. Sandro? Eck. This quote says it all: "But no man has ever made me feel as cheap and insignificant as you just have." He says not-so-nice things to Laura several times during the course of the book.
If you're picking up a Susan Wiggs book; avoid this one and go with the Great Chicago Fire Trilogy instead.
If you're picking up a Susan Wiggs book; avoid this one and go with the Great Chicago Fire Trilogy instead.
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