The Pumilio Child

by Judy McInerney

The Pumilio Child is a dark, unsettling thriller that challenges the perception that Italy during the Renaissance was cultured and refined. The day-to-day reality was surprisingly barbaric.

Ya Ling’s cultured life of privilege in Beijing is cruelly cut short when she is abducted and shipped to the slave market in Venice. When celebrated Renaissance artist Mantegna sees her chained to a post, although his finances are perilous, he digs deep and buys her. His initial intention is to paint her exotic beauty, but he soon moves her into the harness room for pleasures of a more private nature. Ya Ling has two ambitions, to ruin Mantegna, then to escape her brutal and sordid life in Mantua and return back to her family in China. However, Mantegna’s latest commission, two huge frescos for the ruling Gonzaga family, make him invincible.

This gripping story is interwoven with a subplot introducing a bizarre and vicious practice that took place during Renaissance times. It was so corrupt and disturbing it has been wiped from history.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

400 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2018

Reviews

[Felicia · Rating 1 out of 5]

My issues with this book are never-ending. If I were to attempt to explain them all, I'm afraid this review would be longer than the book itself.

If you enjoy historical fiction with next to zero actual historical facts, then this book is for you. Unlike most every other reviewer of this book, I expect more from an author that chooses to take on this genre.

Set in the mid 1400's, this is a story about a young virginal girl, Ya Ling, that is kidnapped from her upper crust family in China and trafficked to Renaissance Italy where she is sold to the famous artist Andrea Mantegna.

Mantegna is indeed a revered Renaissance painter....aaaannnd that's where the historical part ends and the fiction begins.

There is no suggestion in documented history that Mantegna was an abhorrent man with a penchant for young sex slaves, much less the number of other disdainful behaviors as portrayed in this story. The author has not only taken outrageous liberties with his personal life but also with his professional life, portraying him as a flagrantly dishonest manipulator. Additionally, she has skewed the facts surrounding his works and his inspirations.

As for Ya Ling, she's introduced as a spoiled, arrogant and pampered girl who suddenly, within the span of one day, becomes a cunning and street-smart heroine.

The timeline itself is laughable at times with years passing by from one sentence to the next.

I can appreciate that this is fiction, but why choose to include a real life person if you're not going to represent his truth? Make up a name!!! Historical fiction does not have to be about a real life historical figure, THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED FICTION!

I was going to discuss the curious title of the book but I'm spent. I just don't care enough to address it.


I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jeanette Heidenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pumilio Child is a deeply moving historical novel that tells the story of Ya Ling, a young girl who is kidnapped from her home in China and sold into slavery in 15th century Italy. The author, Judy McInerney, found her inspiration for this book in the famous Camera degli Sposi frescoes by Renaissance painter Andrea Mantegna. And just like Mantegna, she has a remarkable way of creating a story that feels three-dimensional. The characters are multifaceted and relatable. The sounds, smells and visuals of 15th century Mantua are vividly painted. And some of the more disturbing practices of the time are brought into light.

Ya Ling is an inspirational heroine, who faces adversity with calm, determination and resolve. She finds her strength in what her parents taught her about the art of healing and in the teachings of classical Chinese philosophers, such as Confucius and Lao Tse. And as she learns about the culture and customs of her new home, so do we.

The book is clearly well researched, and as the story progressed, I found myself looking up the paintings, people and places on Google. It was especially thrilling to identify the book’s characters as real people in the Camera degli Sposi frescoes.

I had the pleasure of reading a prerelease version of The Pumilio Child on The Pigeonhole, a social reading platform. From the comments I gather that I was not the only one who was deeply moved by this book. Emotions ran high before the very satisfying ending of this beautiful and dark story of resilience and fortitude.

[Di Paterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pumilio Child is an amazing book, which tells the story of Ya Ling, a Chinese girl who is sold into slavery in Renaissance Italy. Her story is interwoven with that of a master painter, and the power struggles in Mantua at the time. But it is Ya Ling's strength that shines through. She endures cruelty and subjugation, but she never allows despair to take over, so with innate strength and intelligence, and a fair bit of Confucian philosophy, she fights to find her way home.

The book is enthralling, and the insight into one of the cruellest aspects of Renaissance Italy is heartbreaking, but ultimately it is a story about overcoming betrayal and finding one's purpose in life. Judy McInerney is a wonderful writer, who has researched her subject matter extensively, and woven an interesting story into true events. I look forward to more of her novels.

[Yvonne (It's All About Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished reading: February 23rd 2019

"It is nature. And the will of the Divine. That's how life is. Cruel and unfair. We may question the injustice, but we both know we are powerless against it."

*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Anne Cater and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***



Give me the promise of a historical fiction story with a foreign setting and other cultures to explore and I'm sold without needing to know more. This is exactly what happened when I first heard about The Pumilio Child and its mix of Chinese and Italian culture. The setting on its own is fascinating, and I loved the little glimpses of 15th century Mongol/Han culture in Beijing and life in the same period in Italy. The writing is quite engaging and includes lots of descriptions of both places. I did find the timelapses in especially the part set in Italy to be quite random and without warning though; sometimes days, months or even years passed between one sentence and the other just like that. This made the story feel less coherent and disturbed the flow of the plot. The ending was a bit abrupt; especially if you consider the fact that a lot of the plot was quite slow and the story dragged in parts.

As for the characters: I'm not completely positive Ya Ling is that credible as a character. She seems overconfident and able to overcome enormous obstacles so far from home even after such a shelted childhood in a completely different country and culture... The way she acted and some of the things she did just didn't manage to convince me. I loved the details about the healing and different plants as well as the details about the Asian culture though. On the other side we have Mantegna. I confess I don't know anything about the real Mantegna, so I wasn't offended by the fact that he is supposedly nothing like the character as described in The Pumilio Child. He is absolutely despicable in the story, but I guess every story needs a villain... I loved the many descriptions of the art though. Trigger warnings are in place for (child) abuse, rape, discrimination and violence among other things. Then again, the story is set back in the 15th century, so we are all aware of the fac tthat women (and especially slaves) are not treated the same way back then.

There were things I liked in this story, including the foreign culture and many references to the healing abilities of Ya Ling and her family. There is a lot to say about the plot as well, with the various surprises it has in store and twists you probably won't see coming. The story didn't seem to flow all that well though, mainly due to the sudden timelapses and jumping in time. When you see a characters with lots of details about daily life and a really slow pace, only for them to suddenly be days/months/years in the future in a completely different situation, this can become a bit confusing. Also, after such a slow-paced and character driven start, the final part of The Pumilio Child (starting with their final time at the court) felt a bit rushed and the ending was too abrupt for me.

That said, The Pumilio Child is by no means a bad read and historical fiction fans who like character driven stories with a foreign setting will have a great time discovering all about Ya Ling's unfortunate life.

P.S. Find more of my reviews here.

[Zelda Rhiando · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pumilio Child takes a great premise, and follows it unflinchingly through the twists and turns of life in Renaissance Italy. Ya Ling is a very strong character, and the juxtaposition of her early life in Mantua versus her experiences in Venice works particularly well. By turns heartbreaking and horrifying, it’s a great read. Recommended!

[Devaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pumilio Child is a disturbing read since it dashes so many illusions about the Italian Renaissance to smithereens. It's the story of a young Chinese-Mongolian girl, Ya Ling, who is abducted on the eve of her wedding and sold as a slave in Venice. There, she is purchased by the artist Mantegna, who at first is keen to capture her beauty in paint, but later forces her to sleep with him. We get a vivid glimpse of the artist's family life--he's deeply in debt as the Gonzagas of Mantova, the ruling family of his city, keep postponing the commissioning of a set of frescoes depicting their family and court. He has to undertake private commissions on the quiet; the Ecclesiastical Court is on the lookout for any deviations from orthodoxy and (no surprise) his relations with his wife are cold, at best. So it's not surprising that when Ya Ling becomes pregnant, his first thought is to get her out of his house and give away her child. Ya Ling, who has made several fruitless attempts to escape from Mantegna's house, spends the rest of her life trying to locate her daughter and amass sufficient wealth to return to Beijing and her family. Does she succeed? Read this book to find out.

[The Idle Woman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Over the past year, while working on Mantegna (I'm an art historian), I’ve often though it a shame that there aren’t more novels about him. He had the kind of life that cries out for fiction and so, when I stumbled across this novel on Netgalley, I couldn’t resist. But I didn’t get on with it terribly well. It isn’t just that I found it hard to engage with it as a piece of historical fiction – though I did – but I found myself growing increasingly frustrated by the numerous errors, which could have been avoided by a ten-second check on Wikipedia. Perhaps this warrants a discussion about the purpose of historical fiction. We can get into that later, because (you won’t be surprised to hear) I have strong opinions about it. Perhaps it also warrants a discussion about whether you should read novels set in your specialist historical period. But the most remarkable thing is that I’ve actually ended up feeling sorry for Mantegna who, while one of the most unpleasant, litigious and self-conscious artists in history, does not deserve this. I should warn you that this is a long one and there is much ranting. I’d suggest you make a cup of tea first...

For the full review, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2018/11/05/t...

[A.D. Flint · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ya Ling is not a character I felt initial sympathy for: she is selfish, impetuous and rude. She is also young and, along with her uncertainty and desires, she is a fascinating character with depth. No spoilers here, but in extreme adversity, her determination, intelligence and resilience make her compelling. I became desperate to see her escape her dreadful situation. The level of historical detail of 15th century Beijing and Italy was both extraordinary and fascinating. The cruelty of a different age was breathtaking at times, and Ya Ling certainly suffers at the hands of the Maestro, a reminder that great artists can be abysmal human beings.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do enjoy a spot of historical fiction, especially when it’s set during such an evocative time period. Not only does this novel bring to life Renaissance Italy, it also features a main character from Beijing. I love anything to do with Eastern history so I knew that these two cultures blended together would make a fascinating read for me.

I must admit that initially it took me awhile to warm to our heroine, Ya Ling. What happens to her is horrific, she is stolen from her privileged family on the eve of her wedding, held captive, shipped half way across the world to Venice where she is sold as a slave. While I did feel for her immensely, her naivety did slightly irritate me. She believes with all her heart that she will either be rescued by her family or she’ll escape by her own means and travel the thousands of miles back home. But this hope is one that gets her through the worst of times, so really I can’t begrudge her that.

Ya Ling descends from a long line of healers and she uses her knowledge and skills to earn the trust of the Mantegna household. Ancient medicine is another theme I love to see in my books, this element of ‘The Pumilio Child’ really made it for me. It was riveting to read these healing moments. Ya Ling’s abilities give her the power and hope she needs to survive her new life.

The secondary story line is unbelievably brutal - the creation of pumilio’s (non-natural dwarfs). I did a fair amount of Googling on this subject and couldn’t find much, in fact anything. There is an author’s note at the start of the book highlighting that this practise did happen but with no links to Mantegna. Dwarf ownership was a symbol of power and money during the fifteenth century and the extreme measures illustrated in ‘The Pumilio Child’ highlight how desperate some people were for power and respect. It’s not great leap to believe these things really happened.

After my initial misgivings about Ya Ling, this turned into a superb read for me. The time period is wonderfully brought to life by Judy McInerney and although there are truly awful moments, this book is evocative, gripping, utterly fascinating and highly enjoyable.

[Pheadra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pumilio Child by Judy McInerney is an intriguing, colourful, gripping tale about slavery, healing, cultural differences, superstition, cruelty, and human trafficking in the Middle Ages from China to Italy. This is one of the best researched, well-detailed stories I've read.
I can not recommend this book enough to those looking for a gripping, period novel that draws the reader in and leaves an indelible mark, both sad and beautiful. This story evoked many emotions in me. Anger, disappointment, horror, fear, even hunger and finally peace. The character of Ya Ling has been added to my list of favourite characters ever. Her intelligence, kindness, tenacity and common sense not to mention references to Confucius has allowed hope to spring eternal. Books are a means to transport the reader to faraway lands. Books are a source of information. Books are a source of entertainment. This book has done all three admirably. I predict this book will be on the best-sellers list in no time and deservedly so.
It gets a well-deserved 9/10. Outstanding!

[Cheryl M-M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ya Ling is a young, bright and talented woman, who lives a life of luxury in Beijing. Shortly after her betrothal she is brutally kidnapped, and in matter of months goes from an important wealthy woman to a mere concubine. Bought by a painter, who insists he wants to paint her beauty, but never actually paints her. His attitude towards women and his servants is a complete contradiction to the exquisite art he creates.

What the author captures beautifully is the way the worlds of East and West collide. Not only culturally, but also in regards to religion and faith. Ya Ling manages to maintain her dignity and inner strength, despite all her trials and tribulations. Her reverence for her gift and talent for healing is what keeps her going throughout the pain, humiliation and despair.

The Renaissance tends to be romanticised, especially on the big and small screen. The squalor, desperation and viciousness is swept under the billowing skirts of the wealthy. The more sordid tastes, habits and criminal enterprises of the well-coined become a footnote in history or just disappear completely.

I would like to have seen some notes or references to back up certain claims in regards to the Pumilio children. It’s presented as a forgotten historical fact in the blurb. As for the life and times of the revered Renaissance painter Mantegna, again without references I would presume artistic licence has been taken.

As a purely fictional premise I really enjoyed the story of Ya Ling, and indeed I was sorry to say goodbye to a woman of such strength and determination. A young girl thrown into a strange world of violence and abuse, but determined throughout to regain her freedom and return home to her beloved family.

It’s historical fiction, albeit perhaps more fiction than historical fact, and yet literary fiction in equal measures. McInerney projects the soothing, healing nature of the main character in an unforgettable manner. It’s a compelling read.
*I received a courtesy copy*

[Helen Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I closed the pages of the Pumilio Child for the final time I held the book against my chest, took a deep sigh and had to take a moment to reflect on the journey I had just taken. From the hutongs of 15th century Beijing to Renaissance Italy and through 400 years of female survival… and then I immediately picked up my phone and spent the next two hours on Googling images of the frescos described in the book, along with the barbaric practices at the birth of the ‘modern age’.

The story opens in China and follows Ya Ling from her life of privilege as an only daughter in a wealthy family in Beijing, to her brutal kidnapping and sale into the slave trade in Italy where she is bought by the artist Andrea Mantegna. Ya Ling takes a while to warm up to. She is a headstrong and arrogant teenager (characteristics which many of us will be able to empathise with) but this quickly shifts into maturity and resilience when she is forced to grow up very quickly. She becomes a cunning heroine, who never gives up and consistently stays true to herself.

The book provides a narrative of the juxtaposition of artistic high culture against the medieval brutality of the day and the contrast between Western and Eastern values. It has its own artistry with underlying themes which challenge our unconscious preconceptions of Western civilisation, and highlights the prejudices of colonialism, yet this is all within the pages of an incredibly captivating and easily digestible story.

The prevailing message throughout the book is one of the power of friendships and relationships even in the face of extreme adversity, particularly between the female characters, but also satisfies the reader with a healthy dose of vengeance and retribution along the way.

[Lel Budge · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Pumilio Child by Judy McInerey is historical fiction at its best and is a gripping tale about kidnap, slavery, cultural differences, superstition and cruelty in the 1400’s China and Italy.

If you love a historical novel that just pulls you along and that touches your heart a little….this is for you…its both sad and yet beautiful.

An emotional read that’s for sure….the whole gamut, fear, horror, disgust and anger and hope, it will put you through the wringer…..

Ya Ling is such a deep character, clever, kind and so brave, while initially spoilt and privileged her common sense and determination makes you care deeply for her…..all credit to Judy McInerney’s poetic, beautiful and creative writing ….a masterpiece.

Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

My reviews are also here....with pictures! https://orlando-books.blog

[Gail Wylde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from start to finish. It gripped me right from the beginning and I don't think it will let me go any time soon! This was a rollercoaster of emotions, leaving me breathless at times. All the characters were very strong, I loved Ya Ling, almost from the opening of the book. Some of the male characters will bring out the worst in you. The historical facts will leave the reader gasping with how some things were in Renaissance Italy. I'm finding it hard to write the review without giving too much away but the one thing I will say is you MUST read this book! I now feel lost that I have finished it.
I want to thank Pigeonhole and Judy McInerney for allowing me to read this book. Good luck Judy, this should be on everybody's reading list for 2018 and thank you again.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wished for this on #Netgalley because I was intrigued by the book description. I am so glad I received a copy for review as this book kept me entranced from start to finish.
The early part of the book focuses on Ya Ling's upbringing in China, as the spoiled daughter of 2 renowned Beijing healers. It is her healing knowledge and Confucian wisdom that sustains her once she reaches Renaissance Italy, where the remainder of the book is set.
The Pumilio Child is rich in detail, with strong characters and plotlines. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, although there were some distressing scenes, and i would recommend it to anyone interested in either 15th century China or Renaissance Italy based fiction.

[Jennifer Lynch · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Pumilio Child tells the story of Ya Ling, a young Chinese girl who is abducted and sold as a slave the day after her betrothal by a man considered a family friend. She is taken to Italy where she is then purchased by the Renaissance artist, Andrea Mantegna. Ya Ling vows to remain strong and find her way home to Beijing.
I wanted to like this book but, in the end, I found it a real struggle to finish. I didn't like Ya Ling. I don't feel she is a character I can empathise with and I found her transformation throughout the novel ridiculous.
The most annoying thing about the book are the huge jumps in time. It feels as if the author put no thought into the flow of the book and just threw parts of the story together.

A disappointing read.

[Alison Alice-May · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a most unusual book. It starts in China and ends in Italy. There is one fabulous strong female character who grows with each turn of the page. She is kidnapped just before her wedding and taken as a slave to Italy. She is high born and virginal, unaware of the ways of a foreign country and its people. The whole book is a difficult read as there are periods of torture and general unkindness throughout. It is well worth it though as the author uses her carefully researched knowledge to guide the reader through the Renaissance art movement. It is a really wonderful read that stays with you long after you finish reading.

[Anusha Jayaram · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a wonderful read! Incredibly detailed and well-researched, spanning vastly different cultures and people, it had me hooked right from the first chapter. I read The Pumilio Child online, via ‘The Pigeonhole’, which offers authors – a lot of new voices - a platform for their work.
It's ironic to think I almost did not read this book! I did not particularly enjoy my last read on Pigeonhole, and was therefore not too keen to invest time in another book that might cause disappointment. I had decided to limit myself - at least for a while - to traditionally published books (which came with reasonable number of prior reviews).

Something about the theme of this book caught my attention though. ‘The Pumilio Child’ seemed to promise interesting peeks into the life and times of 14th-15th century China as well as Italy (and has been some time since I read anything close to historical fiction). I am glad I decided to give it a try – on the day the last installment was released, no less – because first time author Judy McInerney has done a splendid job of crafting an unputdownable page turner. It truly has been a long time since I stayed up till 2 in the night to finish a novel (given how precious my beauty sleep is to me)!

The story begins in China, with the privileged life of our young protagonist, Ya Ling, whose neatly planned out life is laid out in front of her, seemingly predictable in its luxury. Since this is a story spanning continents – of course her life doesn’t go as planned (read the book for details!) – and she ends up being shipped all the way to Italy. The narrative takes us believably through Ya Ling’s transformation from an impetuous, good-at-heart- but inconsiderate-at-times teenager to a mellow, compassionate and strong woman.

Along the way there are numerous characters, each adding their unique touch to the canvas, all exhibiting various shades of grey. The characters are well developed - no one character is entirely good or entirely bad; they have all been given flexibility to learn and grow throughout the story.
I enjoyed the fact that McInerney did not waste words on lengthy descriptions of places and things, which she well could have, given the various settings she has used. She has managed to convey succinctly the essence of each backdrop, while sustaining focus on the people and the story arc.
Also worth noting is that the author has taken care not to let the book devolve into a spiral of doom and gloom. This is significant because of the heavy and often dark themes the story deals with. McInerney has managed to intersperse dark episodes with casual human interactions and intelligent, observant wit.

Another interesting point regarding this book is that the character of the painter Andrea Mantegna is based on the actual painter Mantegna, who lived in 15th century Italy. However, his life has been fictionalized for the purpose of this story, as McInerney has taken pains to emphasize.
Various references to Mantegna’s real life paintings and frescoes are interwoven into the story. Mantegna’s Mantuan masterpiece, known today as ‘Camera degli Sposi’ is central to the latter part of the story. Towards the end of the book, details of individual characters featured in the paintings of the ‘Camera’ are discussed in the story (I will not reveal any more, to steer clear of any spoilers). Here, I feel strongly that including pictures of the real ‘Camera’ augmenting the text would add to the reading experience and bring the entire narrative to life (I relied on Google-image-search while I was reading this part of the book).

Regarding the format of the book, Pigeonhole has an interesting feature of allowing comments and discussions from readers to run alongside the book’s text. While this can sometimes be distracting (and can even include spoilers with some eager readers front-running the narrative), in this particular case, it was quite useful.
Input from readers familiar with the background and culture of people and places dealt with in the story, helped put the narrative in perspective. It would be great if some of the factual inputs from these comments could be included as footnotes to the text wherever relevant (if the book does go through another round of editing-and-publishing). It adds value and depth to the story, which a reader might miss if he or she does not already know certain historical facts / cultural practices.

The only (minor) quibble I might have with the story is regarding a certain emotional reunion in the later part of the book. Given McInerney’s subtlety throughout the book in how she portrays a variety of circumstances, I might have expected the treatment of this episode to have been a touch more realistic – subdued and gradual as opposed to dramatic and instantaneous. However, this minor nitpicking aside, I found the writing to be wonderfully balanced and relatable. It would be unfair to complain, since the writing, on the whole, has been characterized by extremely believable people, their circumstances and reactions.
Oh, and as the last note: I did not know what ‘Pumilio’ meant before reading this book. I did try asking Google about it, but I did not get any relevant results. Which is a good thing. It is definitely more rewarding to read the book without a knowing, and allow the writer to educate you.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in authentic depictions of cultures and people from half a millennium ago, along with strong characters and a solid story arc. And I would be quite keen to read anything else from the same author in the future.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely fascinating account of a young Chinese girl Ya Ling who was abducted and sold as a slave on the eve of her betrothal. The story takes the reader on Ya Ling's journey from Beijing to renaissance Italy and how she triumphed through adversity and what a journey it was. The author's research into this period was thorough and I was appalled at some of the brutality that was common place at this time. A breathtaking story which made me sad, angry and even made me smile at times. I look forward to Judy McInerney's next novel. I read this book courtesy of the Pigeonhole so I thank them and the author for giving me the chance to read such a wonderful book.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to read this via the PigeonHole along with many other and most especially with the author!! This is a tale about a custom in 15th century Italy that no-one really wants to talk about but is very prevalent. It features strong women, cruelty from men and women, survival, and most especially endurance! The main character, Ya Ling, suffers most cruelly but rises above and this is her tale, very well told!
The descriptions bring the time to life and made me, as a reader, feel every emotion as if I was physically there!

Well done to Judy-as a first novel it is great and I, for one, will be on the look out for her next one!

Very highly recommend this

[Claire Busuttil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished tbis novel and I highly recommend it. It takes you into an era where power, reputation and fear of sin and execution where the basis of society. A journey of endurance, of heartache and hope. A story of deprivation, the price of human life based on simple greed, secrets, abuse, love and soldiarity. A rollercoaster of emotions that keeps you wanting more. Very well research, and the author writes in such a way that you feel like you unknowingly part of the story as well. Will definitely read more by this authorin the cuture.

[Shelagh Wadman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic read! I loved the storyline and its main character soon to be married Ya Ling who was kidnapped from her home in Beijing and taken to Italy, sold as a slave to Mantega a renowned artist who treated her terribly. She overcame all the heartache to become a respected Healer in the Palazzo. The Pulimio children’s growth was stunted so that the could be sold for entertainment to the rich and famous! A story of love, pain, resourcefulness, revenge and triumph! I enjoyed this novel immensely.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

An usual and enthralling story that mixes China and Renaissance Italy.
I loved this book even in the darkest moment as well as I liked the description of Renaissance Italy, so well researched and without the usual cliches.
The main character was wonderful, a strong and lovely woman that grows with each page read.
The entire cast of characters is well written and the style of writing is great.
A real page turner that you cannot put down.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Unbound and Netgalley for this ARC

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful and often unsettling tale engages you from start to finish. It has it all from slavery to the corrupt court, the famous fresco painter Mantegna and evokes the times vividly. It's always the sign of a good book when it has piqued your interest that you have to investigate further for yourself. Judy has a wonderful way of keeping up the pace and delivering shocks and surprises. I thoroughly recommend it.

[Sue Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most engrossing read. I enjoyed reading about Ya Ling, who has to endure so much throughout her life after being kidnapped from a life of riches in Beijing and taken to Venice during the Renaissance period and sold to a painter. Despite her appalling treatment, she shows great endurance and determination. This was a well researched book and certainly opens your eyes to what went on during this time to create the Pumilio children!

[Sue Maynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story details the darker side of life in medieval Italy. Stolen from her family in China, Ya Ling not only survives the slavery she is forced into, but rises above the abuse and the pain inflicted on her to becomes someone greater than those who hurt her. The research behind the story, the weaving of the various threads, the intriguing addition of the Pumilio, is done with excellence. A very good story.

[Nicola Mackenzie-Smaller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this a little slow to start, but once it got going it really got going. This book covers horrifying historical events in Italy, through the story of a Chinese girl trafficked and sold to the painter Mantegna and covers fascinating detail, by way of a gripping drama. Highly recommended.

[R Y Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story, with lots of historical detail underpinning the narrative. The story covers a lot of ground and so can feel a bit rushed in places, but ultimately delivers a satisfying conclusion.

[Deirdre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read this pre publish book . Epic , excellent , intricate . Fantastic read . Thoroughly recommend .

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ya Ling is kidnapped from her well-off Chinese family and sold in to slavery in 15th century Italy. Mantegna, a Renaissance artist, buys her with money that he can't really afford to spend, and takes her home to a very disapproving wife and household.
Ya Ling is admirable calm and stoic through all of her trials and tribulations, and eventually work as a respected healer, as her family taught her back in China.
The author really makes you feel for the characters in her novel - pity and later pride for Ya Ling, and hatred for some of the less virtuous male characters. It's a book that reflects the times very well: men, and men in the church especially, hold all the cards. Women are held in very low esteem. And women who are in any way different from the accepted norms are in danger of the ecclesiastical courts.
I read this on 'The Pigeonhole', a social reading platform, and really enjoyed the whole experience.