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The Glassmaker's Daughter
She was the only woman in Venice who knew the secret…and it made her a criminal.
The Murano glassmakers of Venice are celebrated and revered. But now three of them are dead, killed for attempting to leave the city that both prizes their work and keeps them prisoners. For in the 17th century, the secret of their craft must, by law, never leave Venetian shores. Yet there is someone who keeps the secret while defying tradition. She is Sophia Fiolario, and she, too, is a glassmaker. Her crime is being a woman.
Sophia knows her family would be crushed by scandal - or worse - if the truth of her knowledge and skill with the glass were revealed. But there has never been any threat…until now. A wealthy nobleman with strong connections to the powerful Doge has requested Sophia’s hand in marriage, and her refusal could draw dangerous attention. Yet to accept, to no longer make the glass, would devastate her. If there is an escape, Sophia intends to find it.
Between creating precious glass parts for one Professore Galileo Galilei’s astonishing invention and attending lavish parties at the Doge’s Palace, Sophia crosses paths with influential people, including one who could change her life forever. But in Venice, every secret has its price. Soon, Sophia must decide how much she is willing to pay for her family, the glass, and love.
“History comes to life! Like brilliant glass, Russo Morin’s story swirls together colors of political and religious intrigue, murder and romance. Readers will be enmeshed in the lives of her fascinating characters.” - Romantic Times Reviews
The Murano glassmakers of Venice are celebrated and revered. But now three of them are dead, killed for attempting to leave the city that both prizes their work and keeps them prisoners. For in the 17th century, the secret of their craft must, by law, never leave Venetian shores. Yet there is someone who keeps the secret while defying tradition. She is Sophia Fiolario, and she, too, is a glassmaker. Her crime is being a woman.
Sophia knows her family would be crushed by scandal - or worse - if the truth of her knowledge and skill with the glass were revealed. But there has never been any threat…until now. A wealthy nobleman with strong connections to the powerful Doge has requested Sophia’s hand in marriage, and her refusal could draw dangerous attention. Yet to accept, to no longer make the glass, would devastate her. If there is an escape, Sophia intends to find it.
Between creating precious glass parts for one Professore Galileo Galilei’s astonishing invention and attending lavish parties at the Doge’s Palace, Sophia crosses paths with influential people, including one who could change her life forever. But in Venice, every secret has its price. Soon, Sophia must decide how much she is willing to pay for her family, the glass, and love.
“History comes to life! Like brilliant glass, Russo Morin’s story swirls together colors of political and religious intrigue, murder and romance. Readers will be enmeshed in the lives of her fascinating characters.” - Romantic Times Reviews
432 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 20, 2020
53 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Donna Russo Morin
18 books486 followersDonna Russo is a bestselling author of historical, biographical, and women's fiction, as well as fantasy. She has made a significant impact in the literary world with her detailed writing and compelling characters. Her notable works include multi-award-winning Vincent’s Women and her internationally bestselling Novels of Newport: Gilded Age series, Gilded Summers and Gilded Dreams. Her historical fantasy, The King’s Agent, earned a starred review in Publisher’s Weekly.
An award-winning screenwriter, ghostwriter, and artist, Donna has over thirty years of experience as a certified book coach and has been a writing instructor for Writer’s Digest for over a decade. Donna has also worked as an actor and model with appearances in such notable works as Martin Scorsese’s THE DEPARTED and Showtimes THE BROTHERHOOD. Donna is also one of the oldest practicing yoga aerialists in the country. www.authordonnarusso.com
Donna enjoys meeting with book groups in person and via Skype chat. Visit her website at www.donnarussomorin.com;
friend her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Donna.Russo.M...
Follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/donnarussom...
Follow her on Twitter @DonnaRussoMorin.
An award-winning screenwriter, ghostwriter, and artist, Donna has over thirty years of experience as a certified book coach and has been a writing instructor for Writer’s Digest for over a decade. Donna has also worked as an actor and model with appearances in such notable works as Martin Scorsese’s THE DEPARTED and Showtimes THE BROTHERHOOD. Donna is also one of the oldest practicing yoga aerialists in the country. www.authordonnarusso.com
Donna enjoys meeting with book groups in person and via Skype chat. Visit her website at www.donnarussomorin.com;
friend her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Donna.Russo.M...
Follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/donnarussom...
Follow her on Twitter @DonnaRussoMorin.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 5, 2022
The Glassmaker’s Daughter took me there: Venice, Murano, Guidecca. Through the dirty canals, onto the gondolas, into the hot and sweaty glassmaking factories; through loves and hates and star-crossed fates; into alleys and palaces and the very heart and mind of one determined young woman. A woman hell bent on shaping her own destiny in a world made for men, even as she bore on her shoulders the fate of her family. Donna Russo Morin’s exquisite literary prose will sweep you into a beautiful story that you won’t want to end.
November 16, 2024
Loved this! Great character and a fascinating setting. The plot is interesting but very much secondary to exploring the culture of Moreno and Venice during the Renaissance. If you’re interested in the history of this glorious period you will love this book. I bought it in hardcover for my permanent library.
October 13, 2023
This was my pick for our Sister's Book Club for this month and I enjoyed it, but I have to confess, I wanted more and expected more from the synopsis that we read at Christmas time when choosing books for this year. This is a solid 3.5 star book. The synopsis sounded fascinating and who could resist a historical novel based in Venice and about the famed glassmakers.
Sophia knows the secrets of the glass. She is a woman, and knowing the secrets of the glass is breaking the law but she has a gift and a calling. The politics of the time threaten everything that she loves. Everything! Worth the read -- definitely -- but I was left wanting more.
Sophia knows the secrets of the glass. She is a woman, and knowing the secrets of the glass is breaking the law but she has a gift and a calling. The politics of the time threaten everything that she loves. Everything! Worth the read -- definitely -- but I was left wanting more.
January 4, 2024
Venice comes alive
With every sentence the author opens the door to a long ago Venice that we actually step into. Venice comes alive. The smells and sounds of the canaletti and of Murano are real. Wonderful writing. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction. I can't wait to read another book by Donna Russo Morin.
With every sentence the author opens the door to a long ago Venice that we actually step into. Venice comes alive. The smells and sounds of the canaletti and of Murano are real. Wonderful writing. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction. I can't wait to read another book by Donna Russo Morin.
September 15, 2024
4.75- I was left wanting a bit more, not entirely sure what though.
Maybe slightly more story, it ended rather abruptly, or maybe more about the secret of the glass?
That being said, it kept me interested from beginning to end, in various ways and was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Maybe slightly more story, it ended rather abruptly, or maybe more about the secret of the glass?
That being said, it kept me interested from beginning to end, in various ways and was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
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April 25, 2021Not bad. I would have liked more research. Language didn't match the period.
There is plenty of Italian sprinkled throughout this book. When I say that the language doesn't match, it has more to do with Americanisms , like snuck, and a general dialog commonality that failed to separate unique characters. All characters speak with an informality that is colloquial American with a little Italian language tossed in for flavor. This pattern holds whether the speaker is the representative of the Vatican speaking before a government assembly, or a common workman.
The villain is quite one dimensional despite obvious effort by the writer to give him depth. The research done made the story enjoyable and left me wanting to know more. I would cheerfully read more by this author.
There is plenty of Italian sprinkled throughout this book. When I say that the language doesn't match, it has more to do with Americanisms , like snuck, and a general dialog commonality that failed to separate unique characters. All characters speak with an informality that is colloquial American with a little Italian language tossed in for flavor. This pattern holds whether the speaker is the representative of the Vatican speaking before a government assembly, or a common workman.
The villain is quite one dimensional despite obvious effort by the writer to give him depth. The research done made the story enjoyable and left me wanting to know more. I would cheerfully read more by this author.
February 12, 2023
It seemed well researched to begin with, but then:
*Ciabatta was mentioned, which wasn't invented until 1982.
*Certainamente popped up at one point, which is a word that doesn't even exist in Italian. In fact, I could have done without the random Italian words thrown in mid-sentence. It worked for greetings and the like, but otherwise it did start to grate ("a soldi in their pocket" was a particular annoyance. Soldi means money, and doesn't need an indefinite article in that context, especially a singular one, just like in English).
Otherwise, an enjoyable and engaging storyline with well-rounded characters. I was rooting for the main character throughout, which is quite difficult to pull off when they are written to be 'perfect'.
*Ciabatta was mentioned, which wasn't invented until 1982.
*Certainamente popped up at one point, which is a word that doesn't even exist in Italian. In fact, I could have done without the random Italian words thrown in mid-sentence. It worked for greetings and the like, but otherwise it did start to grate ("a soldi in their pocket" was a particular annoyance. Soldi means money, and doesn't need an indefinite article in that context, especially a singular one, just like in English).
Otherwise, an enjoyable and engaging storyline with well-rounded characters. I was rooting for the main character throughout, which is quite difficult to pull off when they are written to be 'perfect'.
October 14, 2023
This is a hard book to rate. My sister and I were very intrigued and we chose it during our Jolabokaflod celebration (The Icelandic Tradition of Giving Books on Christmas Eve). I looked forward to reading about Sophia whose father has broke with tradition and trained her in the secret of the glass. While I was expecting the story to be about Sophia, it switched to more of a story about Venetian history and politics, while Sophia's story interspersed throughout. While I loved reading about Sophia, some of the book was boring. The last part of the book was fabulous, and then the story ended abruptly and I was left feeling unsatisfied. 3 stars
October 6, 2023
Although I found a lot of the historical content a little involved I loved the characters within these pages…Sophia, Sagredo, Galileo, Zeno…so many more. Sometimes when you read a book you can here the voices, their inflections & tone…this is one of those books for me.
November 12, 2025
Disjointed. Story of the glassmaker's family and their business on the island of Murano. The author has tried to include the history of Murano and the influence of the church and state in the lives of the glassmakers who were not allowed to leave the island. Did not work for me.
January 30, 2023
This felt like a history lesson on ancient Venice woven into an enjoyable tale. Well researched.
August 18, 2023
Loved learning about Venice’s history but I am not very clear about what happened in the end.
June 24, 2024
Just OK.
July 9, 2024
The history of some of the areas of Venice made this book an interesting one for me. I love Venice and reading about what went on there was far more interesting than the characters.
December 9, 2024
Very long beginning... would have stopped reading but it was a book club book... so kept going!
February 4, 2025
Surprisingly uninteresting. I finished it out of sheer stubbornness.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews