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Mazarine Dreamer
An illustrated novel–
Francessca Bella’s Mazarine Dreamer
is rare, rhythmic, and rhyming.
A reincarnate, Flavia time travels
to her Renaissance past life where she unravels
its romantical secrets– she must destinate
which of the two men she loved then she will now date,
the love triangle resurrected. All while
a corrupted clergy watch and revile.
Only through the right love will the gates thereafter
be opened to heaven for she who must change for better.
Francessca Bella’s Mazarine Dreamer
is rare, rhythmic, and rhyming.
A reincarnate, Flavia time travels
to her Renaissance past life where she unravels
its romantical secrets– she must destinate
which of the two men she loved then she will now date,
the love triangle resurrected. All while
a corrupted clergy watch and revile.
Only through the right love will the gates thereafter
be opened to heaven for she who must change for better.
336 pages, ebook
Published October 30, 2021
About the author
Francessca Bella
35 books2 followersFrancessca Bella, lit-world's only prolific rhyming novelist who fantasticates the literary world with Mazarine Dreamer (2021), the longest rhyming couplet novel in English, and with the rhyming series Rhymeland Everlasting (2022)
So, follow her on an authorship journey to fantasticate the lit-world through the vessel that makes it all possible, Bella Rariora! “Mazarine Dreamer is book 1 in my goal to publish 100 original novels by my publishing peak!" That’s about 2,510,000 words in prose and 4,050,000 words in rhyme and endless entertainment.
So, follow her on an authorship journey to fantasticate the lit-world through the vessel that makes it all possible, Bella Rariora! “Mazarine Dreamer is book 1 in my goal to publish 100 original novels by my publishing peak!" That’s about 2,510,000 words in prose and 4,050,000 words in rhyme and endless entertainment.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 6, 2021
What makes Bella's The Mazarine Dreamer stand out is its execution. Bella wrote the book in poetic format creating a novel length poem. It's a difficult endeavor. (Indeed, I tried to write this review in poetry form as a reaction but it didn't work very well so I used prose.) But Bella not only deserves props for trying, she deserves it for succeeding.
The plot involves Flavia Mavaret, a psychologist. Flavia interviews a monk who is either suffering from hallucinations or is possessed. She does some studying and learns that Pastello Abbey, the current monastery, has a curse on it. There have been at least three accounts of mysterious deaths and disappearances affecting Pastello since the Renaissance (at least three that are reported.)
While investigating the abbey and its surroundings, Flavia follows a carrier pigeon to the wooden caravan home of Madame Idona, a mediatress and past life expert. Idona reveals that Flavia is the reincarnation of a woman who was caught in a love triangle in the Renaissance that ended very badly.
Idona gives Flavia the chance to go back in time to set things right. She is to wear a bracelet on her wrist and when a pigeon appears before her, she must recite the Latin words on the scroll that it carries.
Once Flavia travels back in time, she encounters Nevian Evegane, a Renaissance scientist who is trying to breed a clowder of battle cats called the calor. The Renaissance version of Flavia is engaged to Nevian but things aren't going well, mostly because of Nevian's obsession with calor breeding and his arrogant bordering on abusive behavior. During a tense argument, Flavia goes to the nearby Briarfield estate and encounters Seron Briarfield, a charming artist and magician and the other third of the triangle.
If things weren't complicated enough in the Renaissance, Flavia can travel between past and present. In modern day, Flavia is investigating the curse on Pastello and a sinister creature called Mortis Nuntius. She also catches the attention of her colleague, Netius Eveseen, an intelligent and driven physicist with an interest in zoology and Netius' friend, Lero Monteith, an illustrator with an interest in magic. What a coincidence, Netius and Lero bear strong resemblances to Nevian and Soren respectively and before too long, it appears that the triangle echoes once again and history is cursed to repeat itself.
Bella shows tremendous aptitude for the mechanics of poetry such as rhyme and meter. She begins her work with "So now, my heart a lacked complexity/I work to decode for salvation its perplexity."
Since the book is written in rhyming couplet, there are times when Bella really stretches for a near rhyme like "pounders and blunders."(She also solves the riddle that if you find an unrhymable word like orange just have the characters make up a word like "apporange." It worked when Lewis Carroll did it.) Of course if you are writing a novel in poetic form, not every line is going to be great and it doesn't take away the tremendous achievement and talent in writing the book this way in the first place.
Bella was clearly inspired by the Romantic poetry narratives of the past. There is a strong sense of respect for the natural and supernatural world that is spread throughout the work. Flavia is fascinated with pure white albino animals. She herself has albinism and is often recognized for her uncommon appearance. So she relates to these physically unique creatures. Many times pale animals like foxes, birds, cats, and rabbits appear before sharing a psychic connection or to guide her.
Besides the natural world, there are strong ties to the supernatural world.
The book has plenty of magic and an awareness of motifs and themes found in fairy tales and Romantic poetry.
Idona is similar to the wise guide/Mentor figure who gives the protagonist the task and advises them on what path they need to take.
There are curses and demons. Flavia is haunted by a demonic figure that delights in mentally torturing her and those it encounters.
The animals are not just a natural connection to Flavia but also a magical one as they lead her to various steps on her quest. There are various motifs that can be found in such works like the Rule of Three (three magic words that Flavia has to recite to travel through time; three encounters at Pastello before Flavia investigated it).
Color and imagery are also used to capture Romantic Fantasy. Bella's writing helps the Reader visualize the book in front of them.
One of my favorite stanzas shows the transition between past and present as her bracelet transports her.
Flavia says:
"A moving Mazarine fog and I synchronized
the sole two things in existence organized
We shared definition and became premium
to make the presiding magic medium
a true traveling point between my mod life
as Flavia Mavaret and one with past ride
set five hundred years back in the Renaissance
It promised to return me to ancient haunts
Encapsulated into that blue abyss, I experienced
feelings again. They dramatically influenced me as I infused with the color mazarine and became a softer dreamer in its scene
Life I gained inside it, so my understanding
of it changed thickly into one for demanding
a mazarine transcendence. A blue beyond
warded off death. In its abyss, I did abscond
Fading slowly away was that blue and mist-swirled
Surrealism to give way to an alt-world."
Mazarine ends up functioning as a color that represents spirituality and time. It is a conduit between the worlds of past and present and allows Flavia to travel between them. The Mazarine Dreamer is like a study of Romantic fantasy and the tropes that are found inside them.
Flavia herself goes through the various steps of the Hero's Journey such as the Call to Adventure, Refusing the Call, Challenges, Transformation, Atonement, and Return.
Like many heroes before her, Flavia is not the same person that she was before. She begins as a modern woman certain about her career and her place in the world as a psychologist. Though she is curious and open minded enough to accept ideas as magic, she isn't experienced in them personally. This experience of traveling through time opens her mind to become a more understanding and accepting character, especially towards other people who remember their former lives or are maybe carrying issues and fears that resonated into their current live. She becomes a guide to them the way Idona was for her.
There is a theme of physical vs. metaphysical throughout the Mazarine Dreamer and much of it is carried over by the two (technically four) men in Flavia's life.
In the past, Nevian and Soren firmly stand on opposite sides of the Renaissance ideal. Nevian is all about Reason and science. He is cold and methodical. When he receives the commission to create calors, that becomes his central obsession. He is arrogant in his pursuits and he is condescending and verbally abusive towards Flavia.
On the other hand, Soren stands on the opposite spectrum. He believes in magic not science and has a spiritual connection to the world around him. He is more emotional and Romantic and soothes the loneliness that Flavia feels.
Unfortunately, Soren and Nevian being pitched at opposite extremes works thematically but not plot wise. Thematically, they represent two ideals that are often at odds with which Flavia balances both extremes out, being scientific but open minded,rational in analyzing patient's concerns but emotional enough to be concerned for their welfare.
Unfortunately, for the plot of an important love triangle which ends in tragedy, it doesn't quite work when one third of the triangle is portrayed as so much better or worse than the other. Nevian is written for the most part as irredeemable and reprehensible. His interest in science is fascinating but the shameful way that he treats Flavia makes any option of him ending up with her troublesome at best. Seron is clearly the better prospect but that takes out the conflicted possibilities that could have resulted in better characters.
Actually Bella does present a more nuanced triangle in the present between Flavia, Netius, and Lero. Like their predecessors, Netius and Lero also stand on opposite sides of the Romance vs. Reason debate but their positions are more fluid. They often overlap with their views.
While Netius is a physicist and can at times be arrogant, he has an almost poetic affection for zoology and biology, almost recognizing deeper connections in the world around him. He also has enough of an open mind that he understands Flavia's experience and doesn't condescend to her when she tells him what is going on.
Lero is an illustrator with a much more emotional and spiritual side. However, he has a medical awareness as he sketches the human heart. Interestingly enough while Soren is the better prospect for Flavia in the past, Lero somewhat falters in the present. There are times when he behaves very immaturely and crosses boundaries especially after Flavia and Netius become involved.
While Nevian and Soren have the more Renaissance view of characters reflecting one thing or another, Netius and Lero are from a more postmodern view. People in literature are more complex than they were. They are not one thing or another. Sometimes their views and personalities adapt or overlap and that's what Bella displays in the modern era and how she portrays the separate triangles both past and present.
The Mazarine Dreamer is a beautiful poetic experiment that works very well. It takes the themes of reincarnation and love existing through time and finds a new interesting way to tell it. It's not an easy read, but it is well worth it.
The plot involves Flavia Mavaret, a psychologist. Flavia interviews a monk who is either suffering from hallucinations or is possessed. She does some studying and learns that Pastello Abbey, the current monastery, has a curse on it. There have been at least three accounts of mysterious deaths and disappearances affecting Pastello since the Renaissance (at least three that are reported.)
While investigating the abbey and its surroundings, Flavia follows a carrier pigeon to the wooden caravan home of Madame Idona, a mediatress and past life expert. Idona reveals that Flavia is the reincarnation of a woman who was caught in a love triangle in the Renaissance that ended very badly.
Idona gives Flavia the chance to go back in time to set things right. She is to wear a bracelet on her wrist and when a pigeon appears before her, she must recite the Latin words on the scroll that it carries.
Once Flavia travels back in time, she encounters Nevian Evegane, a Renaissance scientist who is trying to breed a clowder of battle cats called the calor. The Renaissance version of Flavia is engaged to Nevian but things aren't going well, mostly because of Nevian's obsession with calor breeding and his arrogant bordering on abusive behavior. During a tense argument, Flavia goes to the nearby Briarfield estate and encounters Seron Briarfield, a charming artist and magician and the other third of the triangle.
If things weren't complicated enough in the Renaissance, Flavia can travel between past and present. In modern day, Flavia is investigating the curse on Pastello and a sinister creature called Mortis Nuntius. She also catches the attention of her colleague, Netius Eveseen, an intelligent and driven physicist with an interest in zoology and Netius' friend, Lero Monteith, an illustrator with an interest in magic. What a coincidence, Netius and Lero bear strong resemblances to Nevian and Soren respectively and before too long, it appears that the triangle echoes once again and history is cursed to repeat itself.
Bella shows tremendous aptitude for the mechanics of poetry such as rhyme and meter. She begins her work with "So now, my heart a lacked complexity/I work to decode for salvation its perplexity."
Since the book is written in rhyming couplet, there are times when Bella really stretches for a near rhyme like "pounders and blunders."(She also solves the riddle that if you find an unrhymable word like orange just have the characters make up a word like "apporange." It worked when Lewis Carroll did it.) Of course if you are writing a novel in poetic form, not every line is going to be great and it doesn't take away the tremendous achievement and talent in writing the book this way in the first place.
Bella was clearly inspired by the Romantic poetry narratives of the past. There is a strong sense of respect for the natural and supernatural world that is spread throughout the work. Flavia is fascinated with pure white albino animals. She herself has albinism and is often recognized for her uncommon appearance. So she relates to these physically unique creatures. Many times pale animals like foxes, birds, cats, and rabbits appear before sharing a psychic connection or to guide her.
Besides the natural world, there are strong ties to the supernatural world.
The book has plenty of magic and an awareness of motifs and themes found in fairy tales and Romantic poetry.
Idona is similar to the wise guide/Mentor figure who gives the protagonist the task and advises them on what path they need to take.
There are curses and demons. Flavia is haunted by a demonic figure that delights in mentally torturing her and those it encounters.
The animals are not just a natural connection to Flavia but also a magical one as they lead her to various steps on her quest. There are various motifs that can be found in such works like the Rule of Three (three magic words that Flavia has to recite to travel through time; three encounters at Pastello before Flavia investigated it).
Color and imagery are also used to capture Romantic Fantasy. Bella's writing helps the Reader visualize the book in front of them.
One of my favorite stanzas shows the transition between past and present as her bracelet transports her.
Flavia says:
"A moving Mazarine fog and I synchronized
the sole two things in existence organized
We shared definition and became premium
to make the presiding magic medium
a true traveling point between my mod life
as Flavia Mavaret and one with past ride
set five hundred years back in the Renaissance
It promised to return me to ancient haunts
Encapsulated into that blue abyss, I experienced
feelings again. They dramatically influenced me as I infused with the color mazarine and became a softer dreamer in its scene
Life I gained inside it, so my understanding
of it changed thickly into one for demanding
a mazarine transcendence. A blue beyond
warded off death. In its abyss, I did abscond
Fading slowly away was that blue and mist-swirled
Surrealism to give way to an alt-world."
Mazarine ends up functioning as a color that represents spirituality and time. It is a conduit between the worlds of past and present and allows Flavia to travel between them. The Mazarine Dreamer is like a study of Romantic fantasy and the tropes that are found inside them.
Flavia herself goes through the various steps of the Hero's Journey such as the Call to Adventure, Refusing the Call, Challenges, Transformation, Atonement, and Return.
Like many heroes before her, Flavia is not the same person that she was before. She begins as a modern woman certain about her career and her place in the world as a psychologist. Though she is curious and open minded enough to accept ideas as magic, she isn't experienced in them personally. This experience of traveling through time opens her mind to become a more understanding and accepting character, especially towards other people who remember their former lives or are maybe carrying issues and fears that resonated into their current live. She becomes a guide to them the way Idona was for her.
There is a theme of physical vs. metaphysical throughout the Mazarine Dreamer and much of it is carried over by the two (technically four) men in Flavia's life.
In the past, Nevian and Soren firmly stand on opposite sides of the Renaissance ideal. Nevian is all about Reason and science. He is cold and methodical. When he receives the commission to create calors, that becomes his central obsession. He is arrogant in his pursuits and he is condescending and verbally abusive towards Flavia.
On the other hand, Soren stands on the opposite spectrum. He believes in magic not science and has a spiritual connection to the world around him. He is more emotional and Romantic and soothes the loneliness that Flavia feels.
Unfortunately, Soren and Nevian being pitched at opposite extremes works thematically but not plot wise. Thematically, they represent two ideals that are often at odds with which Flavia balances both extremes out, being scientific but open minded,rational in analyzing patient's concerns but emotional enough to be concerned for their welfare.
Unfortunately, for the plot of an important love triangle which ends in tragedy, it doesn't quite work when one third of the triangle is portrayed as so much better or worse than the other. Nevian is written for the most part as irredeemable and reprehensible. His interest in science is fascinating but the shameful way that he treats Flavia makes any option of him ending up with her troublesome at best. Seron is clearly the better prospect but that takes out the conflicted possibilities that could have resulted in better characters.
Actually Bella does present a more nuanced triangle in the present between Flavia, Netius, and Lero. Like their predecessors, Netius and Lero also stand on opposite sides of the Romance vs. Reason debate but their positions are more fluid. They often overlap with their views.
While Netius is a physicist and can at times be arrogant, he has an almost poetic affection for zoology and biology, almost recognizing deeper connections in the world around him. He also has enough of an open mind that he understands Flavia's experience and doesn't condescend to her when she tells him what is going on.
Lero is an illustrator with a much more emotional and spiritual side. However, he has a medical awareness as he sketches the human heart. Interestingly enough while Soren is the better prospect for Flavia in the past, Lero somewhat falters in the present. There are times when he behaves very immaturely and crosses boundaries especially after Flavia and Netius become involved.
While Nevian and Soren have the more Renaissance view of characters reflecting one thing or another, Netius and Lero are from a more postmodern view. People in literature are more complex than they were. They are not one thing or another. Sometimes their views and personalities adapt or overlap and that's what Bella displays in the modern era and how she portrays the separate triangles both past and present.
The Mazarine Dreamer is a beautiful poetic experiment that works very well. It takes the themes of reincarnation and love existing through time and finds a new interesting way to tell it. It's not an easy read, but it is well worth it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2026
I’m the kind of reader who keeps *Romeo and Juliet* dog-eared next to *The Raven* on the nightstand. Give me iambs. Give me internal rhymes. Give me lovers doomed across centuries. And I’m sold. When I cracked open *Mazarine Dreamer*, Francessca Bella’s 500-page debut, and saw a Cast of Characters page staring back at me like a playbill, I knew I was in for something Shakespearean in spirit if not in meter. This book doesn’t just flirt with poetry. It marries it, consummates it, and builds a palace of couplets you’ll never want to leave.
The premise is catnip for anyone who sobbed over *The Time Traveler’s Wife* or *Outlander*. Flavia Mavaret, a twenty-something in sleepy Spelthorne, England, drowns in mazarine-blue visions. These are ultramarine flashbacks that feel less like dreams and more like memories she never lived. She’s the reincarnation of a Renaissance woman caught in a scalding love triangle. One man is a painter with hands stained in lapis. The other is a nobleman whose smile could bankrupt kingdoms. Bella doesn’t ease you in with prose. She slams the gate open in rhyming couplets and never looks back. Think:
> *“My heart, a locked complexity, / Demands I solve its mystery…”*
It’s the kind of line that makes you whisper it aloud just to feel the click of the rhyme.
That cast list? A lifesaver. We’re juggling two timelines, a dozen aliases, and enough court intrigue to make *Hamlet* look underpopulated. Flavia (modern) equals Fiamma (1500s). The painter is Matteo, he of the mazarine gaze. The noble is Lord Something-or-Other who probably inspired half of Shakespeare’s sonnets. Having everyone mapped out front lets me flip back without losing the thread. It’s like glancing at the program during *Twelfth Night* to remember who’s disguised as whom.
And the rhythm. God, the rhythm. Bella writes in AABB couplets that gallop when Flavia runs through Spelthorne fog. They tighten like a noose during courtroom betrayals. It’s not Dr. Seuss. It’s closer to the propulsive pulse of *Porphyria’s Lover* stretched to novel length. Storm scenes crack the sky in twain. Visions taste of 16th-century Venice salt air. The rhyme isn’t decoration. It’s architecture. Every plot beat lands on the downbeat. Betrayal gets a perfectly timed caesura. A kiss seals with the couplet.
I’m swamped. My TBR is a tower of guilt. And 200,000 words of anything is daunting. But Bella’s verse is engineered for skimming and savoring. Read it fast and it’s a cinematic trailer. Read it slow and it’s a sonnet sequence you annotate in the margins. The illustrations are full-color and almost illuminated-manuscript lush. They pop up exactly when your eyes need a breather. One spread of mazarine waves curling around a sinking gondola made me gasp on the subway.
The love triangle earns its centuries-spanning angst. Flavia/Fiamma isn’t a passive vessel for fate. She’s a woman clawing back agency across lifetimes. She decodes her own heart like a Renaissance cipher. The men aren’t archetypes. Matteo’s brooding artistry and the noble’s gilded danger are fully fleshed. Their rivalries spark couplets that singe the page. Bella weaves reincarnation not as gimmick but as emotional archaeology. Every memory unearthed is a shard of self reclaimed.
Is it perfect? The rhyme occasionally sacrifices subtlety for sound. That’s a fair trade if you ask this Poe stan. And the sheer density demands commitment. But that’s the point. *Mazarine Dreamer* isn’t background noise. It’s a bardic recital in a candlelit hall. It demands you lean in, mouth the words, feel the meter in your pulse.
Verdict? 5/5. If you’ve ever underlined sonnets in red pen or quoted *Macbeth* during a breakup, clear your weekend. This is the bardic romantasy you didn’t know you needed. And yes, the cast list means you’ll never forget who’s stabbing whom in the back.
The premise is catnip for anyone who sobbed over *The Time Traveler’s Wife* or *Outlander*. Flavia Mavaret, a twenty-something in sleepy Spelthorne, England, drowns in mazarine-blue visions. These are ultramarine flashbacks that feel less like dreams and more like memories she never lived. She’s the reincarnation of a Renaissance woman caught in a scalding love triangle. One man is a painter with hands stained in lapis. The other is a nobleman whose smile could bankrupt kingdoms. Bella doesn’t ease you in with prose. She slams the gate open in rhyming couplets and never looks back. Think:
> *“My heart, a locked complexity, / Demands I solve its mystery…”*
It’s the kind of line that makes you whisper it aloud just to feel the click of the rhyme.
That cast list? A lifesaver. We’re juggling two timelines, a dozen aliases, and enough court intrigue to make *Hamlet* look underpopulated. Flavia (modern) equals Fiamma (1500s). The painter is Matteo, he of the mazarine gaze. The noble is Lord Something-or-Other who probably inspired half of Shakespeare’s sonnets. Having everyone mapped out front lets me flip back without losing the thread. It’s like glancing at the program during *Twelfth Night* to remember who’s disguised as whom.
And the rhythm. God, the rhythm. Bella writes in AABB couplets that gallop when Flavia runs through Spelthorne fog. They tighten like a noose during courtroom betrayals. It’s not Dr. Seuss. It’s closer to the propulsive pulse of *Porphyria’s Lover* stretched to novel length. Storm scenes crack the sky in twain. Visions taste of 16th-century Venice salt air. The rhyme isn’t decoration. It’s architecture. Every plot beat lands on the downbeat. Betrayal gets a perfectly timed caesura. A kiss seals with the couplet.
I’m swamped. My TBR is a tower of guilt. And 200,000 words of anything is daunting. But Bella’s verse is engineered for skimming and savoring. Read it fast and it’s a cinematic trailer. Read it slow and it’s a sonnet sequence you annotate in the margins. The illustrations are full-color and almost illuminated-manuscript lush. They pop up exactly when your eyes need a breather. One spread of mazarine waves curling around a sinking gondola made me gasp on the subway.
The love triangle earns its centuries-spanning angst. Flavia/Fiamma isn’t a passive vessel for fate. She’s a woman clawing back agency across lifetimes. She decodes her own heart like a Renaissance cipher. The men aren’t archetypes. Matteo’s brooding artistry and the noble’s gilded danger are fully fleshed. Their rivalries spark couplets that singe the page. Bella weaves reincarnation not as gimmick but as emotional archaeology. Every memory unearthed is a shard of self reclaimed.
Is it perfect? The rhyme occasionally sacrifices subtlety for sound. That’s a fair trade if you ask this Poe stan. And the sheer density demands commitment. But that’s the point. *Mazarine Dreamer* isn’t background noise. It’s a bardic recital in a candlelit hall. It demands you lean in, mouth the words, feel the meter in your pulse.
Verdict? 5/5. If you’ve ever underlined sonnets in red pen or quoted *Macbeth* during a breakup, clear your weekend. This is the bardic romantasy you didn’t know you needed. And yes, the cast list means you’ll never forget who’s stabbing whom in the back.
June 1, 2025
In Mazarine Dreamer, author Francessca Bella boldly defies literary conventions with a uniquely ambitious novel written entirely in verse. This genre-blending tale is a romantic, philosophical, and metaphysical exploration of identity, reincarnation, and redemption, all wrapped in the melodic rhythm of rhyme. From the first canticle to the last, Bella’s poetic craftsmanship creates a richly textured reading experience that feels ancient and modern.
At the heart of the story is Flavia Mavaret, a talented psychologist who relocates from New England to the English countryside in search of a fresh start. Instead, she finds an unraveling of her soul’s history, a mystery woven across lifetimes. With lavender eyes and a curious mind, Flavia is drawn into a supernatural web connecting her current life to one lived five centuries earlier, during the Renaissance. When summoned to Pastello Castle to aid a mentally unraveling priest, she discovers more than a medical anomaly, she uncovers the haunting presence of Mortis Nuntius, a ghostly figure presiding over the cursed castle and Flavia’s destiny.
The brilliance of Bella’s storytelling lies in the lyrical form. Each page is infused with poetic cadence that feels both personal and mythic, enhancing the dreamlike quality of Flavia’s journey. The rhyme never feels forced or gimmicky; it flows naturally, carrying the reader through reflections on love, mortality, and divine judgment. It’s a rare feat in contemporary literature and a testament to Bella’s bold vision.
Flavia’s internal struggle to reconcile the rational mind of a clinician with the inexplicable truths of the supernatural is skillfully explored. As she navigates relationships with two men from both past and present, Netius, the soulful doctor, and Lero, the passionate artist, she is forced to face the ultimate dilemma: choosing one to save while the other is doomed to spiritual isolation. The love triangle is deeply emotional, but never melodramatic. Instead, Bella treats love as a spiritual force with cosmic consequences.
The supporting characters, Idona, the mystical mediatress; Taciturn, the tormented priest; and the monks of Pastello Abbey, add intrigue and symbolic depth. Each figure serves as a mirror to Flavia’s transformation and contributes to the novel’s overarching spiritual theme: that the soul must account for its choices across lifetimes.
While the narrative dances between reality and fantasy, Bella grounds it in universal emotions: longing, regret, love, and hope. The gothic atmosphere of Pastello Castle, the eerie beauty of the Castera Bog, and the modern-day clinics of Curatio Hall are all vividly rendered through lyrical imagery that lingers long after reading.
Mazarine Dreamer may not be for everyone; its poetic form demands attentiveness and a taste for lyrical prose, but for readers willing to surrender to its rhythm, it offers an enchanting, thought-provoking escape. Fans of fantasy romance, reincarnation themes, and experimental literary styles will find it a standout.
In her debut, Francessca Bella introduces not only a fascinating heroine but an entire storytelling style she dubs Bella Rariora, rare, rhymed creations that straddle the boundary between poetry and prose. Mazarine Dreamer is a shining example of that vision: daring, elegant, and deeply moving.
I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. Mazarine Dreamer is a hypnotic and heartfelt debut that challenges genre norms while delivering a timeless tale of love, fate, and self-discovery. Francessca Bella is a writer to watch—and to read aloud.
At the heart of the story is Flavia Mavaret, a talented psychologist who relocates from New England to the English countryside in search of a fresh start. Instead, she finds an unraveling of her soul’s history, a mystery woven across lifetimes. With lavender eyes and a curious mind, Flavia is drawn into a supernatural web connecting her current life to one lived five centuries earlier, during the Renaissance. When summoned to Pastello Castle to aid a mentally unraveling priest, she discovers more than a medical anomaly, she uncovers the haunting presence of Mortis Nuntius, a ghostly figure presiding over the cursed castle and Flavia’s destiny.
The brilliance of Bella’s storytelling lies in the lyrical form. Each page is infused with poetic cadence that feels both personal and mythic, enhancing the dreamlike quality of Flavia’s journey. The rhyme never feels forced or gimmicky; it flows naturally, carrying the reader through reflections on love, mortality, and divine judgment. It’s a rare feat in contemporary literature and a testament to Bella’s bold vision.
Flavia’s internal struggle to reconcile the rational mind of a clinician with the inexplicable truths of the supernatural is skillfully explored. As she navigates relationships with two men from both past and present, Netius, the soulful doctor, and Lero, the passionate artist, she is forced to face the ultimate dilemma: choosing one to save while the other is doomed to spiritual isolation. The love triangle is deeply emotional, but never melodramatic. Instead, Bella treats love as a spiritual force with cosmic consequences.
The supporting characters, Idona, the mystical mediatress; Taciturn, the tormented priest; and the monks of Pastello Abbey, add intrigue and symbolic depth. Each figure serves as a mirror to Flavia’s transformation and contributes to the novel’s overarching spiritual theme: that the soul must account for its choices across lifetimes.
While the narrative dances between reality and fantasy, Bella grounds it in universal emotions: longing, regret, love, and hope. The gothic atmosphere of Pastello Castle, the eerie beauty of the Castera Bog, and the modern-day clinics of Curatio Hall are all vividly rendered through lyrical imagery that lingers long after reading.
Mazarine Dreamer may not be for everyone; its poetic form demands attentiveness and a taste for lyrical prose, but for readers willing to surrender to its rhythm, it offers an enchanting, thought-provoking escape. Fans of fantasy romance, reincarnation themes, and experimental literary styles will find it a standout.
In her debut, Francessca Bella introduces not only a fascinating heroine but an entire storytelling style she dubs Bella Rariora, rare, rhymed creations that straddle the boundary between poetry and prose. Mazarine Dreamer is a shining example of that vision: daring, elegant, and deeply moving.
I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. Mazarine Dreamer is a hypnotic and heartfelt debut that challenges genre norms while delivering a timeless tale of love, fate, and self-discovery. Francessca Bella is a writer to watch—and to read aloud.
April 3, 2022
The Mazarine Dreamer - Book Review by Lynne Macleod with my husband JackG and Jack’s teddy bear!!!!
The #1 awesome book by Francessca Bella titled Mazarine Dreamer is a novel about enlightenment, intuition and dreams/other. This special book focuses on the concept of reincarnation - the soul(s ) of people or animals who have been been reborn and the supernatural world, dreams and intuition.
Set in medieval England, a monk in an abbey northward in the historical Spelthorne area fell ill and became mentally troubled. He had a near fatal heart attack. They said ghosts caused the gentlemen mental afflictions.The abbey has seven robed monks and a few priests. The three aspiring buyers of the castle fell dead only 3 weeks ago. Flavia is brought in - and after countless hours of negotiating - decided with the monks that a solution to this entire situation must immediately be reached.
The incomparable Flavia Mavaret, is the primary character in The Mazarine Dreamer. Blonde-haired and petite, Flavia is a U.S. based psychologist who embraces life with her unique approach to the supernatural and religion with science included. Trained seven years to offer her psychiatry patients the very best services, Flavia offers trauma curative services.
She has sui generis to travel through time via her past and she also must discover solutions for the clergy and supernatural forces who are involved in her 500 year divine past which takes place at Pastello Church.
The mediastress Idona possesses a heavenly job that involves transforming lost souls and transforming individuals to be suited for their passage(s) through heaven. Also, Idona frequently turns to her cherished book titled Names Of The Reincarnated which enables her to metamorphose lives that were originally from the Mazarine dimension.
The Pastello Church has an integral part in The Manzarine Dreamer. One of The primary Priests in the book is Priest Masan who maintains the position of head priest at Pastello. Priest Taciturn is the second in command of the Pastello Church. And Nevius Evegane is the Master who supervises the Pastello Church.
Throughout The Mazarine Dreamer, the lovely Flavia is enticed by the romantic overtures of Netius Everest and Seron. Netius Eversen is an intelligent brown-haired and statuesque gentlemen who becomes involved romantically with Flavia. Seron, son of Lord Briarfield through adoption, also becomes romantically entwined with Flavia. Seron has a natural aptitude for magic.
Talize is a naturalist who observes organisms and their environment. Nevian frequently seeks info from Talise regarding his research.
Lord Briarfield ,a gentleman who pays Nevian for acquisition of a mythical felid (wild cat) from historical art - is also a character in the book Mazarine Dreamer.
Readers everywhere will definitely need to read this #1 awesome novel!!!! If you believe in or have a fascination with reincarnation, and the supernatural, then the #1 awesome book The Mazarine Dreamer written by Francessca Bella is the novel you must purchase and read immediately!!!!
Of special note also in the #1 awesome and special novel The Mazarine Dreamer is the artwork throughout the book which is delightful and exceptional!!!!
The #1 awesome book by Francessca Bella titled Mazarine Dreamer is a novel about enlightenment, intuition and dreams/other. This special book focuses on the concept of reincarnation - the soul(s ) of people or animals who have been been reborn and the supernatural world, dreams and intuition.
Set in medieval England, a monk in an abbey northward in the historical Spelthorne area fell ill and became mentally troubled. He had a near fatal heart attack. They said ghosts caused the gentlemen mental afflictions.The abbey has seven robed monks and a few priests. The three aspiring buyers of the castle fell dead only 3 weeks ago. Flavia is brought in - and after countless hours of negotiating - decided with the monks that a solution to this entire situation must immediately be reached.
The incomparable Flavia Mavaret, is the primary character in The Mazarine Dreamer. Blonde-haired and petite, Flavia is a U.S. based psychologist who embraces life with her unique approach to the supernatural and religion with science included. Trained seven years to offer her psychiatry patients the very best services, Flavia offers trauma curative services.
She has sui generis to travel through time via her past and she also must discover solutions for the clergy and supernatural forces who are involved in her 500 year divine past which takes place at Pastello Church.
The mediastress Idona possesses a heavenly job that involves transforming lost souls and transforming individuals to be suited for their passage(s) through heaven. Also, Idona frequently turns to her cherished book titled Names Of The Reincarnated which enables her to metamorphose lives that were originally from the Mazarine dimension.
The Pastello Church has an integral part in The Manzarine Dreamer. One of The primary Priests in the book is Priest Masan who maintains the position of head priest at Pastello. Priest Taciturn is the second in command of the Pastello Church. And Nevius Evegane is the Master who supervises the Pastello Church.
Throughout The Mazarine Dreamer, the lovely Flavia is enticed by the romantic overtures of Netius Everest and Seron. Netius Eversen is an intelligent brown-haired and statuesque gentlemen who becomes involved romantically with Flavia. Seron, son of Lord Briarfield through adoption, also becomes romantically entwined with Flavia. Seron has a natural aptitude for magic.
Talize is a naturalist who observes organisms and their environment. Nevian frequently seeks info from Talise regarding his research.
Lord Briarfield ,a gentleman who pays Nevian for acquisition of a mythical felid (wild cat) from historical art - is also a character in the book Mazarine Dreamer.
Readers everywhere will definitely need to read this #1 awesome novel!!!! If you believe in or have a fascination with reincarnation, and the supernatural, then the #1 awesome book The Mazarine Dreamer written by Francessca Bella is the novel you must purchase and read immediately!!!!
Of special note also in the #1 awesome and special novel The Mazarine Dreamer is the artwork throughout the book which is delightful and exceptional!!!!
March 14, 2026
Francessca Bella's "Mazarine Dreamer" is a unique Shakespearean take on modern romantasy with its complex characters, relatable romantic moments, and beautiful, picturesque description. While the pacing and characterization aren't perfect, Bella's unique writing will charm you to keep going until the very end.
The strongest aspect is the novel’s distinctive style. It rhymes throughout and, oddly enough, it's not distracting. Her description is beautifully written and the witty dialogue is downright Shakespearean. "How peppered birds and bees do stir" is a personal favorite.
The main character, Flavia, is set up very well. She's a caring but blunt therapist who doesn't believe in magic. As the book goes on, she opens her mind to supernatural ideas, even using them to help other patients. She is constantly planning something whether it's finding other reincarnated people or helping her lovers.
The male leads show growth as well. Netius/Nevian starts off as a one-dimensional lone wolf, but eventually shows he is a caring plant/animal lover. Lero/Seron is charming but somewhat impulsive, but he learns to think with his head as well as his heart.
The small romantic scenes are adorable because they show genuine chemistry. Like when Flavia and Netius read together and race to the register, or when Lero and Flavia order and eat fried chicken in the car.
The theme of forgiveness and learning from past mistakes is strong throughout the story, particularly in the male leads. For example, Nevian (Netius' past self), is obsessive, controlling, and injures Seron's (Lero’s past self) eye for seducing Flavia. In the present, Netius has the injured eye while Lero is the obsessive one, putting them in each other's shoes. Instead of hurting or killing one another, they forgive each other and move on from the past.
However, at times, it feels like it's style over substance. Most of the side characters only pop up as tools for Flavia, leaving them underdeveloped: her past sister, two reincarnated friends, and a white fox that Flavia sees as a good omen, but it's only seen twice and never comes back. A part of me wishes the fox came back to show Flavia she’s on the right track in life.
Speaking of Flavia, she’s inconsistent in personality. She goes from an accomplished, empathetic therapist to a lying, lovesick hypocrite. When she complains about a lover being unfaithful, she appears to forget that she's doing the same thing. She keeps switching back and forth between wanting to dump a man and wanting to marry him. She sees the love triangle as a game and she's the prize. It's off character for her, especially when she doesn't show her want for romance in the first couple chapters. Thankfully, matching the book's theme, she learns from her mistakes and tries to rectify it.
In conclusion, while "Mazarine Dreamer" is shallow in case of side characters and the main character's consistency, it is ocean deep in its artistic style, inventive description, character development, and touching theme of forgiveness. Say the magic words and immerse yourself in this time-traveling love story.
The strongest aspect is the novel’s distinctive style. It rhymes throughout and, oddly enough, it's not distracting. Her description is beautifully written and the witty dialogue is downright Shakespearean. "How peppered birds and bees do stir" is a personal favorite.
The main character, Flavia, is set up very well. She's a caring but blunt therapist who doesn't believe in magic. As the book goes on, she opens her mind to supernatural ideas, even using them to help other patients. She is constantly planning something whether it's finding other reincarnated people or helping her lovers.
The male leads show growth as well. Netius/Nevian starts off as a one-dimensional lone wolf, but eventually shows he is a caring plant/animal lover. Lero/Seron is charming but somewhat impulsive, but he learns to think with his head as well as his heart.
The small romantic scenes are adorable because they show genuine chemistry. Like when Flavia and Netius read together and race to the register, or when Lero and Flavia order and eat fried chicken in the car.
The theme of forgiveness and learning from past mistakes is strong throughout the story, particularly in the male leads. For example, Nevian (Netius' past self), is obsessive, controlling, and injures Seron's (Lero’s past self) eye for seducing Flavia. In the present, Netius has the injured eye while Lero is the obsessive one, putting them in each other's shoes. Instead of hurting or killing one another, they forgive each other and move on from the past.
However, at times, it feels like it's style over substance. Most of the side characters only pop up as tools for Flavia, leaving them underdeveloped: her past sister, two reincarnated friends, and a white fox that Flavia sees as a good omen, but it's only seen twice and never comes back. A part of me wishes the fox came back to show Flavia she’s on the right track in life.
Speaking of Flavia, she’s inconsistent in personality. She goes from an accomplished, empathetic therapist to a lying, lovesick hypocrite. When she complains about a lover being unfaithful, she appears to forget that she's doing the same thing. She keeps switching back and forth between wanting to dump a man and wanting to marry him. She sees the love triangle as a game and she's the prize. It's off character for her, especially when she doesn't show her want for romance in the first couple chapters. Thankfully, matching the book's theme, she learns from her mistakes and tries to rectify it.
In conclusion, while "Mazarine Dreamer" is shallow in case of side characters and the main character's consistency, it is ocean deep in its artistic style, inventive description, character development, and touching theme of forgiveness. Say the magic words and immerse yourself in this time-traveling love story.
August 8, 2025
Mazarine Dreamer by Francesca Bella is a special blend of romantasy and epic poetry, which consists of a long, narrative format with rhythm and rhyme that is broken down into sections. In this story, the author breaks the text down into canticles, which are scriptural hymns or songs of praise connected to the divine.
It is written in elevated language and a formal style. It includes supernatural elements that lend to the fantasy genre, along with elements of romance, featuring a love triangle. The author states at the beginning that the book is written in “heroic couplet,” which she defines as “a never-ending series in rhyme.”
In the story, the main female character, Flavia Mavaret, is a present-day psychologist who discovers her origins through a reincarnation plot. Once she discovers some misdeeds in her past life, she time-travels to correct these errors while the forces of the universe watch and pass judgment. While on this journey, Flavia finds herself entangled in a love triangle with two men. Will she right her past wrongs? Will she choose the right man? Her choices may decide the fate of all.
One of the story’s strengths is part of the presented format. It starts with a dramatis personae, or a detailed list of characters in the epic poem, including descriptions of each character. This, along with the table of contents at the beginning of the story, is a helpful resource for readers to refer to throughout their reading experience. In addition, the author masterfully plays with the mix of current terminology, such as “limelight” and “broohaha,” with more elevated and traditional terminology, such as “metamorphosed” and “begat,” as dictated by the rules of the chosen format.
Some potential obstacles the reader may encounter when reading are the more abstract descriptions of key story elements, such as setting, character, plot events, and conflict. In needing to stay consistent with the rigidity of the epic poetry format with specific rhythm and rhyme throughout the story, some of the necessary concrete descriptions of key story elements, such as when and where the story takes place, become somewhat blurred for the reader. The reader finds themself persevering through some of the language in order to make sense of the basics of the story, including setting, character, and plot events.
This story is noteworthy and may be appealing to some readers because it is written in a currently popular, emerging subgenre, romantasy. It would also prove to be a rewarding and enriching challenge for a more mature and experienced reader because of the unique format and elevated language. The format, language, supernatural elements, and romance of this story set it apart from any other novel you will find!
It is written in elevated language and a formal style. It includes supernatural elements that lend to the fantasy genre, along with elements of romance, featuring a love triangle. The author states at the beginning that the book is written in “heroic couplet,” which she defines as “a never-ending series in rhyme.”
In the story, the main female character, Flavia Mavaret, is a present-day psychologist who discovers her origins through a reincarnation plot. Once she discovers some misdeeds in her past life, she time-travels to correct these errors while the forces of the universe watch and pass judgment. While on this journey, Flavia finds herself entangled in a love triangle with two men. Will she right her past wrongs? Will she choose the right man? Her choices may decide the fate of all.
One of the story’s strengths is part of the presented format. It starts with a dramatis personae, or a detailed list of characters in the epic poem, including descriptions of each character. This, along with the table of contents at the beginning of the story, is a helpful resource for readers to refer to throughout their reading experience. In addition, the author masterfully plays with the mix of current terminology, such as “limelight” and “broohaha,” with more elevated and traditional terminology, such as “metamorphosed” and “begat,” as dictated by the rules of the chosen format.
Some potential obstacles the reader may encounter when reading are the more abstract descriptions of key story elements, such as setting, character, plot events, and conflict. In needing to stay consistent with the rigidity of the epic poetry format with specific rhythm and rhyme throughout the story, some of the necessary concrete descriptions of key story elements, such as when and where the story takes place, become somewhat blurred for the reader. The reader finds themself persevering through some of the language in order to make sense of the basics of the story, including setting, character, and plot events.
This story is noteworthy and may be appealing to some readers because it is written in a currently popular, emerging subgenre, romantasy. It would also prove to be a rewarding and enriching challenge for a more mature and experienced reader because of the unique format and elevated language. The format, language, supernatural elements, and romance of this story set it apart from any other novel you will find!
December 12, 2025
Mazarine Dreamer was such a pleasant surprise. I went in expecting a creative time-bending romance, but it turned out to be so much richer than that. Flavia’s journey—literally slipping back into her Renaissance past life—pulled me in right away. Her memories seeped into the pages and were beautifully and poetically told. I enjoyed the rhyming nature of the book and it kept me in intrigued and kept the book flowing beautifully. I did not know what to expect with the book like this as previously sonnets from Shakespeare were the only thing of this nature I really knew and I did find some of those sonnets, at times, a little hard to understand. I was nervous going in, but my nerves quickly got put at ease when seeing how easy it was to read and understand.
The love triangle is emotional, complicated, and full of that tension where one is constantly wondering who she’ll choose and why. Between the painter and the nobleman, each one has his own specific traits that make it hard for her to choose.
I loved how the author wove reincarnation, romance, and spiritual stakes together without it ever feeling heavy. The Renaissance setting felt vivid and atmospheric. At times, the whole story gave this sense of urgency that kept me turning pages. I enjoy books that keep the pages turning, and I could not put this one down! I love the renaissance times, and anything themed like it.
What really stayed with me, though, was Flavia’s personal transformation. Seeing her flourish throughout the book and really look into herself was refreshing and nice to see the reflection. Her choice between the two men isn’t just about love—it’s about growth, redemption, and finding the path that leads her to something bigger than herself. That gave the ending a real emotional punch, that had me thinking after the book ended. It was like being in a dream land while reading this novel and getting submersed into a different time.
If you enjoy time-slip stories, historical romance, or anything with a mystical twist, definitely give Mazarine Dreamer a try. It’s romantic, magical, and beautifully written. 5 stars
The love triangle is emotional, complicated, and full of that tension where one is constantly wondering who she’ll choose and why. Between the painter and the nobleman, each one has his own specific traits that make it hard for her to choose.
I loved how the author wove reincarnation, romance, and spiritual stakes together without it ever feeling heavy. The Renaissance setting felt vivid and atmospheric. At times, the whole story gave this sense of urgency that kept me turning pages. I enjoy books that keep the pages turning, and I could not put this one down! I love the renaissance times, and anything themed like it.
What really stayed with me, though, was Flavia’s personal transformation. Seeing her flourish throughout the book and really look into herself was refreshing and nice to see the reflection. Her choice between the two men isn’t just about love—it’s about growth, redemption, and finding the path that leads her to something bigger than herself. That gave the ending a real emotional punch, that had me thinking after the book ended. It was like being in a dream land while reading this novel and getting submersed into a different time.
If you enjoy time-slip stories, historical romance, or anything with a mystical twist, definitely give Mazarine Dreamer a try. It’s romantic, magical, and beautifully written. 5 stars
January 19, 2026
Mazarine Dreamer by Francessca Bella is a very unique story written in poetry and rhyme. I felt it was very pleasant reading the mysterious romance, and I was most definitely surprised. Plenty of intrigue for a new reader like myself, since I have never read anything that has to do with time-traveling, spiritualism, the Renaissance period, or reincarnation.
The main character, Flavia's journey, was beautifully written, like reading a fairy tale. I felt the words were easy to read and understand. The unexpected love triangle was sought with comparison to other books I have read in the past; there was no comparison. I loved the illustrations; it just made me realize that you can combine drawing, poetry, and creative writing all in one! That was very impressive! It was also interesting seeing her move between the time periods, from present-day Spelthorne, England, 2043, to the Renaissance, Italy. I've never really read anything from that time period, so I was very surprised. I really enjoyed the character descriptions and illustrations! It made it easier to understand the story! Throughout the story, I kept wondering who the good guy was and who the bad guy was, which was very surprising to find out. I like the scenes where she's dressed up in the castle; all the descriptions of her wardrobe are Hollywood-worthy. The parties that she attends at castles also sound like a lot of fun. Very interesting how she follows the clues of the pigeon, the scrolls, and her love of nature.
The Lord Briarfield character seemed to have ill intentions, and Nevian, one of her past lovers, had such a huge ego. I was not a fan of either one. I really enjoyed the scene where Flavia and Nevian travel into the labyrinth; it seemed beautiful! I enjoyed her love of animals; it was a part of her kind nature. Overall, I felt the book was very enjoyable but a little bit long. 5/5
The main character, Flavia's journey, was beautifully written, like reading a fairy tale. I felt the words were easy to read and understand. The unexpected love triangle was sought with comparison to other books I have read in the past; there was no comparison. I loved the illustrations; it just made me realize that you can combine drawing, poetry, and creative writing all in one! That was very impressive! It was also interesting seeing her move between the time periods, from present-day Spelthorne, England, 2043, to the Renaissance, Italy. I've never really read anything from that time period, so I was very surprised. I really enjoyed the character descriptions and illustrations! It made it easier to understand the story! Throughout the story, I kept wondering who the good guy was and who the bad guy was, which was very surprising to find out. I like the scenes where she's dressed up in the castle; all the descriptions of her wardrobe are Hollywood-worthy. The parties that she attends at castles also sound like a lot of fun. Very interesting how she follows the clues of the pigeon, the scrolls, and her love of nature.
The Lord Briarfield character seemed to have ill intentions, and Nevian, one of her past lovers, had such a huge ego. I was not a fan of either one. I really enjoyed the scene where Flavia and Nevian travel into the labyrinth; it seemed beautiful! I enjoyed her love of animals; it was a part of her kind nature. Overall, I felt the book was very enjoyable but a little bit long. 5/5
February 17, 2026
I love the Shakespearian ways of writing mixed with modern words. The imagery really pulls you in from the very beginning of this book!! The illustrations are absolutely beautiful!!! The ending was captivating and shocking, giving me everything I wanted with nothing I expected, the perfect end to this book!
If you want to read the thoughts I had while reading, IT DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS, please enjoy:
1. Pictures are beautiful!!!
2. Pg. 13, I already feel like I’m reading the works of a modern Shakespeare!
3. This imagery is everything! It really pulls me into the story and is getting me hooked.
4. This is such a smooth and easy read that it’s wonderful to just get lost in and enjoy it! I’m already on page 105 and I’ve been reading for a short time now!
5. Pg 205: Flavia and Nevian are SO CUTE!
6. Pg 207: I absolutely love the writing style!!!
7. Pg 226: I love the use of modern words in this old time writing!
8. Pg: 243: Elizabeth I Tudors? Or different?
a. Yep, Elizabeth I Tudors!! She’s my favorite Queen!
9. Pg 560: Sir, yes, food is food, but give a girl time to choose! I am VERY picky when it comes to my food.
10. Pg 708: Me too, girl, me too. Blood is very icky sometimes.
11. Pg 749: I love Flavia’s outfits!
12. Pg 837: I can’t decide if I like Seron or Nevian better.
13. Pg 838: Low-key, I really want that bed-
14. Pg 846: NO WAY, THEY’RE FIGHTING!!!
15. Pg 850: Yeah…don’t know if I still like Nevian…
16. Pg 901: IDONA?!
17. Pg 906: Me, too, girl. I got two men I love equally too, so I don’t find this hard to believe.
18. Pg 909: Title mentioned!
19. Pg 914: OH MY GOD
20. Pg. 930-931: She’s with Netius and Lero just left??
21. Pg 937: Oooo, vanilla perfume, it fits her beautifully!
22. Pg 939: THEY’RE GETTING MARRIED!
23. Pg. 949-950: I love the combining of their lives!!
24. Pg 953: AMAZING BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!
If you want to read the thoughts I had while reading, IT DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS, please enjoy:
1. Pictures are beautiful!!!
2. Pg. 13, I already feel like I’m reading the works of a modern Shakespeare!
3. This imagery is everything! It really pulls me into the story and is getting me hooked.
4. This is such a smooth and easy read that it’s wonderful to just get lost in and enjoy it! I’m already on page 105 and I’ve been reading for a short time now!
5. Pg 205: Flavia and Nevian are SO CUTE!
6. Pg 207: I absolutely love the writing style!!!
7. Pg 226: I love the use of modern words in this old time writing!
8. Pg: 243: Elizabeth I Tudors? Or different?
a. Yep, Elizabeth I Tudors!! She’s my favorite Queen!
9. Pg 560: Sir, yes, food is food, but give a girl time to choose! I am VERY picky when it comes to my food.
10. Pg 708: Me too, girl, me too. Blood is very icky sometimes.
11. Pg 749: I love Flavia’s outfits!
12. Pg 837: I can’t decide if I like Seron or Nevian better.
13. Pg 838: Low-key, I really want that bed-
14. Pg 846: NO WAY, THEY’RE FIGHTING!!!
15. Pg 850: Yeah…don’t know if I still like Nevian…
16. Pg 901: IDONA?!
17. Pg 906: Me, too, girl. I got two men I love equally too, so I don’t find this hard to believe.
18. Pg 909: Title mentioned!
19. Pg 914: OH MY GOD
20. Pg. 930-931: She’s with Netius and Lero just left??
21. Pg 937: Oooo, vanilla perfume, it fits her beautifully!
22. Pg 939: THEY’RE GETTING MARRIED!
23. Pg. 949-950: I love the combining of their lives!!
24. Pg 953: AMAZING BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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March 14, 2026Mazarine Dreamer by Francesca Bella is an unusual and imaginative fantasy romance written entirely in rhyme and accompanied by illustrations.
What makes this book truly distinctive is its poetic structure. The entire narrative unfolds in duets, creating a lyrical and dreamlike atmosphere. The language feels vivid and immersive, especially in moments like Flavia’s passage through the mysterious Mazarine fog, which captures the sensation of drifting between realities. The illustrations also complement the story beautifully and enhance the book’s fairy-tale aesthetic.
At times, reading the novel feels comforting, almost like revisiting an illustrated storybook, while still maintaining the emotional tension and romantic drama of young adult fantasy.
That said, the rhyming structure can occasionally make the narrative harder to follow. Dialogue sections sometimes become quite long, and it is not always immediately clear which character is speaking. In some moments the writing seems to prioritize rhythm and expression over clarity, which can briefly interrupt the flow of the story.
The emotional heart of the novel lies in its tragic, fated relationships. The sense that certain bonds may endure across centuries adds a melancholic tone that fits well with the story’s themes of destiny and reincarnation.
Overall, Mazarine Dreamer offers a creative and very unique reading experience. Readers who enjoy poetic storytelling, illustrated fantasy, and romantic themes of past lives and fate will likely find this book especially intriguing.
I have posted a review of this book on my bookstagram: @fantasticw0rds for anyone interested!
What makes this book truly distinctive is its poetic structure. The entire narrative unfolds in duets, creating a lyrical and dreamlike atmosphere. The language feels vivid and immersive, especially in moments like Flavia’s passage through the mysterious Mazarine fog, which captures the sensation of drifting between realities. The illustrations also complement the story beautifully and enhance the book’s fairy-tale aesthetic.
At times, reading the novel feels comforting, almost like revisiting an illustrated storybook, while still maintaining the emotional tension and romantic drama of young adult fantasy.
That said, the rhyming structure can occasionally make the narrative harder to follow. Dialogue sections sometimes become quite long, and it is not always immediately clear which character is speaking. In some moments the writing seems to prioritize rhythm and expression over clarity, which can briefly interrupt the flow of the story.
The emotional heart of the novel lies in its tragic, fated relationships. The sense that certain bonds may endure across centuries adds a melancholic tone that fits well with the story’s themes of destiny and reincarnation.
Overall, Mazarine Dreamer offers a creative and very unique reading experience. Readers who enjoy poetic storytelling, illustrated fantasy, and romantic themes of past lives and fate will likely find this book especially intriguing.
I have posted a review of this book on my bookstagram: @fantasticw0rds for anyone interested!
December 31, 2025
Flavia’s story took me across centuries worth of love and mystery! While I did have to go back and reread a bit here and there to really understand, solely because I wasn’t used to the rhythmic flow, I truly enjoyed the book! I love a good fantasy, and the added love triangle made it even better, especially since it made her really reflect on her life journey. I did enjoy really enjoy the “cast list” at the beginning of the book too, as it went back and forth, I also would turn back and remind myself who was who! If you’re looking for something different, and very intriguing, Mazarine Dreamer is your book!
January 11, 2026
“Mazarine Dreamer” by Francessca Belle is a unique poetic romance. It is an entertaining mystery that keeps the reader on their toes. Beginning with the table of contents, the reader is thrown back in time to really get a feel for the ambiance of the book. The rhyming couplets keep the book intriguing for the entire 975 pages. The themes of love and science versus the supernatural in the world add to the fantasy of the story. The love triangle was intense and helped move the plot immensely. The artwork throughout the book was exquisite and really helped me visualize what was happening. I thoroughly enjoyed the poetic rhythm of the story. It was an extraordinary read!
March 19, 2026
Mazarine Dreamer is written in rhyme. The main female character has been reincarnated and must travel back in time to correct her past relationships or she is doomed to repeat the pattern. I was surprised by the love triangle aspect and pleasantly surprised by the romances that she experienced. Overall, I really enjoyed the book. If you are looking for a new or different type of read this book is worth your time.
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