A family torn apart by conflict. An uprising of deadly magnitude. A nation altered forever.
Inspired by actual events, "Siciliana" is the harrowing tale of a young woman’s courage in the face of unthinkable turmoil.
In 1282 AD, the Kingdom of Sicily is under the rule of a tyrannical French king and subject to his brutal Angevin army. Daily acts of violence and persecution are commonplace in a once-prosperous realm.
For twenty-year-old Aetna Vespiri, daughter of a revered Sicilian knight, survival has become second nature. As a child, she witnessed the destruction of her family’s vineyard by Angevin soldiers and spent the next decade learning the tenets of stiletto blade combat.
Years later in Palermo, as the evening bells toll for Vespers, Aetna fends off a nefarious sergeant and sparks an uprising against the Angevin occupation. Now, standing at the forefront of an accelerating people’s rebellion, Aetna finds herself fighting not only for a nation she believes in but also for the meaning of family. In her darkest hour, this dauntless Sicilian woman steps out of obscurity and into the pages of history.
The legend of "Siciliana" is born.
Set amid bustling Arab markets and brooding Norman fortresses, "Siciliana" will envelop readers in the sights, sounds, and dangers lurking around every corner of medieval Sicily.
Carlo Treviso grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a degree in film directing. Traversing the worlds of Hollywood and advertising, Treviso has written and produced commercial broadcast campaigns for well-known brands all over the world. The son of a Sicilian immigrant, Treviso enjoys bringing his passion and appreciation for Sicily to his readers. He is a proud advocate and supporter of conservation organizations UNESCO, LIFE ConRaSi, and World Wildlife Fund—all of which work to protect the beauty and grandeur of Sicily’s engrossing past, resilient culture, and vibrant biodiversity. Treviso resides in Chicago, Illinois.
Sicily in the thirteenth century is a dangerous place full of political turmoil and unrest. Aetna’s life on her family’s vineyard has largely sheltered her from these things until an injured man appears at their doorstep requesting sanctuary. When soldiers arrive in search of this man and destroy her peaceful life, Aetna learns how to survive, including how to fight with a stiletto. As tensions rise in Palermo and it becomes unsafe for those who live there, Aetna is forced to protect herself and begins a revolution in the process.
The amount of historical research and details that went into this story is evident. I learned much about this period of history in Sicily from this work. Cultural and political details were included throughout that added to the depth of the setting in a meaningful way. However, this work was more focused on the history of the area than on any of the characters.
I felt that the characters – their development, growth, and depth – were all lacking. This tale is set up to be one of intense emotions as it follows Aetna from childhood to adulthood as she leads a personally motivated rebellion. But there was no emotion conveyed through the dialogue or the writing style, and there felt like there was no real exploration of her feelings and motivations beyond the obvious. It left her and the secondary characters feeling flat and unrelatable. Even when tragic things occurred to them, there was no real connection there that made me feel their pain.
On a more technical note, there were a few minor errors that I noticed throughout the book. The author included some maps and several sketches of relevant things (buildings, insignias, etc.) that added to the story. The inclusion of these sketches was a great idea.
This was a tough one for me to rate. If you’re interested in the history of Sicily during the thirteenth century, I recommend this work. But it does fall short when it comes to meaningful and relatable characters, which detracted from it for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the copy of this book!
The world probably knows Sicily for all the wrong reasons, but what if someone told you that Sicily is not this monotonous and poor concept presented in the media? What if they told you it is a place of abundant and colorful history and culture, the beauty that is just breathtaking? What if they told you a certain story, one of sacrifice of that tormented land beneath a volcano; the war, the sorrow, the desperation that birthed Siciliana? Well, here, listen to the story of one Aetna Vespiri, of a rise against the oppressor, of the fuming lava in the belly of Etna. Listen to the story of sacrifice, love, determination, rage, loss - and home.
Ever since the start of this year, I've been in this sort of a slump, feeling really unmotivated and kind of lazy, but I am very glad I had this book to get me out of it. It took me a while to read it, but I enjoyed every bit of it. The power, the love, the emotion that erupts from these pages was absolutely captivating. I know the year has just begun, but I don't know if I'll be able to find another one like this anytime soon. It was just beautiful! In the story of war the author managed to insert the elements of a rich culture, history, cuisine, the environment and the language. I speak Italian, but I appreciated the Sicilian dialect used in the book, I feel like it showed that Sicily is first Sicilian and that Italian. It was a special nod to their identity. I feel like my words will never fully present the magic of this book, so just, as soon as you can, go read it! :)
On Easter Monday (30 March) 1282, at the Church of the Holy Spirit just outside Palermo, at evening prayer (vespers), a Frenchman harassed a Sicilian woman. Accounts differ as to what the harassment entailed, who the woman was, and who the Frenchman was. Fed up with years of oppression, insolence and brutality, the cry went up - "moranu li Francis" - death to the French!. This single event led to the massacre of four thousand French men and women within twenty four hours, and possibly as many as thirteen thousand over the course of the next six weeks. The government of Charles lost control of the island - and the War of the Sicilian Vespers was underway.
Treviso provides an engaging and at times, fraught narrative, as the players on the chessboard are being slowly and carefully positioned for the impending finale.
As an avid student of Sicilian history, I welcomed this fictional account of one of many a major turning point the history of this island nation.
It pains me to say this, as fiction around Sicilian history is rare, but this is a poorly written book. Lack of research into the Sicilian/Italian terms used (LA guanto della sfida, FFS). Gross historical inaccuracies, and yes, it's fiction but using someone's name and depicting them in a completely different manner and context amounts to slander. Even the ad for the book was misleading, giving the impression that Vespiri is what gave the name to the Vespiri Sicilianu. The story itself, while it has good plot twists, is more about violence and gore than anything else...throats being sliced and eyes gouged out. You could be reading the script for John Wick or the Equaliser in that aspect. Overall, this was a disappointing read.
Siciliana by Carlo Treviso Siciliana is an intriguing historical- fiction novel that will quench your thirst for knowledge about a very particular time in Sicilian History known as The Sicilian Vespers. Vespers refers to the eve of Easter Sunday. On March 30, 1282, Sicily erupted into a ferocious, revolt against the violently abusive French government of King Charles of Anjou. The action occurs during a very specific time period. Dates and times are marked at the beginning of many chapters so readers can absorb the swiftness and volatility of the riots on the island. We follow the flow of the revolt from town to town and Mr.Treviso skillfully reveals the structure of the Angevine forces contrasted to the chaos of the armed peasant revolt. Each change of battle venue is preceded by a picture showing the area of Sicily involved complete with castle and fortress names. Mr. Treviso clearly did his research. The fictional aspect of Siciliana features our protagonist whose name is Aetna. It’s no coincidence that our female warrior is named for the volcano. The explosive Sicilian Vespers revolt is a metaphor for Mount Etna itself. The tension on the island caused by the ongoing terrifying abuse to the citizenry eventually exploded leaving a trail of thousands of dead Angevine men, women, and children. Like a flow of fiery lava, no-one was spared. The violence was pitiless and at times overwhelming. 13,000 French were slaughtered, and the Angevines were ousted from Sicily. The cast of fictional as well as historical characters is well-developed. Back-stories are provided which gives all the players, French and Sicilian depth and realism. But the actions of the warrior women step into the realm of fantasy literature. Their prowess in battle and accomplishments are super-human. This is also no coincidence. The Trinacria, a Sicilian flag, bears the face of Medusa, a mythological female terribly abused, who donned a head of snakes threatening all who approach. Being reminded of the Sicilian Vespers warns invaders away like Medusa’s crown of vipers. Sicily is an island steeped in Greek mythology and Mr. Treviso wove this cultural aspect beautifully into his story. Readers will appreciate that chapters are short, so that even though the topic is intense, the read is swift and clear. The sprinkling of Sicilian words throughout the text enhances the authenticity of the story. You will leave this debut novel much wiser about Sicilian history, a mix of Greek, Arab, Norman and French ancestry. You will even come away with a few recipes!
What would you do if you were born into a world where you had no control over your future? Aetna Vespiri, a young Sicilian woman living in French-controlled Sicily in the 1200’s, defies her own fate in answering this question.
Carlo Treviso’s Siciliana weaves a legendary tale, recounting Aetna’s journey as she struggles to bring Sicilians together in rebellion against their French conquerors, the Angevins. Aside from the overarching national struggle, Aetna, along with dynamic side characters like Fra’Diavulu, a formidable man in a devil mask who wields a flaming sword, and Don Rapaci, a great knight who fights with the help of an eagle, also face familial and identity struggles to form a very thrilling conclusion.
Treviso creates a captivating and realistic depiction of rebellion, as he describes both the awe-inspiring nationalistic moments, such as the creation of a new flag, as well as the less rosy-colored moments that happen in the shadows, such as a mob’s bloodthirstiness against the abusive Angevins. The author, the son of a Sicilian immigrant, uses this book to capture the heart of a Sicilian identity, describing the culture, food (he includes little recipes at the back of the book!), architecture, and strong connection to family (cosca). These descriptions help justify why Sicilians wanted to create a national identity for themselves, as well as how they all managed to band together despite a high risk of death.
I heartily enjoyed this rousing historical thriller, but I felt that some of the side characters were not as developed as other characters. While Treviso creates some interesting and unique characters to read about, others felt dull in comparison to the main characters.
I recommend Siciliana to readers who are interested in Sicilian culture or engrossing historical fiction. While the book feels lengthy at times, watching Aetna overcome one impossible situation after another is engaging, and all the elements of Sicilian culture sprinkled in speak to Treviso’s immense heart and personal connection with this story.
The author claims while it it is a work of fiction it is based on true events. He should have done research on the facts he used. The novel is et in the 13th century. At one point he has a character wiping up tomato sauce with bread. Tomatoes were not introduced into Europe until the 25th century and even then it took a while fir people to accept them as food. Later he talks about putanesca sauce, again tomato based. Then he talks about sales of pears in the fruit market for Easter-- pears are late summer- early autumn fruit. Then he talks about the people eating blood oranges. They were not created until 19th century. I gave up the book in disgust after fewer than 100 pages. I could not imagine how many more errors were in store. Also irritating was the overuse of foreshadowing -- "little did he know what wad about to come," eg. A little more research and less author prescience would have helped this novel immensely.
I am Sicilian American and a genealogist. Like Mr. Treviso I am just frustrated and tired of the "mafia" comments by misinformed, non- Sicilians. This is not my genre of book to read. I thought it would be dull and boring. NOT SO! This book kept me up, reading late into the night and many times, I could not turn the pages fast enough! Reading this story of 1282AD Sicily and the Sicilians that rose up and fought their French oppressors was an eye opener and had me gasping. This was a well written story based on actual events. Strong family bonds and a VERY strong female character, Aetna. She was a fighter and defender of Sicily. Aetna aka Siciliana. A character I will never forget. If you have any interest in Sicily, its people or history, this is a must read. Thank you Mr. Treviso, I hope you plan to write more books on Sicilian history!!!!
Partly on account of the brief chapters, this book was an "easy read". But, as another reviewer pointed out, character development was thin. The author's use of "purple" adjectives was overdone. He never seems to employ one adjective when two or three will do. Favorite words keep popping up: e.g. All ropes are "gnarly". Almost all serious neck wounds involved the jugular. Lava does not flow, it "serpentines" In the last few battle scenes, Every one is "barreling". Eyes are often "liquid". Just to cite a few examples. I eventually got to entertain myself by reading my (purchased) copy of the book with pen in hand--underlining all the florid adjectives.
Carlo Treviso has written a historical fiction account of the freeing of Sicily. The author captures the strong-willed Sicilian people through a young girl, Aetna. The sounds and smells of the Sicilian island are described in vivid detail. The background descriptions easily lead to understanding why the Sicilian people are strong-willed and devoted to their families and island.
I think "Siciliana" will be made into a blockbuster action movie.
I met Carlo Treviso at a book signing in Chicago and sold me on the story and the history of the book. It did not disappoint. It is a relatively quick read and I found myself reading one more chapter each day. Impressive considering his first novel. Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
Engaging throughout. Some excellent twists which kept things interesting through so.many.chapters. A bit unnecessarily detailed in a great number of places…I mean how many ways can you describe entrails being spilled? But overall, an enjoyable book that I would recommend to those who enjoy historical fiction.
One of the BEST books that I have read in a while. The Characters are amazing in their own right, the story keep me wanting more. Siciliana is a heroine that grows with the book. The twists keep you on the edge of your seat. The historical events bring to life a story that is fascinating as well a captivating. I did not want this book to end,,,,,,,,,,,
Great 1282 historical novel with strong characters. The strength and fearlessness of women in this novel and the support of a country surrounding them=fantastic. If I could have I would have rated this a 4.5 as I only on rare occasions give 5 stars. Wish we could have had a little more time with Spinarosa, a favorite of mine. #OSantoCavaleri
Enjoyable read. It's a beautifully written and interwoven narrative that highlights the history, strength, and resilience of the Sicilian people, who have often been overlooked, discarded, and ridiculed. It's an amazing story of a woman's perseverance and deep love for her country and her people.
I love a well written historical fiction story and this went beyond my expectations. The author does a great job bringing the characters and era to life. The author takes the reader through this journey with great storytelling.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book was absolutely amazing. As a Sicilian, I was so happy to find this book that represented Sicilians in such a powerful light. I love how there’s historical fact tied in with the fiction—to me, it makes Siciliana even more real!
Listened to it as an audiobook with my Bookclub. While my Bookclub and others really enjoy this book, it just wasn’t my style or genre of book I like. There was a lot of violence in it. I did appreciate the deep description of events, I think the author did a good job setting scenes.
A great story of the Sicilian rebellion against the French Angevins in the 13th century! The courage of the people and their refusal to be ruled and abused by a foreign power is legendary, and is brought to life in this novel.
Excellent book ,definitely recommend it to anyone who is in love with Sicily , I came in America 20 years ago and when I read this book it took me back in my wonderful Sicily Thank you Mr Carlo Treviso
My review is going to be short and sweet. This is a classic SWASHBUCKLER in the tradition of Dumas or Sabatini. It was thoroughly enjoyable and would make a great movie if that genre ever returns to popularitry.
I loved the story and history with a female hero! Included beautiful description of the island, however it was a bit gory in violence which I didnt mind but did not recommend to my mother 😉 I did appreciate leaving out sexual violence that could have been a big part of the story.
This was a beautifully written book and an inspiring story of a people's uprising. As the Great Granddaughter of Sicilian immigrants who came to America, who knows practically nothing about her families Sicilian roots, I must say I wish there were more stories like this.
This book was absolutely thrilling to read! Carlo brings the history of Sicily to life in this compelling story of a young woman who leads a rebellion to claim back their country!