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The Prince of Cups
He Was Her Lover, Her Enemy.
Driven by desire she had never before known, Veronica Danti melted in the stranger's arms. He was her destiny, the lover foreseen in the tarot cards, the arrogant aristocrat who paid her in golden coin. She was married, he was betrothed--unions arranged by man, mocked by lust. She would risk everything to reach his heart--even if it meant giving her body...and soul...
Theirs Was A Star-Crossed Passion.
He was the exile, returned to Florence to enter into a forced political marriage--his dying mother' s last request. Antonio di Fabiani was surrounded by enemies in Savonarola's city, which seethed with holy intrigue and Borgia spies. Here trust was lethal, love just another manner of betrayal, and seduction merely a game. Until he met Veronica, the Gypsy temptress whose touch could heal, and whose kiss set his soul afire, demanding a total surrender he could not deny...
Here, amid a backdrop of assassination and seething intrigue, is the tumultuous story of a love ordained by destiny, and a union no earthly power could destroy.
Driven by desire she had never before known, Veronica Danti melted in the stranger's arms. He was her destiny, the lover foreseen in the tarot cards, the arrogant aristocrat who paid her in golden coin. She was married, he was betrothed--unions arranged by man, mocked by lust. She would risk everything to reach his heart--even if it meant giving her body...and soul...
Theirs Was A Star-Crossed Passion.
He was the exile, returned to Florence to enter into a forced political marriage--his dying mother' s last request. Antonio di Fabiani was surrounded by enemies in Savonarola's city, which seethed with holy intrigue and Borgia spies. Here trust was lethal, love just another manner of betrayal, and seduction merely a game. Until he met Veronica, the Gypsy temptress whose touch could heal, and whose kiss set his soul afire, demanding a total surrender he could not deny...
Here, amid a backdrop of assassination and seething intrigue, is the tumultuous story of a love ordained by destiny, and a union no earthly power could destroy.
471 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1995
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 26, 2013
I read this book because I re-read The Thief's Mistress at least once a year. Actually, this book was on my amazon shopping list for years until I finally decided I wasn't going to luck out and find a hard copy in a used book store and might as well just buy it online.
And I'm glad I read it. But I'm torn as to how I feel about it. On the one hand, it is ridiculously well written and all the main characters are sound. On the other, it had some serious problems.
Gayle Feyrer, the real name of writer Yves Fey, writes very, very good stories that are not your typical historical romances. That's why I loved The Thief's Mistress and it's what I liked about this book. Unfortunately, while TTM walked that line between "atypical" and "romance" I feel this book was horribly mis-marketed. Yes, it is has romance. But it's more of an historical fiction and I suspect the problems I had with it would disappear if it had been marketed as a simple Historical instead of a romance novel. Because the genre tropes and formulas of a typical romance aren't just subverted or recreated here, often their missing altogether. So reading it meant it felt something was very much missing.
The story is dense. Really, really dense. There are multiple subplots full of intrigue in this book. Each is given equal attention and by the end, it felt that many of them should have either been cut short or left out altogether, while others that were cut short in the interest of story should have been given much more attention. There are characters that, while solid, were used as props at times and that was troublesome (see Veronica's husband Roberto) while other characters descended into the realm of caricature because the ample attention they were given was still not enough (see Dmitri and even Bianca--especially at the end).
I am glad I read it, but would I recommend it? Honestly, probably not. This book suffers because it felt like it should have been longer, at least a hundred pages longer. Or, it should have been about a hundred pages shorter. By the end I was being told so much to wrap up all the dangling plot threads I just wanted it to be over. I spend a huge portion of the novel wondering if this was her first work.
I'm excited to find out Yves Fey has written other things, though. She's incredibly talented.
And I'm glad I read it. But I'm torn as to how I feel about it. On the one hand, it is ridiculously well written and all the main characters are sound. On the other, it had some serious problems.
Gayle Feyrer, the real name of writer Yves Fey, writes very, very good stories that are not your typical historical romances. That's why I loved The Thief's Mistress and it's what I liked about this book. Unfortunately, while TTM walked that line between "atypical" and "romance" I feel this book was horribly mis-marketed. Yes, it is has romance. But it's more of an historical fiction and I suspect the problems I had with it would disappear if it had been marketed as a simple Historical instead of a romance novel. Because the genre tropes and formulas of a typical romance aren't just subverted or recreated here, often their missing altogether. So reading it meant it felt something was very much missing.
The story is dense. Really, really dense. There are multiple subplots full of intrigue in this book. Each is given equal attention and by the end, it felt that many of them should have either been cut short or left out altogether, while others that were cut short in the interest of story should have been given much more attention. There are characters that, while solid, were used as props at times and that was troublesome (see Veronica's husband Roberto) while other characters descended into the realm of caricature because the ample attention they were given was still not enough (see Dmitri and even Bianca--especially at the end).
I am glad I read it, but would I recommend it? Honestly, probably not. This book suffers because it felt like it should have been longer, at least a hundred pages longer. Or, it should have been about a hundred pages shorter. By the end I was being told so much to wrap up all the dangling plot threads I just wanted it to be over. I spend a huge portion of the novel wondering if this was her first work.
I'm excited to find out Yves Fey has written other things, though. She's incredibly talented.
September 14, 2024
Can't say much...lmao
August 25, 2025
The Prince of Cups is a historical romance novel about forbidden love in turbulent medieval time of the Italian Renaissance. Set in Florence, Italy during the rule of Pope Alex VI, Gayle Feyrer delivers another compelling book of love, danger, and deception.
When Veronica learns of her impending betrothal to Roberto Montagna, the son of the evil, lewd monster Lugio, she seeks help from her gypsy great-grandmother Mama Lucia who reads Veronica her future with Tarocco cards.
Hearing her fortune, Veronica resigns to the fact she must marry Roberto, who she considers “flawed” but is actually a man with special needs. Veronica accepts her fate, knowing from the cards her Prince of Cups will come later to fulfill her life. Meanwhile Veronica has a torrid path as she seeks happiness.
Antonio di Fabiani returns home after exiled and disinherited by his father. On his mother’s deathbed, he promises to wed an unfamiliar woman Dorotea, Roberto’s sister, to please his mother and regain his inheritance. After he marries, Antonio learns his new bride desires to be a nun, and he has already fallen in love with Veronica.
There are many subplots to work through in this extensive story. I loved reading about the history of this time period. When I read Feyrer’s books, I always go back and research the actual history because she is so good at weaving in historical figures and events into the plots, namely Monk Savonarola’s protests against Pope Alex VI and the individual Borgia family members in this story. Though the religious conflicts slowed down the pacing, it was necessary to resolve the story.
I thought the character development of Veronica and Antonio was extraordinary. I admire Veronica’s respect for Roberto and her desire to stay married despite Antonio’s plan for her to request an annulment so he can marry her. I eagerly turned pages to see the two lovers get together. The father-in-law Luigi is a horrible man, both in his lewd conduct and maliciousness. It is easy to despise him as he has no redeeming qualities. The other characters presented especially Antonio’s insane sister-in-law who hunted vengeance added to the conflict.
There were a lot of sex and love scenes in the book. I can see how they were necessary to move the plot, especially the sections where the whore Bianca developed feelings for Antonio and then sought revenge on him. The scenes were probably appropriate for the period, but it was more than I normally read. The descriptive settings placed me right in the scenes. The dialogue seemed natural for time period. The plot and subplots resolved by story’s end.
Each chapter was action packed. Prepare for characters getting killed, poisoned, chased, kidnapped, burned on a cross. The action doesn’t stop until the end!
When Veronica learns of her impending betrothal to Roberto Montagna, the son of the evil, lewd monster Lugio, she seeks help from her gypsy great-grandmother Mama Lucia who reads Veronica her future with Tarocco cards.
Hearing her fortune, Veronica resigns to the fact she must marry Roberto, who she considers “flawed” but is actually a man with special needs. Veronica accepts her fate, knowing from the cards her Prince of Cups will come later to fulfill her life. Meanwhile Veronica has a torrid path as she seeks happiness.
Antonio di Fabiani returns home after exiled and disinherited by his father. On his mother’s deathbed, he promises to wed an unfamiliar woman Dorotea, Roberto’s sister, to please his mother and regain his inheritance. After he marries, Antonio learns his new bride desires to be a nun, and he has already fallen in love with Veronica.
There are many subplots to work through in this extensive story. I loved reading about the history of this time period. When I read Feyrer’s books, I always go back and research the actual history because she is so good at weaving in historical figures and events into the plots, namely Monk Savonarola’s protests against Pope Alex VI and the individual Borgia family members in this story. Though the religious conflicts slowed down the pacing, it was necessary to resolve the story.
I thought the character development of Veronica and Antonio was extraordinary. I admire Veronica’s respect for Roberto and her desire to stay married despite Antonio’s plan for her to request an annulment so he can marry her. I eagerly turned pages to see the two lovers get together. The father-in-law Luigi is a horrible man, both in his lewd conduct and maliciousness. It is easy to despise him as he has no redeeming qualities. The other characters presented especially Antonio’s insane sister-in-law who hunted vengeance added to the conflict.
There were a lot of sex and love scenes in the book. I can see how they were necessary to move the plot, especially the sections where the whore Bianca developed feelings for Antonio and then sought revenge on him. The scenes were probably appropriate for the period, but it was more than I normally read. The descriptive settings placed me right in the scenes. The dialogue seemed natural for time period. The plot and subplots resolved by story’s end.
Each chapter was action packed. Prepare for characters getting killed, poisoned, chased, kidnapped, burned on a cross. The action doesn’t stop until the end!
June 26, 2025
There's not many books I'll say this about - but here it is: OUTSTANDING, gripping, unputdownable read.
From the moment you begin the tale of Veronica's fate, you won't want to put this book down - even if, it appears the first tarot reading tells you all you need to know about what is going to happen to our feisty, gypsy heroine. And her hero - tortured, twisted and utterly delicious. You may think you're about to read a historical romance, but this is SO MUCH MORE.
From murderous courtesans to servants who talk to their feet, even the side characters shine. And the writing is ** Chef's kiss**. Honestly, the prose from this author never ceases to impress me. Authentic in every detail, you'll be transported to medieval Florence, complete with clashes of politics and religion, feasts and famines, and all the turbulence which these outside factors bring to what is essentially a fated mates romance.
Talking of the romance - this falls in my (fans herself) spicy category. But so delightfully written, its a cut above your average spicy scene'd bonk-buster. Each time the two main characters meet, the heat just sizzles, but in a completely believable, emotional way. I admit, I love when a hero is so tortured he cannot permit himself to show his emotions, except in a physical way, as if it's an outpouring he cannot help.
If you like historical romance with ALL the doors open, this is absolutely the book for you. I wish I could read it for the first time all over again... and I'll definitely read it again!
From the moment you begin the tale of Veronica's fate, you won't want to put this book down - even if, it appears the first tarot reading tells you all you need to know about what is going to happen to our feisty, gypsy heroine. And her hero - tortured, twisted and utterly delicious. You may think you're about to read a historical romance, but this is SO MUCH MORE.
From murderous courtesans to servants who talk to their feet, even the side characters shine. And the writing is ** Chef's kiss**. Honestly, the prose from this author never ceases to impress me. Authentic in every detail, you'll be transported to medieval Florence, complete with clashes of politics and religion, feasts and famines, and all the turbulence which these outside factors bring to what is essentially a fated mates romance.
Talking of the romance - this falls in my (fans herself) spicy category. But so delightfully written, its a cut above your average spicy scene'd bonk-buster. Each time the two main characters meet, the heat just sizzles, but in a completely believable, emotional way. I admit, I love when a hero is so tortured he cannot permit himself to show his emotions, except in a physical way, as if it's an outpouring he cannot help.
If you like historical romance with ALL the doors open, this is absolutely the book for you. I wish I could read it for the first time all over again... and I'll definitely read it again!
September 8, 2025
Set against the shadowed grandeur of Renaissance Florence, The Prince of Cups is a tale of forbidden love, fate, and the cost of defiance. Veronica is resigned to accept her arranged marriage to Roberto even though she loves another man, Antonio. Likewise, Antonio has to marry Roberto’s sister to claim his inheritance. Veronica and Antonio’s secret romance is fiery and heartfelt, but will it cost them their lives?
Veronica and Antonio are wonderfully flawed characters. I normally don’t like cheating in a romance book, but this story is more historical fiction than romance, and the romances included in it are necessary and natural to the book’s progression.
The secondary characters really pad out this story; it is almost 600 pages after all. There’s death, poison, kidnapping, and even execution by fire, so the action is relentless. Ms. Feyrer’s prose is lush, her dialogue natural to the period, and her historical detail so immersive that it makes me want to research the time period myself. The love scenes are frequent and intense, but they serve the plot and reflect the raw emotional stakes of the characters.
If you love historical fiction with strong romantic subplots, The Prince of Cups should go on your TBR list.
4 Stars
Veronica and Antonio are wonderfully flawed characters. I normally don’t like cheating in a romance book, but this story is more historical fiction than romance, and the romances included in it are necessary and natural to the book’s progression.
The secondary characters really pad out this story; it is almost 600 pages after all. There’s death, poison, kidnapping, and even execution by fire, so the action is relentless. Ms. Feyrer’s prose is lush, her dialogue natural to the period, and her historical detail so immersive that it makes me want to research the time period myself. The love scenes are frequent and intense, but they serve the plot and reflect the raw emotional stakes of the characters.
If you love historical fiction with strong romantic subplots, The Prince of Cups should go on your TBR list.
4 Stars
November 13, 2025
What I love about historical fiction is that if the author did their research, you learn something new. In The Prince of Cups, a historical romance novel, we learn all about the Italian Renaissance. Set in Florence when Pope Alex VI ruled, we meet our protagonist, a Gypsy divination artist, Veronica, who can learn the future with the help of tarot cards. She is to wed a simple man and is not happy about it, as she feels destined to love another. So, when the noble love interest, Antonio, arrives, she finds herself in a strange situation where duty and love run different courses. This story has a lot of both old money and Gypsy lore and intrigue, backstabbing, and sexy love scenes. If you enjoy historical fiction mixed with a bit of mysticism, family politics, ardent affairs, and unattainable love, then check out The Prince of Cups.
August 9, 2018
Read this over 15 years ago. still remember it :)
October 29, 2025
A story of forbidden love and plot twists around every corner, The Prince of Cups is hard to put down from beginning to end. No character has plot armor, and this makes for an easy reread.
Read
October 5, 2008It's probably a difficult task to write a book set in 1500s Florence,
it's harder becouse she uses several "real" people in the story: the
Borgias, Machiavelli, Savonarola...
That was immediately a problem especially becouse the first one to
appear is Lucrezia Borgia and this vision of the woman - betraying
slut - is a bit out dated but oh well...(
ON the story itself...
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
on a Tarot reading Veronica (our heroine) learns that her true love
is The Prince of Cups. Married to a simpleton and almost raped by her
father in law she gets to know Antonio, who she immediately
recognises as the POC, that actually practically rapes her too, and
is about to marry her SIL. Tough uh?
Lots of murders, misunderstandings and sex later they are finally
able to be together.
So I will still be looking for the other ones but this one left me cold.
it's harder becouse she uses several "real" people in the story: the
Borgias, Machiavelli, Savonarola...
That was immediately a problem especially becouse the first one to
appear is Lucrezia Borgia and this vision of the woman - betraying
slut - is a bit out dated but oh well...(
ON the story itself...
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
on a Tarot reading Veronica (our heroine) learns that her true love
is The Prince of Cups. Married to a simpleton and almost raped by her
father in law she gets to know Antonio, who she immediately
recognises as the POC, that actually practically rapes her too, and
is about to marry her SIL. Tough uh?
Lots of murders, misunderstandings and sex later they are finally
able to be together.
So I will still be looking for the other ones but this one left me cold.
February 13, 2014
So good I've read it twice so far.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews