Scan barcode
warrenl's review against another edition
4.0
It is what it is, and for what it is, it's a great fun read. I'd been meaning to read Sabatini for ages, and I see now why he is still widely read. He's a cut above the usual corn. I got off to a slow start, but then read the last 150 pages in a single sitting... I couldn't put the silly book down! For that alone, I give Mr Sabatini a fourth star.
maplessence's review
4.0
4.5★
What a tale of derring-do!
Apologies if this keeps going into my friends' feed - my original review was lost with a glitch - something to do with the new draft feature I think. So I'm going to be saving every few sentences to make sure this review doesn't disappear as well!
I'm a big fan of Sabatini's well known novels (Scaramouche [bc:Scaramouche|938105|Scaramouche (Scaramouche, #1)|Rafael Sabatini|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387767649l/938105._SY75_.jpg|1370942] & Captain Blood [bc:Captain Blood|772474|Captain Blood|Rafael Sabatini|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1311702129l/772474._SX50_.jpg|2125579]). I was expecting this early work to be inferior in quality. & so it is - but only marginally.
The lovely Madonna Valentina's uncle wishes to marry her to the unlovely Duke of Babbiano to cement an alliance against Caesar Borgia. But in spite of only recently having emerged from a convent, Valentina isn't one to submit tamely to her uncle's commands. Willing to aid her is the impoverished courtier, Romeo. But Valentina doesn't realise Romeo's true motives - or character. But there is another...
Out of all the wonderful features of this book, one of the best is the characters of the heroine & hero. Valentina isn't typical of heroines of romantic fiction written in the early twentieth century - she is no passive damsel in distress but wishes to control her own destiny. Francesco is courtly,brave, handsome and intelligent.
I did have to knock half a star off for a somewhat confusing beginning and a very sudden ending. (anyone who thinks [a:Georgette Heyer|18067|Georgette Heyer|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1336748892p2/18067.jpg] ends her books abruptly, really should read this one) I had to check the page count on Goodreads to make sure there weren't a couple of pages missing.
Speaking of Heyer, it is clear that Sabatini is a strong influence of some of her early works.
A wonderful book.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshessonovel.wordpress.com
What a tale of derring-do!
Apologies if this keeps going into my friends' feed - my original review was lost with a glitch - something to do with the new draft feature I think. So I'm going to be saving every few sentences to make sure this review doesn't disappear as well!
I'm a big fan of Sabatini's well known novels (Scaramouche [bc:Scaramouche|938105|Scaramouche (Scaramouche, #1)|Rafael Sabatini|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387767649l/938105._SY75_.jpg|1370942] & Captain Blood [bc:Captain Blood|772474|Captain Blood|Rafael Sabatini|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1311702129l/772474._SX50_.jpg|2125579]). I was expecting this early work to be inferior in quality. & so it is - but only marginally.
The lovely Madonna Valentina's uncle wishes to marry her to the unlovely Duke of Babbiano to cement an alliance against Caesar Borgia. But in spite of only recently having emerged from a convent, Valentina isn't one to submit tamely to her uncle's commands. Willing to aid her is the impoverished courtier, Romeo. But Valentina doesn't realise Romeo's true motives - or character. But there is another...
Out of all the wonderful features of this book, one of the best is the characters of the heroine & hero. Valentina isn't typical of heroines of romantic fiction written in the early twentieth century - she is no passive damsel in distress but wishes to control her own destiny. Francesco is courtly,brave, handsome and intelligent.
I did have to knock half a star off for a somewhat confusing beginning and a very sudden ending. (anyone who thinks [a:Georgette Heyer|18067|Georgette Heyer|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1336748892p2/18067.jpg] ends her books abruptly, really should read this one) I had to check the page count on Goodreads to make sure there weren't a couple of pages missing.
Speaking of Heyer, it is clear that Sabatini is a strong influence of some of her early works.
A wonderful book.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshessonovel.wordpress.com
ergative_'s review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lnatal's review
4.0
Sabatini shows his ability in writing an excellent historical fiction book which plot involves Cesare Borgia and his famous enemy Sforza.
More...