My thoughts
Donna Russo Morin's The King's Agent remains one of my favorite historical novels so I was pretty excited when I heard about Portrait of a Conspiracy. Morin has a real knack for telling a great story with a good dose of adventure thrown in.
It's sometimes astonishing to realize that at one time women were forbidden to be publicly known as artists. And so, in the book we have a group of women who gather in secret to ply their craft. Little do they know that soon their secret society will be far more than just that. As Florence is thrown into chaos by the murder of Giuliano de Medici, the subsequent vengeance enacted by his brother, Lorenzo, and the untimely disappearance of their dear friend and member of their group, the women realize that they have the only means to discover the truth behind the fate of their friend. Aided by none other than Leonardo Da Vinci, they are soon mastering their art while also penetrating the secrets that abound in Florence. Exciting, to say the least.
Told from several points of view, I enjoyed the care with which each character was written. Each one has their cross to bear and I found myself easily identifying with them. Of course, my favorite was Leonardo. I have a fondness for this historical personage so his appearance in the book was a real treat.
Portrait of a Conspiracy is the first novel in the new Da Vinci's Disciples series, and I can't wait for book two. I highly recommend Morin's historical fiction. If you have not read her books, this would be a good one to start with.
About the book
Publication Date: May 10, 2016
Diversion Books
eBook & Paperback; 290 Pages
Diversion Books
eBook & Paperback; 290 Pages
Genre: Historical Mystery
One murder ignites the powderkeg that threatens to consume the Medici’s Florence. Amidst the chaos, five women and one legendary artist weave together a plot that could bring peace, or get them all killed. Seeking to wrest power from the Medici family in 15th Century Florence, members of the Pazzi family drew their blades in a church and slew Giuliano. But Lorenzo de Medici survives, and seeks revenge on everyone involved, plunging the city into a murderous chaos that takes dozens of lives. Bodies are dragged through the streets, and no one is safe. Five women steal away to a church to ply their craft in secret. Viviana, Fiammetta, Isabetta, Natasia, and Mattea are painters, not allowed to be public with their skill, but freed from the restrictions in their lives by their art. When a sixth member of their group, Lapaccia, goes missing, and is rumored to have stolen a much sought after painting as she vanished, the women must venture out into the dangerous streets to find their friend and see her safe. They will have help from one of the most renowned painters of their era the peaceful and kind Leonardo Da Vinci. It is under his tutelage that they will flourish as artists, and with his access that they will infiltrate some of the highest, most secretive places in Florence, unraveling one conspiracy as they build another in its place. Historical fiction at its finest, Donna Russo Morin begins a series of Da Vinci’s disciples with a novel both vibrant and absorbing, perfect for the readers of Sarah Dunant.
About the Author
One murder ignites the powderkeg that threatens to consume the Medici’s Florence. Amidst the chaos, five women and one legendary artist weave together a plot that could bring peace, or get them all killed. Seeking to wrest power from the Medici family in 15th Century Florence, members of the Pazzi family drew their blades in a church and slew Giuliano. But Lorenzo de Medici survives, and seeks revenge on everyone involved, plunging the city into a murderous chaos that takes dozens of lives. Bodies are dragged through the streets, and no one is safe. Five women steal away to a church to ply their craft in secret. Viviana, Fiammetta, Isabetta, Natasia, and Mattea are painters, not allowed to be public with their skill, but freed from the restrictions in their lives by their art. When a sixth member of their group, Lapaccia, goes missing, and is rumored to have stolen a much sought after painting as she vanished, the women must venture out into the dangerous streets to find their friend and see her safe. They will have help from one of the most renowned painters of their era the peaceful and kind Leonardo Da Vinci. It is under his tutelage that they will flourish as artists, and with his access that they will infiltrate some of the highest, most secretive places in Florence, unraveling one conspiracy as they build another in its place. Historical fiction at its finest, Donna Russo Morin begins a series of Da Vinci’s disciples with a novel both vibrant and absorbing, perfect for the readers of Sarah Dunant.
“A riveting page-turner unlike any historical novel you’ve read, weaving passion, adventure, artistic rebirth, and consequences of ambition into the first of a trilogy by a masterful writer at the peak of her craft.” -C. W. Gortner, author of The Confessions of Catherine de’ Medici and The Vatican Princess
Donna Russo Morin is the award winning of author of historical fiction. A graduate of the University of Rhode Island, she lives near the shore with her two sons, Devon and Dylan, her greatest works in progress.
Donna enjoys meeting with book groups in person and via Skype chat. Visit her website at www.donnarussomorin.com; friend her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @DonnaRussoMorin.
Blog Tour Schedule
Tuesday, May 10
Review at Unshelfish
Review at The Maiden’s Court
Wednesday, May 11
Spotlight at Passages to the Past
Thursday, May 12
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews
Friday, May 13
Review at Let Them Read Books
Review at With Her Nose Stuck In A Book
Monday, May 16
Review at Just One More Chapter
Interview at A Literary Vacation
Tuesday, May 17
Review at Seize the Words
Wednesday, May 18
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book
Thursday, May 19
Review at Worth Getting in Bed For
Interview at Flashlight Commentary
Friday, May 20
Guest Post at Layered Pages
Interview at Oh, for the Hook of a Book
Monday, May 23
Review at Broken Teepee
Tuesday, May 24
Review at #redhead.with.book
Interview at Reading the Past
Wednesday, May 25
Review at Book Lovers Paradise
Thursday, May 26
Review at Puddletown Reviews
Friday, May 27
Review at The True Book Addict
Monday, May 30
Review at A Bookish Affair
Tuesday, May 31
Guest Post at A Bookish Affair
Wednesday, June 1
Review at The Book Connection
Thursday, June 2
Review at Book Nerd
Review at Bookramblings
Friday, June 3
Review at Beth’s Book Nook Blog
Tuesday, May 10
Review at Unshelfish
Review at The Maiden’s Court
Wednesday, May 11
Spotlight at Passages to the Past
Thursday, May 12
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews
Friday, May 13
Review at Let Them Read Books
Review at With Her Nose Stuck In A Book
Monday, May 16
Review at Just One More Chapter
Interview at A Literary Vacation
Tuesday, May 17
Review at Seize the Words
Wednesday, May 18
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book
Thursday, May 19
Review at Worth Getting in Bed For
Interview at Flashlight Commentary
Friday, May 20
Guest Post at Layered Pages
Interview at Oh, for the Hook of a Book
Monday, May 23
Review at Broken Teepee
Tuesday, May 24
Review at #redhead.with.book
Interview at Reading the Past
Wednesday, May 25
Review at Book Lovers Paradise
Thursday, May 26
Review at Puddletown Reviews
Friday, May 27
Review at The True Book Addict
Monday, May 30
Review at A Bookish Affair
Tuesday, May 31
Guest Post at A Bookish Affair
Wednesday, June 1
Review at The Book Connection
Thursday, June 2
Review at Book Nerd
Review at Bookramblings
Friday, June 3
Review at Beth’s Book Nook Blog
Giveaway
To enter to win an eBook of PORTRAIT OF A CONSPIRACY by Donne Russo Morin please enter the giveaway via the GLEAM form below. FIVE copies are up for grabs!
Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on June 3rd. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
I enjoyed this book so much as well!
ReplyDelete