Review - The Red Lily Crown: A Novel of Medici Florence by Elizabeth Loupas

Title: The Red Lily Crown

Author: Elizabeth Loupas

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 418

Published: April 1st 2014 by NAL Trade 

ISBN: 9780451418876

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Description: April, 1574, Florence, Italy. Grand Duke Cosimo de’ Medici lies dying. The city is paralyzed with dread, for the next man to wear the red lily crown will be Prince Francesco: despotic, dangerous, and obsessed with alchemy.  Chiara Nerini, the troubled daughter of an anti-Medici bookseller, sets out to save her starving family by selling her dead father’s rare alchemical equipment to the prince. Instead she is trapped in his household—imprisoned and forcibly initiated as a virgin acolyte in Francesco’s quest for power and immortality. Undaunted, she seizes her chance to pursue undreamed-of power of her own.   Witness to sensuous intrigues and brutal murder plots, Chiara seeks a safe path through the labyrinth of Medici tyranny and deception. Beside her walks the prince’s mysterious English alchemist Ruanno, her friend and teacher, driven by his own dark goals. Can Chiara trust him to keep her secrets…even to love her…or will he prove to be her most treacherous enemy of all? 

I Give This ...

Elizabeth Loupas has become a must read historical fiction author for me.  She's introduced me to characters I knew nothing about and has branched out my historical fiction reading.  This addition to her collection was no exception.  

I found Chiara to be fascinating.  I think as lot of that had to do with her knowledge of alchemy, which is a subject I know very little about but am very intrigued by.  I also found her to be very strong for a female in her time period.  She sets out to track down the Prince knowing that she has what he wants.  She barely bats an eye at the tests he puts her through.  I do have to say that I'm not sure if she was doing this for her family or more for herself.  She finds herself wanting to learn more about alchemy and push the limits of what she can do.  However, she also never forgets to provide for her family and thinks of their safety constantly.       

The part of the story that drew me in the most was how messed up the Medici family was.  I knew nothing of this family before reading this book.  Afterwards, I had to go look up information because I wanted to know how much of the events were fabricated.  Francesco was awful to his wife and flaunted around his mistress, whom I flat out despised by the end of the novel. The novel may present Francesco's involvement in his sister's death as fact, but no matter how you look at is I doubt his hands were clean in the matter.  Especially when you consider that their cousin died in a very similar manner only a week before.  When Francesco and Bianca are poisoned and die, I felt no better about the new Grand Duke.

I was happy to see Chaira escape from under this family.  I can't imagine being caught up in the kind of treachery on a daily basis.  It's no wonder that she had the rest of her family escorted out of the city to safety.  In the end she found love and perhaps a little peace, but I bet she always watched her back. 

 

 

Review - The Flower Reader by Elizabeth Loupas

Title: The Flower Reader

Author: Elizabeth Loupas

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 408

Published: April 3rd 2012 by NAL Trade 

ISBN: 9780451235817

Source: Sent in exchange for honest review

Description: Rinette Leslie of Granmuir has the ancient gift of divining the future in flowers, but her gift cannot prepare her for the turmoil that comes when the dying queen regent entrusts her with a casket full of Scotland's darkest secrets. On the very day she means to deliver it to newly crowned Mary, Queen of Scots, Rinette's husband is brutally assassinated.  Devastated, Rinette demands justice before she will surrender the casket, but she is surrounded by ruthless men who will do anything to possess it. In the end, the flowers are all she can trust-and only the flowers will lead her safely home to Granmuir.

I Give This ...

There's a few reasons this book peaked my interest.  First off, I've never heard divining the future through flowers.  It completely intrigued me.  Second, I've read a lot about Mary, Queen of Scots.  But, it's always been from the English point of view.   Third, I loved Elizabeth Loupas' first book, so I had high hopes for this one.  Needless to say, my expectations might have been a little high.  It did not fail me.

I loved Rinette from the opening pages.  She understands the complications of being someone of noble birth, but she longs to be away from the center of all the drama.  She knows her hearts desire.  But, life is not always kind and that future is ripped from her before it barely begins.  After that, she makes it her new mission to  play the games of the court to figure out who killed her husband and why.

The mystery aspect of this story I was not expecting.  One of the most frustrating aspects of historical fiction is often the sheer volume of character.  That actually works to the advantage in this story because I honestly had no clue who it was.  But, I did find "his" association with a certain group of people to be absolutely fascinating.  Solving a crime like this would be difficulty in any time period.  But, I think it might have especially trying in this one and add in the fact that Rinette is a women.  It doesn't exactly open doors.

Ienjoyed the slow romance as well.  I was expecting it with the characters, but I loved the way it played out.  I felt sorry for Rinette in the fact that she happens to fall in love with people who may no always have her best interests at heart (although, I think that changed in the end).

I was reminded greatly in this book at how hard it was to be a women in this time period.  Rinette is constantly being made to feel inferior.  Those around her are always trying to bend and break her.  She's rare in the fact that she owns property, but it wouldn't take much for that to be stripped from her.   She can be forced to marry, her children taken from her, and anything else that might define her as a person.  It was really frustrating to me. 

A great historical fiction.  I'll add Elizabeth Loupas to my must read list!  (I love that fact the both her books have been set in different countries.  Were will she go next?)

 

Review: The Second Duchess by Elizabeth Loupas

Title: The Second Duchess

Author: Elizabeth Loupas

Series: Stand Alone

Page: 368

Published: Available now from New American

ISBN: 9780451232151

Source: Publisher 

 

Description: In a city-state known for magnificence, where love affairs and conspiracies play out amidst brilliant painters, poets and musicians, the powerful and ambitious Alfonso d'Este, duke of Ferrara, takes a new bride. Half of Europe is certain he murdered his first wife, Lucrezia, the luminous child of the Medici. But no one dares accuse him, and no one has proof-least of all his second duchess, the far less beautiful but delightfully clever Barbara of Austria. At first determined to ignore the rumors about her new husband, Barbara embraces the pleasures of the Ferrarese court. Yet wherever she turns she hears whispers of the first duchess's wayward life and mysterious death. Barbara asks questions-a dangerous mistake for a duchess of Ferrara. Suddenly, to save her own life, Barbara has no choice but to risk the duke's terrifying displeasure and discover the truth of Lucrezia's death-or she will share her fate.

 I Give This ...

 

I've made a vow to read more historical fiction this year because it's a genre that I really enjoy.  I'm not very well rounded in it though since I tend to gravitate to those surrounding the English courts.   This one is set in the northern Italian province of Ferrara.  

Since I'm unfamiliar with other countries cities, courts and historical dates, I tend to be a little confused.  I wasn't with this one in the slightest.  The story was very easy to follow.  A huge bonus is that there isn't a huge cast of characters and the setting stays mainly in one location.  

Barbara was a very strong character.  Granted the best historical females usually are.  They have to be to have any sort of name in a time when females were little more than propriety, even those who had royal blood.  She's determined to show her husband that she is his equal.  At the same time, he's just as determined to put her in her place.  It made for some moments that really made me hold my breathe.  I wasn't sure that I liked Alfonso because of this.  But, at a time when love wasn't common in arranged marriages, I was more or less expecting this.   

The mystery surrounding the death of Alfonso's first wife was very well done.  It put the story on edge right from the very beginning.  I was really positive that he had something to do with since he had nothing but disdain for her.  I didn't think she deserved that.  As Barbara starts to ask questions, the attempts on her life begin.  I was surprised at Alfonso's reactions to these.  I expected him not to care, but he did just the opposite.  Turns out he needed a women who would test him and not run around behind him.

I was sad to learn what type of person that Lucrezia was.  That never ends well for anybody of royal blood.  Although, I was extremely surprised at who was the actual culprit behind her death and how far s/he would go to hid the truth.

Overall and excellent debut historical fiction.  I really enjoyed the characters and the story line.  I hope the author comes up with a second novel!