Another heart-wrenching love story by a master of historical fiction. Set against the conflict and complexity of the end of the Imperial Era in Asia. 

…thank God that’s over. If you want to know the story of Lee Miller, read a different book. This is a mostly fictional character—sex-crazed, clueless, selfish—cast in the role of an historical person’s shoes and basking in the shadow of another fictionally portrayed real-life person. Some of the writing is well done (+2 stars), but mostly this is an historian’s nightmare  (possibly a nightmare to any of Man Ray or Lee Miller’s living family).

I appreciate that it’s fiction, and I’m all for fiction—but then just write fiction, and don’t bring the names of actual once-living persons into such speculative muckery. 

I’d like to read an historical fiction novel about Lee Miller’s life to counterbalance this invasive shit. 

Excellent character development amid a twisty plot against a horrific yet gorgeous Tuscan backdrop; and it kept me guessing... Complex storytelling sets hints and leaves trails, yet doesn’t insult the reader’s intelligence by wrapping it up and trying a bow. There are enough clues to surmise who the killer might be, but such a layered drama surrounding the main plot (very much true to life, especially at that dark time in the history of European geopolitical landscape) that the suspects are numerous until the end.

(As will be noted by the 1-2 star reviews, this literary work is not for weak stomachs or vapid minds as the plot is intricately woven between two meticulously ornate timelines and delves into the terrors of war and the mind of a serial killer in its unravelling of fictional events based on recent history.)

…not only the knife getting twisted here; my mind is in knots trying to work all this out. An absorbing genre written by a master. 

There are some compelling characters in these pages, but it’s a shame we don’t get to know them very well. It promises spies and intrigue, but delivers it in whispers within a closet a mile from the action. There are hints of the tension, but it isn’t felt through the tone of the work.

I suppose a distant feel of all that seemed unreal was some people’s experience, but it wasn’t the book I was hoping to read.

Takes us back to the dark days of the Inquisition in the midst of an ethnically diverse Spain. The author explores her own European Jewish heritage, with the additional touch of intrigue and magic, but the history is made personal and truth is a vile creature.

There’s a bit of discreet slow-burn romance in here, too.

This one is for adult readers, maybe those who have grown with Bardugo’s Grisha Universe, but more likely better received by readers not expecting anything like what this author has delivered before.

Still loved it. 

Another great ending with another hanging promise—this time, a promise of the dark and gruesome forthcoming battle… zip… always a suspended end-note that leaves you wanting more and yet whirling in satisfaction. Excellent.

I’m little disappointed with the too sharp shift in Kamran’s character—almost out of character from what we’ve already seen, or maybe these things he’s suffered really have altered him irreversibly. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind the direction we’re headed AT ALL with all of these characters, but I just want more and better from Kamran.

Well. Apparently there’s more to come (and here, I thought this was a trilogy) so maybe I won’t be disappointed…

So far, I haven’t been. Not in the least.

PS: Every blossoming queen needs a Hazan…*sigh…

Addictive… this seems like the end of the beginning of something ginormous. I would have liked more dragons than the many mentions of the devious devil; more action than reluctant romance, but even still, the internal battles against the great demon and all these confused emotions carried the story along at a zip.

Another delectable ending with more fantastical creatures…