Title: The Book of Unholy Mischief
Author: Elle Newmark
Publisher: Atria Books, a division of Simon and Schuster
Pub Date: 2008
ISBN: 1-4165-9054-4
Pages: 367
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher to post my honest review.
From the publisher:
In a world of violence and intrigue. Who guards the truth?
It is 1498, the dawn of the Renaissance, and Venice teems with rumors about an ancient book of unimaginable power. It is an alchemist's dream, with recipes for gold, immortality, and undying love. Everyone, rich and poor alike, whispers and wonders. But while those who seek the book will stop at nothing to get it, those who have it will die to protect it.
As a sotrm of intrigue and desire circles the republic that grew from the sea, Luciano, a penniless orphan with a quick wit and even faster hand, is plucked up by an illustrious chef and hired for reasons he cannot yet begin to understand, as an apprentice in the palace kitchen. There, in the lavish home of hte most powerful man in Venice, he is initiated into the chef's rich and aromatic world, with all its seductive ingredients and secrets.
Luciano's loyalty to his street friends and the passion he holds for a convent girl named Francesca remain, but it is not long before he, too, is caught up by the madness. Armed with a precocious mind and an insatialbe curiousity, Luciano embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the truth. What he discovers will swing open the shutters of his mind, inflame his deepest desires, and leave an indelible mark on his soul.
Rich with the luxurious colors and textures of Venice, The Book of Unholy Mischief delights the senses and breathes fresh life inot an age defined by intellectual revival and artistic vibrancy. A luminous and seductive novel, it is, at its heart, a high-spirited tribute to the fruits of knowledge and the extraordinary power of those who hold its key.
About the Author:
http://ellenewmark.com/
My review:
I think most of us have wanted something at some point in our lives, that we will do just about anything to attain it. This book is a journey that explores that idea and leaves you breathless on the search to see who will find the prized book and how they will do it. The writing is very good and the book moves at a pace that keeps you running with the characters to find their ultimate quest. I highly recommend this selection.
I'm glad to hear you enjoyed my book and thank you for that lovely review. It is always gratifying to know that someone understood what I was trying to say. Some readers get so caught up in the story and the sense of being in Renaissance Venice they miss the point. You didn't.
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Elle Newmark