Explore our new BookBrowse Community Forum!

Read advance reader review of The Venetian Bargain by Marina Fiorato, page 2 of 4

Summary | Reviews | More Information | More Books

The Venetian Bargain by Marina Fiorato

The Venetian Bargain

by Marina Fiorato

  • Critics' Consensus:
  • Published:
  • Apr 2014, 416 pages
  • Rate this book

  • Buy This Book

About this book

Reviews


Page 2 of 4
There are currently 22 member reviews
for The Venetian Bargain
Order Reviews by:
  • Barbara E. (Rockville, MD)
    The Venetian Bargain
    I thoroughly enjoyed this work of historical fiction. The characters are well developed and the plot is thrilling. Fiorato deftly weaves historical characters into her fiction and her descriptions of Venice and the Plague were fascinating. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in 16th-century Venice, the BlackPlague, medicine during that age and the Ottoman Empire. It is dramatic, romantic, chilling and thrilling. Well-written and a great deal of fun.
  • Debbie-Lyn C. (Kitty Hawk, NC)
    The Venetian Bargain
    Wonderful, vivid descriptions! At some points I wanted to cringe from the smell and turn my eyes from the horrors portrayed. The reader feels right in the heart of Venice and Constantinople during the mid 1500's. Fascinating events of the plague, bitter feuds, poisoning, even dress and food make for a fast paced enlightening read.
  • Daniel H. (Oak Lawn, IL)
    Historical Venice
    The clash of cultures – East versus West; the clash of religions – Christianity and early Islam; the clash of nascent philosophy of modern scientific rationalist Western medicine and traditional holistic Eastern medicine; all of this wrapped into an agonist-antagonist romance between the lead character, Feyra, and her counterpart, Dr. Annibale Cason, makes this novel a sweeping and interesting entry into Venice of the mid 1400s. I found the deus-ex-machina ending not terribly credible, but, overall, enjoyed the story.
  • Mary H. (Phoenix, AZ)
    A mask of romance and intrigue.
    Let's hear it for a woman as the heroine! This story centered around a very talented, intuitive and young woman named Feyra from Constantinople. Her journey is nothing short of remarkable, at times more fantastic than possible but nevertheless the story keeps you interested in the next challenge.

    I especially enjoyed the historical references to the schemes utilized by the Venetian doctors who treated so many in need during the plague. Whether the character wears a mask or a veil, there is something to hide as well as something to reveal. Follow Feyra in her struggle to keep her faith while also trying to stay one step ahead of those who knew the Turks only as evil. She has so much to prove and the outcome may not be what you expect of a historical romance story.
  • Liz D. (Northbrook, IL)
    The Venetian Bargain
    The Venetian Bargain combines well-researched historical facts, descriptions that awake your senses and setting that all transport the reader to 1570's Venice. Fioratto's well-developed characters draw the reader into the plot that begins with a slow pace, accelerating to some high drama and romantic moments. I enjoyed this read.
  • Sally H. (Geneva, OH)
    The Venetian Bargain
    Books like The Venetian Bargain are making historical fiction one of my favorite genres. This was the first book of Marina Fiorato's that I've read, and after finishing it I bought two of her other books and added one to our book club reading list. Her period detail is authentic, and the story itself is compelling if not spellbinding. There were some technical glitches which hopefully will be corrected in the final editing process, but even if not, I didn't find them deal-breakers. Overall, this was a very good read.
  • Trezeline B. (Columbia, MD)
    The Venetian Bargain
    Quite an interesting read. It is well written though it uses language that is different. Twists and turns that are unexpected hold the readers interest. A good read overall.

Read-Alikes

Top Picks

  • Book Jacket: Graveyard Shift
    Graveyard Shift
    by M. L. Rio
    Following the success of her debut novel, If We Were Villains, M. L. Rio's latest book is the quasi-...
  • Book Jacket: The Sisters K
    The Sisters K
    by Maureen Sun
    The Kim sisters—Minah, Sarah, and Esther—have just learned their father is dying of ...
  • Book Jacket: Linguaphile
    Linguaphile
    by Julie Sedivy
    From an infant's first attempts to connect with the world around them to the final words shared with...
  • Book Jacket
    The Rest of You
    by Maame Blue
    At the start of Maame Blue's The Rest of You, Whitney Appiah, a Ghanaian Londoner, is ringing in her...

Members Recommend

  • Book Jacket

    Pony Confidential
    by Christina Lynch

    In this whimsical mystery, a grumpy pony must clear his beloved human's name from a murder accusation.

Who Said...

Finishing second in the Olympics gets you silver. Finishing second in politics gets you oblivion.

Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes!

Wordplay

Solve this clue:

F the M

and be entered to win..

Your guide toexceptional          books

BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.