Sign up for our newsletters to receive our Best of 2024 ezine!

Reviews by Ankan Roy

Order Reviews by:
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois
by Honorée Fannone Jeffers
The Magicians of Venice (12/25/2023)
I recently read the book 'The Magicians of Venice' by author Alyssa Palombo and I was completely captivated by the magical world she created in the beautiful city of Venice.

The story follows the lives of the Barozzi family, who have been the guardians of an ancient book of spells for generations. The book holds powerful magic that can only be unlocked by a chosen few, and it is up to the Barozzi family to protect it from falling into the wrong hands.

The book begins with the death of the family matriarch, who passes the responsibility of guarding the book onto her granddaughter, Elena. Elena is a strong and determined character, who is forced to navigate the dangerous world of magic and politics in Venice as she tries to unravel the secrets of the book. Along the way, she meets a charming and mysterious magician named Luca, who becomes her ally and confidante.

What I loved most about this book is the vivid and detailed descriptions of Venice. Palombo's writing truly transports you to the city and makes you feel like you are walking the streets along with the characters. The magic in this book is also beautifully woven into the historical setting, making it feel like a natural part of the world.

One of the strengths of this book is the character development. Each character has their own unique personalities and motivations, making them complex and multi-dimensional. Elena's growth as a character throughout the book was especially well-written and satisfying to read.

The plot of the book is fast-paced and full of twists and turns, keeping me on the edge of my seat until the very end. The mix of magic, history, and mystery had me completely engrossed in the story, and I found myself unable to put the book down.

Overall, 'The Magicians of Venice' is a captivating read that combines magic, history, and romance in a beautiful and unique way. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy and historical fiction, as well as those who are looking for a compelling and well-written story. I can't wait to see what Alyssa Palombo writes next!
  • Page
  • 1

Top Picks

  • Book Jacket: Small Rain
    Small Rain
    by Garth Greenwell
    At the beginning of Garth Greenwell's novel Small Rain, the protagonist, an unnamed poet in his ...
  • Book Jacket: Daughters of Shandong
    Daughters of Shandong
    by Eve J. Chung
    Daughters of Shandong is the debut novel of Eve J. Chung, a human rights lawyer living in New York. ...
  • Book Jacket: The Women
    The Women
    by Kristin Hannah
    Kristin Hannah's latest historical epic, The Women, is a story of how a war shaped a generation ...
  • Book Jacket: The Wide Wide Sea
    The Wide Wide Sea
    by Hampton Sides
    By 1775, 48-year-old Captain James Cook had completed two highly successful voyages of discovery and...

BookBrowse Book Club

Book Jacket
In Our Midst
by Nancy Jensen
In Our Midst follows a German immigrant family’s fight for freedom after their internment post–Pearl Harbor.
Who Said...

The dirtiest book of all is the expurgated book

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

Wordplay

Big Holiday Wordplay 2024

Enter Now

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.