City of Woe
Set in 1342 Florence, this novel is the second in a series by a husband-and-wife team, the first title being By Treason We Perish.
The book centres around the dynamic and heroic character of Simon Merrivale who, in his capacity as King`s Messenger, will stop at nothing to achieve his mission(s). He travels with a select band of companions to Florence to arrange a loan to help mitigate King Edward III`s debts, but also to set up a rival Pope which will undermine French power in Europe.
There are many adventures, sword fights, people being followed in dark alleyways and the ever-present fears of betrayal and physical danger. The villainous characters certainly live up to their billing, and some deaths are particularly inventive and deeply unpleasant, one of which will definitely remain in the memory – ow!
At times the reader has a lot of information and characters to deal with, so the character list and map at the front are very helpful to keep track. The machinations of power, who gets to make decisions and how they are enforced, are engaging elements of the story.
The sights and smells of medieval Italy are evocatively described with many sensory details to keep the reader immersed in this beautiful but dangerous time and place. There are several twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. It can be read as a stand-alone, but there are various references to previous events, including a poignant love affair which presumably happened in the first novel, so reading the first may well enhance the experience.
