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Rating: 
Summary: Good Renaissance fantasy
Review: Gilligan writes fantasy and history well. Alas, one of my former students who I permitted to use my address to order books did not think so, and I only discovered the "reviews" today.Let this be my endorsement.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good Yarn
Review: In the mid-eighteenth century, Tyrrhia is a haven for all races and religions including the Romani, who are vested in magic and control the silk trade. Luciana, the Duchessa di Drago, is a powerful mage who knows that her beloved sister died at court before official word came. She learns that a practitioner of the dark arts stole her sister's body and Alessandra's spirit knows no peace because it is used in evil spells. Luciana needs to find her sister's body and release her spirit so it can pass on. To do so she must locate the wizard who killed her sister and take her revenge on him. When her husband, her one and only love, joins her at the court those who want to replace the present king and queen (Stefano's sister) drag them into regal intrigues, but the plotters are the reason Alessandra was murdered. By thwarting them, Luciana avenges sister and makes sure the Romani have a home. When Luciana tries to find her sister's body on the palace grounds, she faces an enemy she never expected to exist. The imaginary country of Tyrrhia is situated where Sicily now exists only this kingdom is much larger and stronger than Sicily ever was. The romance of the estranged Duc and Duchessa is pivotal to the story line as the two star-crossed lovers try to find their way back to each other. The religious and racial tolerance that exists in Tyrrhia is another reason for many to want a strong Roman Catholic nation like France or Spain to annex the country. Elizabeth Gilligan has created a fascinating realm that readers will want to revisit in future novels. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: fascinating realm
Review: In the mid-eighteenth century, Tyrrhia is a haven for all races and religions including the Romani, who are vested in magic and control the silk trade. Luciana, the Duchessa di Drago, is a powerful mage who knows that her beloved sister died at court before official word came. She learns that a practitioner of the dark arts stole her sister's body and Alessandra's spirit knows no peace because it is used in evil spells. Luciana needs to find her sister's body and release her spirit so it can pass on. To do so she must locate the wizard who killed her sister and take her revenge on him. When her husband, her one and only love, joins her at the court those who want to replace the present king and queen (Stefano's sister) drag them into regal intrigues, but the plotters are the reason Alessandra was murdered. By thwarting them, Luciana avenges sister and makes sure the Romani have a home. When Luciana tries to find her sister's body on the palace grounds, she faces an enemy she never expected to exist. The imaginary country of Tyrrhia is situated where Sicily now exists only this kingdom is much larger and stronger than Sicily ever was. The romance of the estranged Duc and Duchessa is pivotal to the story line as the two star-crossed lovers try to find their way back to each other. The religious and racial tolerance that exists in Tyrrhia is another reason for many to want a strong Roman Catholic nation like France or Spain to annex the country. Elizabeth Gilligan has created a fascinating realm that readers will want to revisit in future novels. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Wow - great book!
Review: This is a great book written by a new author of true talent. The action's well paced and the suspense created by the mystery just tense enough. I really liked the level of magic in this alternate reality, especially since it didn't take center stage over the plot or characters. Good job and I'm looking forward to reading the rest in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Nice
Review: This was a pretty nice, yet standard fantasy book. I would recommended it to anyone who like a little fantasy and a lot of melodrama. It's very character centered, which is my preference, but the author seems to be relying on reader's own memory of the real Italy to build her world... It can cause problems. As an aside, Harriet Klausner has either been bought or tries to maintain her #1 reviewer status by copying the backs of books into her reviews and giving them 5 stars. There is no way she has read a great deal of the books she's reviewed.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good Yarn
Review: You know where this one is going soon as you meet Luciana; if you enjoy a familiar fantasy plot, you'll have fun with this read. The alternate Italy is not nearly as well-researched as Naomi Kritzer's but the characters are far better realized. Luciana is an appealing heroine, and the pacing moves right along. I hope the next one goes a little deeper into the culture, and gets smoother writing. I'll be sure to check it out, though.
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