How might Shakespeare’s “lost years” have been spent?
According to Benet Brandreth’s historical thriller series the answer is in swash-buckling and romantic adventures in Italy. This second book in the series can be read as a standalone since the context is set out clearly, and we quickly get to know the central characters who have incurred the wrath of a power-seeking pope.
However the pacing is somewhat uneven as a dramatic start in Venice is followed by a long wait before the action picks up again in Verona, and there are other slower sections too. The very short chapters add to the frustrating feeling of waiting for something to happen and the Shakespearean lines used as headings add little to the story, though the quotes woven into the dialogue are enjoyable.
Overall this is an imaginative tale with some surprising twists at the end.
According to Benet Brandreth’s historical thriller series the answer is in swash-buckling and romantic adventures in Italy. This second book in the series can be read as a standalone since the context is set out clearly, and we quickly get to know the central characters who have incurred the wrath of a power-seeking pope.
However the pacing is somewhat uneven as a dramatic start in Venice is followed by a long wait before the action picks up again in Verona, and there are other slower sections too. The very short chapters add to the frustrating feeling of waiting for something to happen and the Shakespearean lines used as headings add little to the story, though the quotes woven into the dialogue are enjoyable.
Overall this is an imaginative tale with some surprising twists at the end.