Let's Read a Book – Daughter of Siena

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I recently read this book by Marina Fiorato, an English author specialised in studies of Shakespeare, and who wrote a good number of historical novels, mostly set in Italy, as Fiorato's father was Italian (born in Venice) and she's always been fascinated by the Italian culture.

I found this book in a beautiful second hand shop, and its plot convinced me to buy it.

The book is set in Siena, Italy, in the 18^th Century. One of the most important events taken in the city is the Palio: a horse ride where the best riders from the different city district try to get the title of winner. Siena is actually sub divided in many districts, each of them lead by some influential families, and each Family is represented by a symbol: Eagle, Panther, Tower, Owl, just to quote a few.

Pia de Tolomei is a rich girl, daughter of the leader of Tolomei, whose symbol is the Owl. She is 19, and she's destined to marry a man from the same family brunch. But her father has a bad surprise for her: she is going to marry a man from a different district, Vincenzo from the Eagle. Not only; this man is well known for his evil character, and Pia is highly disappointed.

During the Palio though, Vincenzo dies, as a rider from the Panther hits him and makes him fall from his horse in a way that inevitably leads the boy to death. The rider from the Tower, Riccardo, tries to help him, but in vain. Pia for a second thinks she might be able to escape her dark future, but the Palio is not over yet and her father tells her she's going to marry Vincenzo's brother Nello, who's even worse and more evil than Vincenzo.

Pia is desperate, and doesn't understand what is going on. The truth is Siena's families are trying to organize a coup to ruin the government of Medici family, represented by Violante, a woman with a sad past marriage and whose twins died soon after their birth.

Pia will soon be involved in all the nine districts intrigues, and will try to help both Violante and Riccardo, the rider from the Tower who tried to help Vincenzo, and with whom Pia will fall in love.

I found this novel pretty nice, quick to read, enjoyable. The plot is not impossible to guess, and actually, after a few pages the reader will easily imagine who Riccardo is in reality and who is the mysterious tenth fellow who wants to help the nine districts. I would recommend it to people who like historical romance, and needs a quick easy reading.