iheartpuns's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lian_tanner's review against another edition
2.0
This book had all the ingredients to be utterly wonderful, and I started off thinking it was going to be. Great beginning, original idea, a gorgeous mix of historical fact and fiction, wit and humour and the fascinating city of Constantinople. And yet ...
It was quite good, but not as gripping as it could have been. I'm still trying to work out why, but I THINK it was the main characters, who were oddly bland, for all their quirks. I didn't feel attached to them, so even when they were in danger I wasn't particularly worried. Not sure if I'll try another one of Gordon's books or not. Maybe if it falls into my hands.
It was quite good, but not as gripping as it could have been. I'm still trying to work out why, but I THINK it was the main characters, who were oddly bland, for all their quirks. I didn't feel attached to them, so even when they were in danger I wasn't particularly worried. Not sure if I'll try another one of Gordon's books or not. Maybe if it falls into my hands.
bethany_t's review
4.0
Once again we roam the streets of Constantinople with Fools' Guild jester Feste (aka Theo) and his now-pregnant wife, Aglaia (aka Claudia or Viola). This time, Feste and Aglaia are charged with uncovering the murderer of a Venetian silk merchant as ships of the Fourth Crusade are waiting to besiege the city. I found this book fascinating as it recounted the events of 1203 that ultimately led to the eventual Sack of Constantinople. One of my favorite things about this book was the dual POV between Feste and Aglaia. I found it successful most of the time, though occasionally confusing. I also loved all of the other Fools' Guild members in this, with the stilt-walking Plossus being my favorite.
I also liked that this book drew from Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" again, reuniting Aglaia (Viola) with her brother Sebastian, though the reunion was marred by the battle and other tensions.
The mystery was fine, but I did find some of it to be a bit confusing until the very last pages when it was better explained. Ultimately, I found the utter chaos of Constantinople more interesting than the mystery. Honestly, this time period is completely bonkers.
Verdict
Another solid addition to this mystery series. I'm ready for the next one!
So, who would enjoy this book?
Any medieval mystery lovers will devour this series.
I also liked that this book drew from Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" again, reuniting Aglaia (Viola) with her brother Sebastian, though the reunion was marred by the battle and other tensions.
The mystery was fine, but I did find some of it to be a bit confusing until the very last pages when it was better explained. Ultimately, I found the utter chaos of Constantinople more interesting than the mystery. Honestly, this time period is completely bonkers.
Verdict
Another solid addition to this mystery series. I'm ready for the next one!
So, who would enjoy this book?
Any medieval mystery lovers will devour this series.
bookhero6's review against another edition
5.0
This book has kindly reminded me of why historical fiction is my favorite genre of novel. I thank it and Mr. Gordon for so doing.
miramanga's review against another edition
4.0
I'm really enjoying this series. This is the third book about our beloved fool and this time Feste is joined by his wife who gets to narrate some chapters in this adventure.
What starts out as a murder mystery turns into an all out war as a fleet of Crusaders sail up to the city gates.
All the characters who appear are delightfully complicated and human making the story more enjoyable whilst leaving you wondering who to trust.
Looking forward to number four.
What starts out as a murder mystery turns into an all out war as a fleet of Crusaders sail up to the city gates.
All the characters who appear are delightfully complicated and human making the story more enjoyable whilst leaving you wondering who to trust.
Looking forward to number four.
catrev's review against another edition
5.0
Death in the Venetian Quarter by Alan Gordon is the third book in the Fools Guild series starring Feste, the jester in the thirteenth century. Feste and his wife Viola, also known as Aglaia, his wife and also a jester, have been serving in Constantinople since the last book, Jester Leaps In. The city is about to be attacked by the Crusaders under direction of the Doge of Venice, and there is fear that the Venetian Quarter in the city will support the siege, attacking from the inside out. Feste is asked by Chief Treasurer, Philoxenites to determine who murdered his contact, Bastiari a silk merchant, in the Quarter to see if the murder is the beginning of a plot to bring about the fall of the city. Feste's investigation leads him to split up his team of fools, sending some to the Crusaders in hopes of negotiating a truce, while those who remain in the city work to find the murderer, as well as hopefully find a way to send the Crusaders on their merry way. Feste has added incentive to keep his home safe, as Aglaia has recently revealed that she is carrying their first child, a daughter she believes. Feste will have to be at his agile best, both physically and mentally, to keep his growing family safe while negotiating the politically charged atmosphere of a city under siege. Gordon's series about the Fools Guild presents a remarkably believable view of the past in which jesters were constantly moving to manipulate people politically to keep war at bay, making them often the prime movers and shakers in history. Feste is the rare delightful character who surpasses readers' expectations. He is rarely bested, always two steps ahead of his enemy, and able to create a plan to bloodlessly usurp a emperor and save a city destined to fall. Aglaia's narration on a few chapters adds a new element to the series, and readers will come to love this woman who is unafraid to raise a frying pan to her beloved husband when he takes unreasonable risks. Feste is beginning to mature as he has to juggle the needs of the guild with that of being a husband and soon-to-be father, and the series is gaining depth emotionally through his relationship with Aglaia. Long may the Fools Guild reign!
alexandranoelle's review against another edition
3.0
Well, it took me two tries to read this book. After the first hard push to get through the beginning, I enjoyed the middle pretty well and was absolutely in love with this book by the end. Now this difficulty could partly be due to the fact that I couldn't get my hands on the first two books - I started with the third one, so didn't know as well the characters or the historical context. Luckily, I've read some non-fiction in the past on the Crusades and Byzantine Empire, which gave me a bit of contextual knowledge. Now that I have a better idea of how it is used in the book however, and after that ending, I'm rearing to read the next book in the series.
jmeston's review against another edition
4.0
3.8, the end was stronger than the middle.
I appreciate the historian outlook that rumbles along under the narrative. From the afterword:
"...another medievalist scholar writes of a conference in the 1980s where the 2 camps divided so bitterly that they nearly came to blows.
I, for one, would gladly have paid to see this last. In my fantasy, the Venetianists and the Byzantinists are at opposite ends of a large field. Each side is given a disassembled mangonel, operating instructions in the appropriate 13th c. manuscript, and a pile of stones. The last historic standing gets to write the definitive work."
I appreciate the historian outlook that rumbles along under the narrative. From the afterword:
"...another medievalist scholar writes of a conference in the 1980s where the 2 camps divided so bitterly that they nearly came to blows.
I, for one, would gladly have paid to see this last. In my fantasy, the Venetianists and the Byzantinists are at opposite ends of a large field. Each side is given a disassembled mangonel, operating instructions in the appropriate 13th c. manuscript, and a pile of stones. The last historic standing gets to write the definitive work."
krisrid's review against another edition
2.0
This was given to me as a Christmas gift, and I did enjoy it overall.
The writing style was entertaining, as were the characters. A group of Venetian Jesters as both entertainers and solvers of murder is a clever and unique approach. I loved the smart and fun word-play included in the story. As a writer and lover of words, that was a bonus and added to my enjoyment of the plot.
The political intrigues and the intricacies of the murder and its investigation felt a bit unnecessarily complex to me. There seemed a lot of detail that muddied the waters for me. Possibly, that was intentional red-herring inclusion on the part of the author, but I found it confusing.
Still the overall setting of Venice, and the very smart and funny Jesters, especially the husband and wife team main characters were very engaging and I liked them very much.
A decent ready for anyone who enjoys Venice as a setting, the Crusades and its politics, and a slightly different kind of murder mystery.
The writing style was entertaining, as were the characters. A group of Venetian Jesters as both entertainers and solvers of murder is a clever and unique approach. I loved the smart and fun word-play included in the story. As a writer and lover of words, that was a bonus and added to my enjoyment of the plot.
The political intrigues and the intricacies of the murder and its investigation felt a bit unnecessarily complex to me. There seemed a lot of detail that muddied the waters for me. Possibly, that was intentional red-herring inclusion on the part of the author, but I found it confusing.
Still the overall setting of Venice, and the very smart and funny Jesters, especially the husband and wife team main characters were very engaging and I liked them very much.
A decent ready for anyone who enjoys Venice as a setting, the Crusades and its politics, and a slightly different kind of murder mystery.
gnomepartay's review
2.0
This book was okay. Not invested but may pick up another book in the series later on. I like the two narrators well enough. I feel that there was a real lack of character development for a novel but somehow not enough plot development for a mystery.