Poole, Sara

An occasional odd turn of phrase (the result of the author trying too hard to write language of the period) is accompanied by a satisfyingly twisty plot and rich historical details about Renaissance Italy. Historical romance readers and fans of the first two books will enjoy this.

Sometimes fascinating, often implausible, this is nonetheless a good read. For historical fiction and romance readers. [Library marketing.]

Despite some awkward language, this story of a determined poisoner delivers history, intrigue, and suspense. Poole (a pen name for a New York Times best-selling author) juggles many themes, but the characters, plot, and historical setting will keep readers interested, especially fans of Renaissance-era novels.