I received an advanced copy of this book from Goodreads.

I have to admit, it took several pages before I was drawn into this novel, possibly because the writing style was slightly different than I was use to and I was just finishing up another historical fiction.

Although this is set in the 14th century, the actions and emotions of Solange mimics those in recent times. The best times that Solange experiences, albeit slightly dull and filled with daily rituals, is her time at the abbey. However, that peace is torn away and she is thrown back into the world that she grew up in.


I found Solange to be extremely foolish and naive to believe that she would be able to succeed in a man's world as a scribe. However, I must commend on her ambition and determination, which eventually leads to her success...only for it to be torn away by men. Throughout her entire life, she is used (either for her visions or her words to achieve success in society) and then thrown aside the moment she is no longer viewed as valuable.

I want to sympathize with the heroine of the story, however there are times that I felt a dislike due to certain actions. Yes, desperations lead to desperate actions. Solange plays the sacrifical lamb far too many times for her to able to live that long, although I do understand it does add drama to the overall story. It's interesting how she is revered as a whore and as a prophet, and eventually near the end be compared to Mary Magdalene. As a fairly intelligent woman, she eventually fights for what is near and dear to her heart, but that is barely enough to justify her actions much later in the novel. Although, I do wonder what happened to her brilliant mind after her sudden flight from the abbey and the destruction of her thriving scribing occupation. She appears to have become more manipulative and deceptive as time went on, most of it is understandable because her hopes and dreams were destroyed and taken away by her lover (who she obsesses over throughout the novel). I thought she would have wised up and accept that things can never be with her lover, instead she just had to use underhanded techniques and poison her out of reach 'rival' in love and much more, only to find out that nothing she does can stop her lover's obsession (whether the lady is locked up or dead).

While this novel is a fairly good read, it certainly was not an instant hit with me due to the heroine being the way she is for a good chunk of the book. There were also moments where it felt like the author was trying to make the novel more than it really is by using lots of fancy words. However, it might just be the author's writing style that I am not an instant fan of. Some characters could be fleshed out more instead of being one dimensional characters. Also the use of these 'visions' are a decent touch, adding a certain element to the story, however it becomes too predictable and pointless when it occurs at the most crucial time. I have to say, Mary Novik, the author, does in succeed in developing and portraying 14th century Avignon in both lights (through prosperous times and plague times). Also how she portrayed some of the characters (Pope Clement, Francesco, Laura, etc), made me want to read and discover more about these historical figures. The incorporation of Francesco's poetry throughout the novel was wonderfully weaved and stitched together. ( )

This was a good book, but in the end it was a bit of a slog. I'm not sure what it was that dragged me down, since it has all the elements that I enjoy in historical fiction: strong characters, accurate history, good story. Except, maybe that last bit was lacking. I think, although the story itself was interesting (medieval woman is orphaned when her mother dies in childbirth, is raised among nuns, is forced to leave the nunnery and make her way in the big bad world, finds herself a woman among the highest level of religious authority, eventually finds her way back to the nunnery where she was raised) but there weren't the right number of boosts to keep the plot moving in a really exciting way. It seems weird to say that after mentioning all those things above, each of which is pretty interesting. Especially when you add in things like love affairs with a rising poet and a pope, as well as a plague. There were elements I did enjoy, such as the heroine's career as a copyist in a scriptorium, since anything related to the history of libraries is close to my heart. But the early part of the plot (as well as the jacket copy) emphasized the protagonist's gift for prophecy as the thing that directs her life's trajectory, and to an extent it does, but it mostly seems somewhat incidental. What I mostly enjoyed about this book was the fact that is is so rooted in history, to the point that when I looked stuff up in Wikipedia as I was reading, I found direct correlations. Of course, that made me wonder whether the author did the same thing, but I'd like to think her research was a little more in-depth than that. I didn't like this as much as the YA novel Catherine Called Birdy, which is also about a medieval girl who rebels against her lot, with mixed results. Anyway there was a lot here to like, even if it was a little uneven overall. ( )

This novel has become a new favourite. I've been recommending it to friends because I enjoyed it so much myself. I found Solange LeBlanc a very sympathetic character and Novik's depiction of medieval Avignon, with its popes and cardinals and harlots, is very believable. I was there from start to finish. ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. Another stunner from Mary Novik, the author of Conceit. ( )

The protagonist of this novel is Solange LeBlanc who, according to the publisher’s description, is “the charismatic woman who was the inspiration for Petrarch’s sublime love poetry.” Set in 14th century Avignon, this book, contrary to this description, is not the story of Laura de Sade who was Petrarch’s muse, the one without whom Petrarch claims his poems “’have no substance.’” Instead, the book is the story of Solange who is his lover but, in terms of Petrarch’s poetry, could best be described as his editor. The novel details several rises and falls in the fortunes of a woman who is viewed at various times as a prophet, harlot, witch, and saint.

My major problem with the book is the character of Solange. I wanted to feel sympathy for her because she is certainly used and then discarded by men, but she does nothing to help her situation. She does stupid things (cheating on Pope Clement VI) and then seems amazed when there are negative repercussions for her behaviour. Her relationship with Petrarch also makes no sense. Over and over and over again, he mistreats her horribly, in private and in public, yet she still goes back to him? He even tells her, “’I can never give you everything you want from me’” and says that he loves her but only “’With my flesh, but not my soul. That belongs to Madonna Laura.’” Nonetheless Solange keeps going back to him and she justifies her actions by saying, “He will change the face of literature forever. Much can be forgiven a man of such greatness.” She also states, “I have learnt that it is possible to love and hate the same man,” yet none of this hate is evident. Instead, she reserves her hatred for Laura who really does nothing and who, because of her marital status and social position, has virtually no contact with Petrarch.

The pacing of the novel is uneven. Sometimes, years are dismissed in a few pages; at other times, tedious details are given. For example, several times, parades of people are mentioned: “Advancing were Clement’s nephews, Nicolas de Besse and Guillaume de La Jugie, followed by the men who had married into the family, then the uncles, cousins, officers, and Limousin nobles.” And “I was pulling on my azure robe when in came Hugues Roger with the surgeon de Chauliac . . . After them arrived Captain Aigrefeuille of the pointed stars, with the jailer Renaud de Pons. Five or six other men, all vital to palace operations, entered the room.” And “the rank and file of papal functionaries marched past, followed by squires and knights in battle armour, then the city marshall, the camerlengo, and the grand penitentiary . . .” And “We were met by sixteen cardinals, plus counts, bishops, damoiseaux, captains, chevaliers, down the line to ecuyers . . . ” These lists serve little purpose except to indicate that the author did considerable research for the book. That research is commendable, but sometimes information is needlessly repeated. Twice we are told that prostitutes had to wear “crimson ribbons” and four times it is mentioned that people believed that the soul entered the body on the eightieth day.

There are events that are unbelievable. Women become pregnant almost on demand. Solange twice arranges to conceive, each time after having intercourse only once. Laura manages to do the same as well. One minute Solange learns that the pope is finished with her and the next minute, when she returns to her room, she finds her maids “already pawing my garments”? One day Solange has difficulty having any physical contact with Angiere but shortly afterwards Solange wants someone else to assist Angiere as she gives birth, “someone else to attend her, someone who did not love her as I did.” The juxtaposition of Solange’s arrival at Clairefontaine and Mother Agnes’s illness seems coincidental.

Despite my hopes, this book was disappointing.

Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. ( )