Duke Ubertini rules Valenzio and is loved by all. Prince Savernola rules the rival city of Goretti and is feared for his cruelty. Giovanna's father is Ubertini's jester, and when he writes a play mocking Savernola he unwittingly unleashes terror on the countryside. When her father suffers a heart attack under the strain, Giovanna makes the decision to deliver the one copy of the play to Savernola for destruction, in order to stop his slaughter of the innocent. But the play contains a riddle which Savernola fears and Giovanna is soon caught up in a plot to overthrow the prince. She will need help, and that comes from the hunchback Raffaele, one who she has a growing affection for. Tauranga author Sherryl Jordan has once again given us a strong heroine in Giovanna, who can both juggle and throw knives. When she is fighting for her life against wolves, and other animals, she is strong and determined, but still has compassion for the innocent animals that have been starved for the entertainment of the audience. A great read. ( )

The title of this book, 'The Anger of Angels', is also the title of a play by the court jester in a medieval Italian city. The play mocks the despotic ruler of the neighbouring city and shows him being turned away from the gates of heaven by St. Peter because of his cruelty to his subjects. When the Prince hears about the play, the jester's life is threatened. In order to try to undo the harm caused, the jester's daughter, Giovanna, travels with a handsome young hunchback to the neighbouring city to give the only copy of the play to the Prince. Unfortunately, she underestimates the ruthlessness of the Prince and both Giovanna and Raffaele find themselves in a dangerous situation.
Despite the medieval setting, Giovanna is no damsel waiting for rescue. She is a deadly accurate knife thrower who wants to determine her own future. Although she wants to find a young man who would love her, she would rather stay single and support herself than be married to someone not of her choosing. Giovanna is a heroine who is easy to identify with and the other characters are just as well realised. A note in the back describes the book as an ‘alternate history’ but although the places are not real Italian cities, the Medieval setting feels authentic. Part romance, part historical fiction, this story is primarily an adventure, with Giovanna and Raffaele proving to be equally determined, intrepid and brave ( )