Florence – The Unseen Library

The Last True Templar Cover

Publisher: Head of Zeus (ebook – 14 September 2023)

Series: Tales of the Lawless Land – Book Two

Length: 492 pages

My Rating: 4.5

The impressive sibling team of Boyd and Beth Morrison return with an epic and compelling sequel to their first impressive novel, The Last True Templar.

Last year I had the very great pleasure of reading the first book written by the pair of thriller author Boyd Morrison and historian Beth Morrison, The Lawless Land. Following an excommunicated knight and a noblewoman as they try to keep a sacred relic out of the hands of a corrupt cardinal, The Lawless Land was an outstanding read that blended fascinating historical detail with an intense thriller storyline. The Lawless Land ended up being one of my favourite books of 2022 and I have been eagerly anticipating a sequel for ages. This second book in their Tales of the Lawless Land series, The Last True Templar, sets the awesome protagonists on a compelling new adventure, an elaborate treasure hunt through medieval Italy.

Italy, 1351. After their first exciting adventure together, exiled English knight Gerard Fox and his determined companion, Willa, have decided to embark on a journey throughout a Europe still recovering from the ravishes of war and plague. Determined to get married, the two seek a way to escape their complex pasts and move on to a future free of violence and persecution. However, fate has something far more adventurous planned for them.

Arriving in a small village between Florence and Siena, Fox and Willa suddenly find themselves witnesses to a deadly ambush. A band of skilled, masked bandits are targeting Luciana Corosi, the wife of a prominent Sienna businessman, determined to kill her and steal the payment she carries for a lucrative deal. Intervening, Fox and Willa manage to save Luciana’s life, before escorting her home. However, it soon becomes apparent that not everything is as it seems, especially as Luciana’s scheming husband, Riccardo Corosi, is behind the attempts of Luciana’s life.

Escaping from Riccardo’s clutches with Luciana, Fox and Willa soon find themselves embroiled in a complex scheme that reaches all the way back to the fallen Knights Templar. Years ago, Luciana’s father helped the Templars hide their vast treasure from the Church before being betrayed by Riccardo. Determined to save her family’s legacy and finally expose her treacherous husband, Luciana recruits Fox and Willa to her cause and requests their help in solving a series of clues leading to the treasure. But with Riccardo and his men hot on their trail, can Fox and Willa find the legendary treasures of the Knights Templar, or have they finally met their match?

The Last True Templar was an interesting and enjoyable follow-up that captures the heart of the original book while changing some key story aspects and the background setting. The result is a fantastic and exciting read that I had a wonderful time reading and which I managed to power through in a very short amount of time.

The plot of The Last True Templar is pretty damn cool as it places the author’s established protagonists into a whole new crazy medieval thriller scenario, this time involving the warring Corosi’s and their respective legacies. Fox and Willa’s inadvertent entry into the plot is well handled and nicely ties into their current wanderings, and their continued presence in events feels pretty natural, especially as they are both trying to help a friend and achieve their own personal goal of getting married. The authors do an effective job at building up and injecting the intriguing characters and real-life history that led up the events of the book early on and the story, and you soon get swept up in the resulting treasure hunt that is rich in Templar lore. The story is masterfully told from a range of different perspectives, including the antagonists, which allows for some compelling insights into everyone’s respective motivations, histories and plots. Several chapters are also set in the past, either to strengthen the history surrounding the missing Templar treasure or provide backstory and added drama for the characters.

The main story of The Last True Templar turns into an exciting, clever, and action-packed romp, as the authors set out some major thriller antics within a historical setting. Just like with The Lawless Land, the initial thriller aspect of this story involves the protagonists attempting to stay one step ahead of the villains while learning about the dark history that surrounds their motivation. However, the characters also get involved in an elaborate historical treasure hunt which sees them decode a series of historical clues to find the location of the treasure. A storyline involving riddles and the hunt for ancient treasures is classic thriller fare, and I really enjoyed seeing medieval protagonists undertake this, especially as it takes them across 14^th century Italy. The authors come up with a fantastic and elaborate series of mysteries, riddles and clues for this aspect of the story, and I loved the constant and desperate roaming through various well-described cities as they attempt to puzzle together dated references and hints.

The authors’ use of multiple perspectives really helps to enhance the race aspect of the story, as you get to see key events through multiple eyes, including the scheming and double-crossing antagonists. I loved seeing all the different moves each character made in The Last True Templar, and you are constantly on your feet as both groups get closer to the treasure while working to outsmart or outplay their opponents. There are also some amazing set pieces scattered throughout this novel, including an elaborate horse race through the streets of a city, several skirmishes, and even ship-to-ship boarding action. Everything leads up to an exciting and intense conclusion as both sides fight for the potential treasure, and all the compelling story elements come full circle. All the characters get a compelling conclusion to their storyline, whether they want to or not, and the book ends on a satisfactory note that leaves the series open for further entries.

I loved the fantastic historical detail that was contained in The Last True Templar as the authors really immersed readers in the period. The impressive depictions of the various Italian locations and cites was well done, and I could honestly see the settings in my mind’s eye as the protagonists visited them. Much of the background setting and character attitudes and actions, whether it be in battle, business, or exploration, had some noticeable historical accuracy, and I loved the elaborate descriptions that accompanied the narrative. I particularly enjoyed the author’s depiction of a historical Palio di Siena, which the protagonist was forced to participate in, and it honestly was one of the high points of the story. However, the best historical detail in The Last True Templar is reserved for the examination of the Knights Templar and the hunt for their treasure. The authors do an excellent job of exploring the legacy of the Templars, and I found it fascinating to see characters talk about them only a few decades after their fall. This examination of the Templars adds a great deal to the narrative, as not only is it strongly tied to several of the new character’s backstories, but it also proves to be very relevant to the various riddles the characters need to unravel. Each of the riddles is tied into a specific location or has some relevance to the Templars, and it was awesome seeing the characters work out and trying to solve them. There were even some very clever instances where the relevant landmarks referenced in the clues were no longer there or current, even after only a few decades, which added some intriguing difficulties into the larger treasure hunt. All these details, and more, were extremely interesting to me, and I had a wonderful time with how well the authors incorporated them into the plot.

I had a lot of fun with the characters in The Last True Templar, especially as we got to see more of Gerard Fox and Willa, both of whom were so well set up in the preceding novel. An excommunicated knight likely to be charged with heresy for not repenting for his unfairly given punishment and a brave, independent and highly capable former servant, Fox and Willa make for an intriguing pair, and I love the idea of an entire series dedicated to them wandering around helping people. The authors do an excellent job of reintroducing them in this sequel, and I really enjoyed how they were worked into this exciting story. Since both of their backgrounds were thoroughly explored in The Lawless Land, you don’t get a lot of extra history for them in this sequel. Instead, there is an intriguing storyline regarding their adventures in Europe and the struggles they have faced on the road together as a couple. Their main issue involves their desire to get married, however, due to Fox’s excommunicated status, something he takes seriously despite the unfairness surrounding the entire situation, they are unable to find a church or priest likely to approve the ceremony. This leads to some real strain on their relationship, and I liked how the authors dived into such compelling historical concerns for their character arc. Despite this, the two remain a strong duo with a fantastic blend of talents, and it was a real pleasure to see their second adventure together.

The rest of the character focus is completely reserved for all the new characters involved in The Last True Templar. In particular, you spend a lot of time with Luciana Corosi, an Italian matron who has been betrayed and manipulated by her evil husband. A smart businesswoman with a painful history, Luciana proves to be an excellent addition to the main cast, and she plays off Fox and Willa extremely well as they work together. I loved the intriguing history surrounding Luciana, especially all the betrayals she has experienced in her life, and it was great to see her finally try and reclaim her life and her destiny. While Luciana is great, this book is would be nothing without a fantastic villain, and this role is well filled by Luciana’s husband, Riccardo Corosi. A scheming former Templar who betrayed his order and Luciana’s father and turned his ill-gotten gains into a thriving business which he uses to control his city, Riccardo is a despicable antagonist you have a very easy time hating. The authors show much of the story from Riccardo’s perspective, so you get some great insights into his various schemes, and you quickly realise just how irredeemable he truly is. Partnered with a surprisingly loyal, if murderous, English knight, and a scheming female associate who plots against everyone, Riccardo is a great foil to the main cast, and I loved the various betrayals he brings to the table, even when it comes to his own followers. This proved to be quite a fun and compelling cast of characters and I loved seeing their fantastic story unfold.

Overall, The Last True Templar was an outstanding read and I loved seeing more adventures from the team of Boyd and Beth Morrison. This second Tales of the Lawless Land novel was very exciting and I loved the great new characters, intriguing historical detail, and compelling thriller centric plot. An impressive sequel from start to finish, I deeply enjoyed The Last True Templar and I hope we get more books from these amazing authors in the future.

Amazon

City of Vengeance Cover

Publisher: Macmillan (Trade Paperback – 9 February 2021)

Series: Cesare Aldo – Book One

Length: 402 pages

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Amazon Book Depository

From impressive debuting author D. V. Bishop comes a powerful and exciting historical murder mystery set in the heart of 16^th century Florence with the amazing City of Vengeance.

Synopsis:

Florence. Winter, 1536. A prominent Jewish moneylender is murdered in his home, a death with wide implications in a city powered by immense wealth.

Cesare Aldo, a former soldier and now an officer of the Renaissance city’s most feared criminal court, is given four days to solve the murder: catch the killer before the feast of Epiphany – or suffer the consequences.

During his investigations Aldo uncovers a plot to overthrow the volatile ruler of Florence, Alessandro de’ Medici. If the Duke falls, it will endanger the whole city. But a rival officer of the court is determined to expose details about Aldo’s private life that could lead to his ruin. Can Aldo stop the conspiracy before anyone else dies, or will his own secrets destroy him first?

City of Vengeance is an awesome and powerful historical murder mystery that I have been looking forward to for a while. New author Bishop has come up with an excellent story that expertly combines great characters, intense historical detail, and a clever murder mystery into an awesome and exciting tale. I had an outstanding time getting through this amazing book, and this might be one of the better debuts of 2021 that I have so far read.

Bishop has produced an extraordinary narrative for his debut book which I deeply enjoyed and found myself quickly engrossed in. This book contains an excellent mystery which is actually a clever adaptation of a real-life historical murder and conspiracy in renaissance Florence which the protagonist, Cesare Aldo, finds himself investigating and attempting to stop after several other related crimes are discovered. Bishop builds a fantastic and intense story around this investigation as the protagonist goes up against several powerful foes and is forced into deadly situations as his opponents attempt to stop him. There is also a great secondary storyline about a separate murder which is being investigated by both Aldo and his associates at Florence’s criminal court. While this other murder is not directly connected to the main murder and conspiracy, they do highlight some of the personal issues surrounding the protagonist and provide some intriguing opportunities for a dastardly secondary antagonist. I loved the author’s great use of multiple perspectives throughout this narrative, and he really comes up with some intense, action-packed moments as Aldo is forced to fight for his life. This story ended up having some amazing twists to it, especially if you are unfamiliar with the events of 16^th century Florence, and the reader is constantly left on their toes as they witness all the crazy events unfold. I particularly loved the final sequence in the book, mainly because it was an extremely cathartic moment for both the protagonist and the reader, and it served as the perfect end to this dark and captivating tale. This was an overall incredible narrative, and I am really glad I got to check it out.

Easily one of the best highlights of this fantastic book was the impressive and realistic setting of renaissance Florence that Bishop brought into being. The author has clearly done their research when it comes to this iconic Italian city as the reader is shown a detailed and complex view of the city throughout the book. The various characters explore different parts of this historical location, and you get a real sense of the scale and culture of this city. I really appreciated the way in which Bishop attempts to highlight interesting parts of day-to-day life in Florence during this period, and I also deeply enjoyed the examination of the city’s justice system, leadership, and political placement in the rest of Italy. The author also utilises a range of different Italian terms and words into the text in a bid to increase the narrative’s authenticity. I really liked this clever use of language throughout the book, especially as it enhanced the storytelling without disrupting the flow of the narrative. Several major figures in Florence’s history also make an appearance, and I was deeply impressed by the way in which Bishop portrays them, as well as the infamous historical events that they are connected to. I thought that the author did a great job cleverly tying these real-life figures into the exciting plot of City of Vengeance, and it was cool to see their unique tales unfold. All this really helps to elevate City of Vengeance as a historical fiction novel and this was a captivating and clever dive back into 16^th century Florence.

I also quite enjoyed the characters featured in this great novel. On top of the historical figures who are seamlessly fitted into the narrative, Bishop has also come up with a collection of fantastic fictional characters who the main story revolves around. While I enjoyed all these characters, I must highlight two in particular: the main protagonist Cesare Aldo and secondary antagonist Cerchi. Aldo is an excellent hero for this book thanks to his dedication to justice, his maverick personality, his quickness with a blade and his investigative prowess, all of which help him attempt to solve the difficult crime before him. Aldo gets into some very rough scrapes in this book, and it was a lot of fun to see him get through them and survive. The risks are especially high since the detective also has to hide his sexuality in order to survive. This was a fantastic character element for Bishop to include and it certainly amped up the difficulties for the protagonist, especially when he is forced to contend with people like Cerchi. Cerchi is a fellow investigator in Florence’s criminal court, and in many ways he is the direct opposite of Aldo, in that he is a snivelling, corrupt and selfish individual who cares more about lining his own pocket than justice. Cerchi spends most of the book attempting to undermine Aldo while also blackmailing prominent homosexuals in the city for large amounts of money. This leads to even greater conflict with Aldo, especially as Cerchi suspects Aldo’s secret, and this adds a whole new level of drama and suspense to the narrative. I really liked the inclusion of Cerchi in the story as he was a particularly despicable and unlikeable character who the reader quickly grows to hate and beg for his downfall. Both characters have some great storylines throughout this book, and I particularly enjoyed the way in which their combined arc ends.

In the end I really enjoyed this exceptional first novel from D. V. Bishop which was a lot of fun to read. Thanks to its awesome blend of history, mystery and clever characters, City of Vengeance has an exciting and captivating narrative that proved extremely hard to put down. I was deeply impressed with the way that the author utilised his knowledge of 16^th century Florence to create a powerful and compelling tale of murder and conspiracy, and readers are in for a real treat with this fantastic debut. I look forward to seeing what Bishop comes up with next and I particularly hope that he revisits Cesare Aldo and Florence in his future novels.