Demetrios Askiates Book #1)
by Christian Cameron
GENRE : #Historical-action-mystery #Swashbuckling #RapierandDagger
My rating: ★★★★★
😃Wow, what a fantastic read from beginning to end!
Can’t wait to dive into book two!
This novel is a thrilling ride full of action, mystery, intrigue, and just the right touch of romance.
The main character is smart and relatable, surrounded by a clever and likable crew of friends. It’s a brilliant debut that promises a series packed with excitement and curiosity.
Christian Cameron, who was new to me until now, paints a Venice that goes way beyond the usual gondolas, canals, masquerades, and grand palaces.
Instead, it’s a tangled web of spies and secrets where actors, opera singers, nuns and monks, swordsmen and dance instructors, noble politicians, underworld thugs (the “Bravi”), and foreign Venetians all play their part in a dangerous, never-ending game.
______ THE PLOT IN A NUTSHELL: Venice, 1651.
Richard Hughes, an Englishman once a soldier for King Charles and later enslaved as a rower on Spanish galleys, is now a free man thanks to a Venetian general who saved him.
In Venice, he works as a fencing master, living a modest but peaceful life, at least until a woman pulls him into a dangerous investigation.
The Red Mask is targeting the city’s Libertines, and Richard, along with a mix of old and new allies, must unravel a conspiracy stretching all the way to the Vatican and beyond...
1_ First off, the MAIN CHARACTER’s charm, wit, and self-deprecating humor. ---> RICHARD HUGHES, or “Riccardo Huze” to Venetians, also known as “The Blade,” is an unforgettable hero.
He’s a former soldier of King Charles during the English Civil War, who survived brutal slavery as a galley rower and now earns his keep as a master swordsman.
He’s smart, seasoned by war and life, but never arrogant and always joking at his own expense and deeply human. He’s not your typical flawless detective; instead, he’s persistent, learns from mistakes, and approaches the shadowy world of secrets with the honesty of someone who’s seen the worst.
---> Told in first person, the story really let me connect with Richard’s feelings, struggles, dreams, and triumphs.
2_ The BREAKNECK PACE and vivid descriptions of 17th-century sword and dagger combat.
---> HISTORY and THRILLS
The story moves fast:
What starts as a simple kidnapping of an innkeeper named Maria quickly spirals into a vast conspiracy involving the highest powers in Venice and the church.
The ties between the “Libertines,” Jesuits, and the Venetian Inquisition create a complex and gripping plot.
---> Venice in 1651 isn’t painted with the usual grand images of architecture, foggy canals, or mysterious masks. Instead, we see secret meetings, banned books, harsh crackdowns, and a constant fear of being discovered.
---> Even though the mystery itself wasn’t the author’s strongest point, the tense atmosphere, the chase for the truth that always feels just out of reach, and the nonstop action kept me hooked until the last page.
3_ The sense of BOND and TEAM SPIRIT that grows between Richard and his friends and new acquaintances, forming an awesome group ready to catch the villain.
--> I’ve always loved stories about friendship, trust, and teamwork whether in movies, shows, or books and this one has it in spades.
I’m really hoping to see all these characters again in the next book as part of the “Huze team” !!
--> At first, the huge cast of characters was a bit overwhelming: so many names, some fictional, others real historical figures, had me confused at times.
Luckily, the author included a handy character list at the start, which helped me keep track. After about a fifth of the book, I didn’t need it anymore.
The SIDE CHARACTERS fall into 3 groups:
- Richard’s close friends
- Powerful figures pulling strings in Venice
- The villains
Despite the large number of characters, the author gave each one enough depth for me to feel connected. Not only descriptions of their looks, but sharpe description of mannerisms and dialogue brought them to life.
Some HISTORICAL FIGURES I especially enjoyed researching further:
_ Bondì di Mazo, a Jewish fencing master, fascinated me the most.
Deeply rooted in Venetian fencing history, he published a famous 1696 treatise, "The Master Sword," detailing the art of sword (and dagger) fighting—the foundation of modern sport fencing. The story doesn’t mention this treatise but instead focuses on a book by Maestro Cavalli (who also really existed). Richard learns a new defensive and offensive move from this book, which he then demonstrates in a duel and my excitement was off the charts!!!
Cameron opened a door to a world I hadn’t explored before, even as a great fan of The Musketeers ( by Alexandre Dumas ).
_ Francesco Morosini, Richard’s protector and a real Venetian general who later became Doge, is another fascinating figure.
Fun fact: I found out he hated women but adored his cat so much he took her to battle and had her stuffed after she died to keep her close.
_ Among the Libertines (free thinkers opposing dogmatic religion and supporting natural morality), we meet Francesco Loredan and the cloistered nun Arcangela (Elena Tarabotti), a writer defending women’s rights and librettist of an opera satirizing male abuses.
-----> The historical details are never dull. Christian Cameron could easily be a top-notch adventure TV writer. That’s my taste, but every reader has their own, so judge for yourself if this novel’s for you.
😒 My only slight disappointment was the main villain, who felt underdeveloped. The author hints at his past, but I couldn’t tell if his actions stemmed from revenge or madness.
His downfall happened too quickly compared to the chaos he caused. Still, this story gripped me so much I’d recommend it a thousand times over.
IN SHORT:
WHY PICK IT UP? Cameron blends real historical figures like Francesco Morosini and Bondì di Mazo with fictional characters so seamlessly that 17th-century Venice truly comes alive.
---> The tone is light and humorous, perfect for anyone wanting a thrilling mystery without too much gore, but packed with action and a hint of romance.
It’s the FIRST book in a series but you can easily read it as a STANDALONE, in fact it stands well on its own, giving a satisfying ending for the characters and plot.
Cameron teases Richard Hughes’s next adventure and a new character debut, and I’m already eager to see what’s next!
Thanks for reading my thoughts! I could go on and on, but I’ll stop here before this gets too long. 😊!
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Throughout the narrative, I wasn't able to fully get behind her character as some other readers did.
This wasn't because she was a killer (which the book justifies by saying she was eliminating traitors who would bring only war and ruin to the Venetian people), but because her painful past had made her so cynical that she almost always put herself first.
More than that, despite her feelings for Bastiano, she not only did her job by sleeping with other men, but she clearly relished it. I mean, for her, it wasn't just a job, it was also a pleasure.
She enjoyed the physical intimacy and and emotional complicity with some of her clients immensely, from the dinners and private conversations to the parties and, ultimately, every single moment of the sexual act. It seemed to me that she was at least a little infatuated with others as well, and I perceived this as a sort of emotional betrayal of Bastiano.
I can accept the physical infidelity in this situation because it was part of her job, but the emotional betrayal is unacceptable if we're talking about true love for Bastiano.
What's more, I didn't feel particularly moved by the chapters detailing her painful past.
I was more bothered by the pity she felt for herself than the pain she experienced due to the horrific deaths of others. Ambition and self-centeredness have been part of her character from the start.
Looking at it objectively, it's clear that the protagonist had to be tough and ruthless; she couldn't have survived in her profession otherwise. However, this made me follow the story with curiosity and complete fascination, rooting for Bastiano instead of her.
_____ BASTIANO is a charming, intelligent and handsome young man. He enjoys playing the part of the carefree charmer who seduces women with just his knowing smile, but deep down, he's a good soul, kind, devoted, and protective.
While he could have many lovers, he doesn't. He is jealous of the other men, and it hurts him to see them with Valentina and to know that she'll share a bed with them, but he never becomes possessive. He expresses his jealousy in a healthy way and wants to share his life with her, even though the customs of the time only allowed firstborn sons to marry and produce heirs.
You might think that a man who accepts this kind of relationship is weak, but that's not true. It is his strength of character that allows him to stay by her side even when things get difficult and everything seems dark and uncertain.
He's willing to sacrifice his life to save the woman he loves.
I was worried about him right up until the end, because the story takes so many unexpected turns, and it's hard to guess what the author will do with this character, who became the one I cared about most in the whole book.
As the story unfolds, we also meet some of Valentina's clients, other courtesans (including a very close friend), and, naturally, the "villain" of the moment.
Each character has well-defined personality traits, which made them either likable (making me fear for their safety) or loathsome, and which skillfully added depth to the picture of Valentina's life, thus lending meaning to her choices and her mistakes.
__ THE MYSTERY PART ___
The mystery is compelling and kept me guessing until the very end, though I have to admit there were a couple of somewhat predictable moments.
The most fascinating parts of the book are the characters and the way they navigate blackmail and try to expose a dangerous plot. The intriguing setting of Venice is equally important, acting as a third main character: glittering, powerful, decadent, and perilous.
Moreover, the author's writing style is perfectly balanced, never too wordy, never too brief, always managing to intrigue and engage you, making you feel like you're right there with the characters.
_____ HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ____
While the story of Valentina and Bastiano is fictional, the author presents the real world of courtesans, the "honest courtesans," with considerable skill. These women distinguished themselves from ordinary prostitutes through their extensive education, refinement, and comfortable way of life.
Since women of "patrician families" weren't allowed to read or study, wealthy and noble men turned to courtesans not only for sexual gratification but also for companionship at events and parties, and to have someone they could converse with as equals. The politics of the era and the system of government in the Republic of Venice, the famous Serenissima, are also explained clearly and concisely, which greatly helps the reader understand the roles of certain characters and the kind of power they possessed or sought.
You can find additional information in the author's fascinating HISTORICAL NOTES at the end of the book.
___ WHO SHOULD READ THIS? ___
Although it touches on themes of sex and murder, this is actually a "clean" read, with CLEAN LANGUAGE and NO GRUESOME DESCRIPTIONS.
The intimate scenes are always depicted elegantly and never descend into vulgarity.
If you enjoy historical settings that are true to life and want something different from the usual stories set in England or America, if you want a romance that's not just about romance but also filled with intrigue and dark secrets... then this book is for you.
----> I found the ending satisfying, although I would have preferred a more traditional happily-ever-after. However, I realize that would have felt unrealistic and improbable. Don't worry, it's still a positive ending.
This is the first book I've read by this author, but it definitely won't be the last. I'm eager to explore her other novels!!
Thank you my friends for reding my opinion, I hope this helps you choose your next read!
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