Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Silkworm Keeper: A captivating historical novel of Renaissance Italy
    The Fortune Keeper: An Enchanting Historical Novel of Renaissance Italy
    The Poison Keeper: An enthralling historical novel of Renaissance Italy
    Audiobook series3 titles

    Italian Renaissance Series

    Written by Deborah Swift

    Narrated by Diana Croft

    5/5

    ()

    About this series

    Count your nights by stars, not by shadows ~ Italian Proverb

    Winter in Venice

    Mia Caiozzi is determined to discover her destiny by studying the science of astronomy. But her stepmother Giulia forbids her to engage in this dangerous occupation, fearing it will lead her into trouble. The ideas of Galileo are banned by the Inquisition, so Mia must study in secret.

    Giulia insists Mia should live quietly out of public view. If not, it could threaten them all. Giulia's real name is Giulia Tofana, renowned for her poison Aqua Tofana, and she is in hiding from the Duke de Verdi's family who are intent on revenge for the death of their brother. But Mia doesn't know this, and rebels against Giulia, determined to go her own way.

    When the two secret lives collide, it has far-reaching and fatal consequences that will change both their lives forever.

    Set amongst opulent palazzi and shimmering canals, The Fortune Keeper is the third novel of adventure and romance based on the life and legend of Giulia Tofana.

    'Swift has an almost visceral understanding of what makes history worth reading, and she is also the perfect tour-guide to take her readers on a trip back in time to a dangerous past ... a must-listen for fans of quality Historical Fiction.' Coffee Pot Book Club ★★★★★

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherQuire Books
    Release dateDec 20, 2021
    The Silkworm Keeper: A captivating historical novel of Renaissance Italy
    The Fortune Keeper: An Enchanting Historical Novel of Renaissance Italy
    The Poison Keeper: An enthralling historical novel of Renaissance Italy

    Titles in the series (3)

    • 1

      The Poison Keeper: An enthralling historical novel of Renaissance Italy
      The Poison Keeper: An enthralling historical novel of Renaissance Italy

      The Poison Keeper: An enthralling historical novel of Renaissance Italy

      Deborah Swift
      4/5 - 14 ratings
      4/5 - 14 ratings

      Naples 1633 Aqua Tofana – One drop to heal. Three drops to kill. Giulia Tofana longs for more responsibility in her mother’s apothecary business, but Mamma has always been secretive and refuses to tell her the hidden keys to her success. But the day Mamma is arrested for the poisoning of the powerful Duke de Verdi, Giulia is shocked to uncover the darker side of her trade. Giulia must run for her life, and escapes to Naples, under the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, to the home of her Aunt Isabetta, a famous courtesan. But when Giulia hears that her mother has been executed, and the cruel manner of her death, she swears she will wreak revenge on the Duke de Verdi. The trouble is, Naples is in the grip of Domenico, the Duke’s brother, who controls the city with the ‘Camorra’, the mafia. Worse, her Aunt Isabetta, under his thrall, insists that she should be consort to him. Based on the legendary life of Giulia Tofana, this is a story of hidden family secrets, and how vengeance can be overcome by courage and love. 'Her characters are so real they linger in the mind long after the book is back on the shelf' Historical Novel Society

      Naples 1633 Aqua Tofana – One drop to heal. Three drops to kill. Giulia Tofana longs for more responsibility in her mother’s apothecary business, but Mamma has always been secretive and refuses to tell her the hidden keys to her success. But the day Mamma is arrested for the poisoning of the powerful Duke de Verdi, Giulia is shocked to uncover the darker side of her trade. Giulia must run for her life, and escapes to Naples, under the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, to the home of her Aunt Isabetta, a famous courtesan. But when Giulia hears that her mother has been executed, and the cruel manner of her death, she swears she will wreak revenge on the Duke de Verdi. The trouble is, Naples is in the grip of Domenico, the Duke’s brother, who controls the city with the ‘Camorra’, the mafia. Worse, her Aunt Isabetta, under his thrall, insists that she should be consort to him. Based on the legendary life of Giulia Tofana, this is a story of hidden family secrets, and how vengeance can be overcome by courage and love. 'Her characters are so real they linger in the mind long after the book is back on the shelf' Historical Novel Society

    • 2

      The Silkworm Keeper: A captivating historical novel of Renaissance Italy
      The Silkworm Keeper: A captivating historical novel of Renaissance Italy

      The Silkworm Keeper: A captivating historical novel of Renaissance Italy

      Deborah Swift
      4/5 - 5 ratings
      4/5 - 5 ratings

      Rome 1638 Old sins have long shadows ~ Italian Proverb Giulia Tofana never wanted to be a nun, but she is determined to atone for her past misdeeds by making her new monastery a success. When an unexpected disaster closes the convent, Giulia is forced to turn to her old friend Fabio Pasello for help. Giulia still has intense feelings for Fabio and Fabio’s passion for her has never diminished. But they are not the same people they were before. Giulia has taken her vows, and Fabio is apprenticed to Gianlorenzo Bernini the famous sculptor, and has become one of Bernini’s rakish libertines. They could not be further apart. To add to their problems, Giulia cannot escape her reputation as a poisoner, and is soon embroiled in a plot against Fabio’s patron, Pope Urban VIII. Faced with the idea of murder, will Giulia renounce her vows or embrace them? Inspired by true stories, this is a novel of nuns and courtesans, artists and priests, in the shadow and splendour of the Eternal City. 'Swift is a consummate historical novelist, basing her books on immaculate research and then filling the gaps between real events and real people with eloquent storytelling, atmospheric scene setting and imaginative plot lines.' - The Visitor

      Rome 1638 Old sins have long shadows ~ Italian Proverb Giulia Tofana never wanted to be a nun, but she is determined to atone for her past misdeeds by making her new monastery a success. When an unexpected disaster closes the convent, Giulia is forced to turn to her old friend Fabio Pasello for help. Giulia still has intense feelings for Fabio and Fabio’s passion for her has never diminished. But they are not the same people they were before. Giulia has taken her vows, and Fabio is apprenticed to Gianlorenzo Bernini the famous sculptor, and has become one of Bernini’s rakish libertines. They could not be further apart. To add to their problems, Giulia cannot escape her reputation as a poisoner, and is soon embroiled in a plot against Fabio’s patron, Pope Urban VIII. Faced with the idea of murder, will Giulia renounce her vows or embrace them? Inspired by true stories, this is a novel of nuns and courtesans, artists and priests, in the shadow and splendour of the Eternal City. 'Swift is a consummate historical novelist, basing her books on immaculate research and then filling the gaps between real events and real people with eloquent storytelling, atmospheric scene setting and imaginative plot lines.' - The Visitor

    • 3

      The Fortune Keeper: An Enchanting Historical Novel of Renaissance Italy
      The Fortune Keeper: An Enchanting Historical Novel of Renaissance Italy

      The Fortune Keeper: An Enchanting Historical Novel of Renaissance Italy

      Deborah Swift
      3/5 - 1 rating
      3/5 - 1 rating

      Count your nights by stars, not by shadows ~ Italian Proverb Winter in Venice Mia Caiozzi is determined to discover her destiny by studying the science of astronomy. But her stepmother Giulia forbids her to engage in this dangerous occupation, fearing it will lead her into trouble. The ideas of Galileo are banned by the Inquisition, so Mia must study in secret. Giulia insists Mia should live quietly out of public view. If not, it could threaten them all. Giulia's real name is Giulia Tofana, renowned for her poison Aqua Tofana, and she is in hiding from the Duke de Verdi's family who are intent on revenge for the death of their brother. But Mia doesn't know this, and rebels against Giulia, determined to go her own way. When the two secret lives collide, it has far-reaching and fatal consequences that will change both their lives forever. Set amongst opulent palazzi and shimmering canals, The Fortune Keeper is the third novel of adventure and romance based on the life and legend of Giulia Tofana. 'Swift has an almost visceral understanding of what makes history worth reading, and she is also the perfect tour-guide to take her readers on a trip back in time to a dangerous past ... a must-listen for fans of quality Historical Fiction.' Coffee Pot Book Club ★★★★★

      Count your nights by stars, not by shadows ~ Italian Proverb Winter in Venice Mia Caiozzi is determined to discover her destiny by studying the science of astronomy. But her stepmother Giulia forbids her to engage in this dangerous occupation, fearing it will lead her into trouble. The ideas of Galileo are banned by the Inquisition, so Mia must study in secret. Giulia insists Mia should live quietly out of public view. If not, it could threaten them all. Giulia's real name is Giulia Tofana, renowned for her poison Aqua Tofana, and she is in hiding from the Duke de Verdi's family who are intent on revenge for the death of their brother. But Mia doesn't know this, and rebels against Giulia, determined to go her own way. When the two secret lives collide, it has far-reaching and fatal consequences that will change both their lives forever. Set amongst opulent palazzi and shimmering canals, The Fortune Keeper is the third novel of adventure and romance based on the life and legend of Giulia Tofana. 'Swift has an almost visceral understanding of what makes history worth reading, and she is also the perfect tour-guide to take her readers on a trip back in time to a dangerous past ... a must-listen for fans of quality Historical Fiction.' Coffee Pot Book Club ★★★★★

    Related to Italian Renaissance Series

    Related audiobooks

    Renaissance Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Aotearoa Upended

      Oct 10, 2021

      Aotearoa Upended
      2 min read

    • Article

      A Plague Tale: Innocence

      Feb 25, 2021

      A Plague Tale: Innocence
      6 min read

    • Article

      Key Moments

      Mar 9, 2021

      Key Moments
      1 min read

    • Article

      April’s BOOK CLUB

      Mar 5, 2020

      Everyone on the small island of St Agnes is excited about the fireworks display, but when a charred body is discovered on the bonfire, Scilly Isles Deputy Chief of Police Ben Kitto is on the hunt for a killer. Threats written in Cornish arrive and fi

      2 min read

    • Article

      THE Reading room

      Jul 21, 2019

      THE Reading room
      2 min read

    • Article

      Story Time

      Feb 26, 2020

      Story Time
      1 min read

    • Article

      Best Books

      Dec 21, 2021

      Best Books
      1 min read

    • Article

      Books Of The Month

      Jun 17, 2022

      By JM Miro A boy in Mississippi whose wounds heal miraculously after every beating; a girl in Tokyo who entertains her sister by summoning clouds of dust and making them dance; a baby in England who glows with a mysterious blue light: these are among

      2 min read

    • Article

      Better Books

      Jan 6, 2021

      Pamela Hart, $32.99 London, 1920s: Kit Scott, a privileged Australian aiming to become a star, arrives to find the Jazz Age in full swing. Cast in a West End play opposite another young hopeful, Canadian Zeke Gardiner, she dances into the heady lifes

      2 min read

    • Article

      Best Books

      Jan 18, 2022

      Best Books
      1 min read

    • Article

      Creature Comforts

      Mar 6, 2022

      Creature Comforts
      2 min read

    • Article

      Book Club

      May 13, 2020

      Book Club
      2 min read

    • Article

      Brilliant BEST READING

      Jun 4, 2020

      Brilliant BEST READING
      3 min read

    • Article

      Great Read

      Feb 22, 2023

      Great Read
      7 min read

    • Article

      Don’t Miss This Week…

      Sep 28, 2020

      Ambitious marketing executive Emily unexpectedly lands her dream job in Paris, but finds her new life is full of surprising challenges as she navigates making friends, winning over work colleagues and romances. This glossy comedy drama stars Lily Col

      1 min read

    • Article

      Great Read

      Apr 18, 2024

      by Catherine Chidgey, Europa Editions The narrator of this haunting contemporary fable is a magpie whose sharp observation and witty mimicry proves vital in the precarious farming world of our protagonist, Marnie. While a talking bird may feel a lit

      4 min read

    • Article

      Hot Right Now!

      Sep 9, 2021

      Twisting and page-turning right from the start, in the third gripping installment in the Detective Bloom thriller series – although it can be read as a standalone – Bloom places herself in extreme danger. Asked to track down the Foreign Secretary’s m

      2 min read

    • Article

      Book CLUB

      Jan 24, 2023

      Book CLUB
      1 min read

    • Article

      A Master Of Djinn

      Aug 11, 2021

      A Master Of Djinn
      1 min read

    • Article

      Great Read

      Apr 18, 2024

      Great Read
      7 min read

    • Article

      Best New Releases

      Sep 24, 2023

      Best New Releases
      1 min read

    • Article

      Great Reads

      Jan 24, 2024

      by Jessica Bull (£16.99, HB, Penguin) Keen intelligence, sharp wit and a fierce loyalty to her family combine to recast Jane Austen as an indefatigable detective in this sparkling new novel – the first of a series. A hideous murder is discovered duri

      2 min read

    • Article

      On The Bookshelf

      Apr 29, 2022

      This is the Night They Come For You by Robert Goddard Published by Bantam Press Price £20 Pages 416 ISBN 9781787635081 Based on actual events in Paris in 1961, and Algeria’s long and painful road to independence, this first-rate, well researched thri

      4 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Italian Renaissance Series

    5/5

    1 rating0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words