The Sword of Venice: Book Two of The Venetians

By Thomas Quinn

The powerful, raging second novel in The Venetians trilogy that tells of the bitter and enduring conflict between two powerful Italian noble families"" "The Lion of St. Mark" told the story of the deep-seated rivalry between the patrician Ziani and Soranzo families---a long history of hatred and strife that had passed from one generation to the next. In the end, the brave Antonio Ziani and the proud Giovanni Soranzo set aside their personal vendettas against each other in order to save their beloved city of Venice from attack by the Ottoman Turks. But their truce could not endure. Though Venice has managed to remain free from invasion, danger still looms on the horizon as she is threatened, in turn, by her implacable foes---the Turks, rival Italian city-states, and the papacy, all seeking to reduce her legendary power and possess her great wealth.In these perilous times, new members of the Ziani and Soranzo families wage a bitter and violent campaign of retribution against one another. The truce that Giovanni and Antonio had made together proves fleeting as their sons resume the passionate feud with even greater malice.Told against the backdrop of historical events---the continuing war between Venice and the Ottoman Empire, the Ferrara War that exploded across the Italian peninsula, and the constant intrigues of the powerful papacy---"The Sword of Venice" brings to life the Ziani and Soranzo families, who must cope with love, loss, treachery, kidnapping, murder, war, and peace. As invading forces march ever closer, Venice and her leading families must fight for survival or perish with their city. Praise for "The Lion of St. Mark" "" The Lion of St. Mark]" succeeds for one reason: We experience these distant events from the perspective of a deeply sympathetic character. Ziani's dignity, devotion to country, and sense of honor are downright infectious." ---Frank Wilson, "The ""Philadelphia"" Inquirer" "Debut author Quinn nicely captures the greed-is-good aspect of fifteenth-century Venetian culture and] has a good command of period history and accouterments: Think Tom Clancy channeled for those thrilled by galleons and exploding minarets."---"Kirkus Reviews""" "Chock-full of the political and personal intrigue that characterized life . . . this seafaring saga is drenched in local color and accurate historical detailing."---"Booklist"

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 031231910X
• ISBN13: 9780312319106
• Release Date: December 2007
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.2" x 1.1" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

All Venetian life

This one carries on the tale of Book One (two decades later) of Venice's history and battles, with the Turks and others closer to home, again seen through the eyes of the Ziani family, and featuring their continuing feud with the Soranzos. Antonio Ziani and wise little Seraglio are back, but the focus here is more on Antonio's son Constantine, and the brunt of the brutal feud passes to him too. There are more land battles this time, but a big nautical engagement ends the book spectacularly. As in Book One years of history, political manoeuvring and battles are made winningly digestible by being humanised and paced expertly, so emotions never take second place to dry facts. The pacey plotting keeps you happily turning pages to the end. Roll on Book Three.

ascinating Renaissance tale

In Venice the rivalry between the powerful Ziani and Soranzo clans seems over after generational feuding that hurt both families by enabling lesser adversaries to almost surpass each of them and came close to allowing the Turks to take the city. Instead the respective patriarchs Antonio Ziani and Giovanni Soranzo buried the hatchet and came together to defend Venice (see THE LION OF ST. MARK). They both believe the deadly feud is a thing of the past as the two families need each other to thwart the Turks, other city states, and new upstart Venetian clans wanting to claim the top rung from them by dividing these enemies who have become allies. However, neither Antonio nor Giovanni understood the deep hatred they educated their offspring with. Soranzo's adopted son Enrico loathes Ziani's heir the war hero Constantine. When they compete for the affection of the daughter of a senator, Maria Mocenigo, the dispute regains momentum especially when she chooses Constantine. Outraged by her rejection and selection, Enrico hires an assassin to kill Constantine at a time that the league of Italian city states is angry with the Venetians over their peace treaty with the Turks. As the other city-states attack, the two families must come together at land and at sea or face destruction once again. The second book of the Venetians is a fascinating Renaissance tale that provides the audience a deep look at one of the more powerful Italian city-states at a time when invaders from the Ottoman Turks and the rival city-states threaten Venice. The storyline is fast-paced and quite deep in a historical context; however, the key family rivals, Enrico and Constantine seem one dimensional especially when compared with the "greatest generation" of their fathers and for that matter Constantine in the first tale. Readers who enjoy traveling to a long ago setting will appreciate the rich historical texture of THE SWORD OF VENICE as the history comes before the cast. Harriet Klausner

'It's all about Me!' -- Renaissance Venice comes to life

If ever there was a jewel in someone's crown, it was Venice. Battles and family scheming are plentiful in this quick-moving, well-written, digestible tale based on historical facts. A good overview is at thomasquinnbooks(dot)com. If you know about Marco Polo, you know that Venice was the center of universe as far as world-wide trade and culture were concerned - with an admirable rival in Constantinople - for many decades. Other Italian provinces - envious of 'La Serenissima' and her many advantages - as well as rulers of The Church and foreign states - had it in for her too... Venice had a carefully-governing body of counsellors, with a duke or Doge as the leader: together they rarely made a political mistake. No, Machiavelli was not a Venetian, but he probably wished he was. This book teaches about Venice's background, her rivalries, prominent leaders, trade, and geography while throwing the reader into the middle of lusty, bloody battles: not all victorious, and not all on a battlefield. The Hatfield's and McCoy's go Renaissance - and with billions of dubloons at stake, everyone on earth takes sides. Swashbuckling Caribbean Pirates meet Rothschilds and Bronfmans on yachts with big cannons. What more could a guy want in a history book?! Stand by on deck for the last book in the trilogy, 'Venice Stands Alone'. Congratulations to Thomas Quinn for a thrilling old story made new again!