Overview
1365, Venice, Italy. For generations, the merchants of House Aretoli have profited through faithful service to the Republic of Venice. Despite being only a minor senatorial family, they've established a reputation for reliability, fidelity, and ingenuity. But the Aretoli are about to face the ultimate test. Caught up in a rebellion on Venice's territory of Crete, young Niccolo Aretoli returns as a hero after saving the governor's life and evacuating the loyal citizenry. Yet despite his new fame, not all is well in Venice. Niccolo's beloved has been forced into marriage to safeguard her family from ruin. Fresh jealousies divide him from his brother Flavio. And traitorous senators and a seductive foreign agent threaten to divide and destroy his family as part of an even darker design. From brothel to Senate, on land and sea, through marriage and loss, the sons and daughters of House Aretoli struggle against spies, treachery, and assassination. The seeds of discord are already growing, and they threaten to turn sibling against sibling. Chased on land and sea by enemies and betrayed by his closest allies, Niccolo must overcome a conspiracy that threatens his survival, the lives of his family, and the very existence of the republic itself.
Full Product Details
Author: K M Butler
Publisher: Firsthand Account Press
Imprint: Firsthand Account Press
Dimensions:
Width: 14.00cm
, Height: 2.20cm
, Length: 21.00cm
Weight: 0.472kg
ISBN: 9781737639145
ISBN 10: 1737639149
Pages: 386
Publication Date: 23 October 2023
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Available To Order
We have confirmation that this item is in stock with the supplier. It will be ordered in for you and dispatched immediately.
Reviews
""In Mr. Butler's previous historical novels, he's shown a gift for writing stories that fit into the interstices of what little is known today about a given period. House Aretoli is a particularly good example. The titular family and its struggles are fictional, but utterly plausible for the late medieval world. Documented events from the period are woven into the narrative. On the other hand, the resolution of the story is tied up in one of the era's minor mysteries; the events of the climax aren't documented, but are surprisingly credible given what little we do know."" - Jon Zeigler ""Butler displays a profound understanding of the ethos and inner workings of Venice's merchant aristocracy to create believable characters caught in impossible situations. The characters of the main heroes and villains develop throughout the novel, and readers come to understand their motivations, their strengths and their weaknesses. The protagonists are complex and multidimensional, their enemies are wily and properly deceptive, and the risk is life itself."" - Keira Morgan ""In House Aretoli, K.M. Butler skillfully weaves Venetian history and storytelling in this stunningly written tale of love, friendship, family duty, and redemption. Having a preference for female main characters, it was a delight to enjoy a male character done so well with believable relationships and friendships, even the unexpected ones."" - Michelle E.
Author Information
K.M. Butler studied literature at Carnegie Mellon University and has always had an avid interest in history. His writing influences are ""The Lions of al-Rassan"" by Guy Gavriel Kay and Colleen McCullough's ""Masters of Rome"" series.He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and two daughters. His wife is his first and harshest editor, while his daughters always want his stories to feature more blood and talking animals, but never at the same time.Contact K.M. Butler at kmbutlerauthor@yahoo.com or on Twitter at @kmbutlerauthor.
