Fate That is Written in the Cards - an Editorial Review of "The Prince of Cups"

Book Blurb:

Fate was written in the cards—desire would seal it in fire.

In the twilight of Renaissance Florence, where Savonarola's sermons stir revolt and the Borgias’ assassins move in shadows, a forbidden love ignites. Veronica Danti, a fiery gypsy bound by an unwanted marriage, meets the man foretold in her Tarot cards: Antonio di Fabiani, noble exile and reluctant combatant in a deadly game of power and passion. Amid the echo of cathedral bells and the secrets of courtesans and spies, their desire defies every command of man and Church. But in a city where betrayal masquerades as devotion, love may be the most dangerous revolution of all.

The Prince of Cups is a sumptuous tale of prophecy and peril, betrayal and belief, where destiny is drawn by starlight—and love dares to challenge fate.

Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/hrWo4Bz

Author Bio:

A Libra with Scorpio Rising, Gayle Feyrer merges romance and passion in her novels. The Prince of Cups,romance, takes place in the lush and violent world of Renaissance Italy. The second, Marian (previously The Thief's Mistress), is set amid the earthy glamour of Robin Hood's Sherwood. These books were published by Dell, Gayle is reprinting them with her own cover designs, along with the two Elizabethan historical romances she wrote for Avon under the nom de plume Taylor Chase - Heart of Deception and Heart of Night. Along with her book length fiction, Gayle has numerous small press publications and a fantasy story in Lonnie Barbach’s collection Erotic Interludes. She has won prizes for her fiction, art, and her chocolate desserts.

Currently, Gayle is writing a historical mystery series set in Belle Époque Paris. The first two books of her Paris Trilogy, Floats the Dark Shadow and Bitter Draughts, available on Amazon. Her nom de plume for this series is Yves Fey.

Her own name, Feyrer, is Bavarian. The first syllable is pronounced Fie as in Fee FIE Foe Fum. The second starts with a little roll, burr, or grrrrowl, FIE-rrer. Don't worry, only three Americans have ever guessed right. Just one of these, a linguist, actually knew what was correct. Usually people take the r from rer and move it to the front, Freyer, or Fryer. Sometimes they just mutter, Fee-er-er.

Editorial Review:

Night. Antonio was in the cell. Torches flickered through the barred window in the door, a candle stub guttered by his pallet. It was cold, a dank, moldy chill that sank through the flesh and permeated the marrow of the bone. The clammy air was heavy with the smell of old straw, spoiled food and filth, of iron and rust and despair. Despair was the subtlest stench, a pervasive miasma sweated into the stone by the countless prisoners who had lain here before him. Saturated, the walls sweated it back into the air. Antonio learned the color of despair, along with its scent. It was the same color as the stone, dull gray oozing darkness at the edges. Air of stone. You breathed it in, air so thick it clogged. Sighed it out, weary of holding the weight of it. The darkness gathered, pooled in the lungs, a blackness within. You coughed it up. The smear shone wetly in the faint circle of candlelight. Not black but red.

Silently, the cell door swung inward, a golden oblong of light opening within the darkness. Fighting his weakness, Antonio forced himself to stand. He stared at it, knowing he was not free to go. Not yet. He was waiting. Waiting. A figure appeared, ominous against the torchlit portal. Dread swept through him as the form slowly approached. Then the nebulous body, the shadowed face took form, and Antonio saw it was his mother. He felt a sweet, giddy rush of hope leavening the fear. Close now, she lifted her arms to embrace him. Jewels fell from her hands, all the glorious jewels he had seen her wear as a child. Luminous ropes of pearls spilled between her fingers, and delicate glittering orbs of silver filigree, golden chains linking gleaming precious stones, sapphires and amethysts, diamonds and emeralds. Rubies dripped to the floor, bright as blood.

The novel's introduction is instantly captivating. Feyrer doesn't take long to immerse us in a world of desire, heat, and divination. The tone and stakes are expertly established in the opening paragraphs, which hums with suspense and poetic grace. Here is a flavor that has been paraphrased without revealing any spoilers: the aroma of incense, the Tarot's turn, and a woman's heart pounding in anticipation. Feyrer delivers on her promise of a trip of fate and fire in just a few sentences.

With the smoldering background of Renaissance Florence, Gayle Feyrer creates a wonderfully evocative spell in The Prince of Cups, weaving a beautiful tapestry of forbidden love, political intrigue, and prophetic fate. With a strong foundation in the sensuous and perilous world of 15th-century Italy, this story offers an exquisite voyage of romance and peril from its fascinating opening to its final melancholy notes. With a blend of historical drama, mysticism, rebellion, and a love that defies all social and spiritual norms, Feyrer has crafted an intimate yet epic story.

The story of Antonio di Fabiani, a nobleman exiled from Florence who must negotiate a lethal terrain of espionage, church doctrine, and conflicting allegiances, and Veronica Danti, a vibrant Romani lady stuck in a life she did not choose, form the core of the book. Their paths cross by chance - as predicted by Veronica's Tarot cards - and begin an intensely personal yet unavoidably dangerous romance.

The book, which is set in the tumultuous era of Girolamo Savonarola's rule and the Borgia dynasty's schemes, deftly combines personal stakes with social unrest and political conflict. Feyrer's vivid depictions of Florence, including the conflict between faith and heresy, the seductive allure of forbidden pleasure, and the clandestine world of courtesans, spies, and covert alliances, vividly capture the time period.

The way fate and prophecy influence the characters' decisions is what makes the plot so compelling. Not only are Veronica and Antonio caught up in the events, but they also influence, question, and sometimes try to evade them. The main love story and the bigger historical and spiritual upheaval are expertly balanced, adding genuine, human depth to the larger forces at work without ever overpowering them.

The formatting and editing of the book are flawless and expertly done. The chapter breaks are well-placed, the paragraph structure is organic, and the changes in point-of-view or flashbacks are seamless and natural. The dialogue is expertly written and true to the era without being rigid or unintelligible. Feyrer's command of language and rhythm is consistent throughout, and the book's layout elegantly and clearly bolsters her luscious words. The immersion isn't hampered by any startling typos, grammatical mistakes, or inconsistent layout.

“There is your answer.”

Veronica stared down at the Tarocco cards. The Prince of Cups lay at the center, surrounded by a fan of scattered Cups, combative Wands and cruel Swords. The jewel colors gleamed up at her, vivid against the midnight blue velvet. As she watched, the mocking images danced before her eyes as Mama Lucia's words danced in her mind, as teasing and ambiguous as Benito's. Veronica pressed her hands to her temples, trying to bring the pictures, their meaning, into focus. When she lifted her gaze, Mama Lucia's eyes were gleaming too, and they did not waver.

“It's all there,” Mama Lucia repeated, her knotted fingers gliding over the layout. “The betrayal of love, violent death, deceit, grief, and exile.”

“That does not answer my question. It is a simple question. Did Antonio murder his wife? Yes or no?” There was an edge to Veronica's voice, for it seemed to her that the interpretation, even more than the cards, had been deliberately evasive.

The edge to Mama Lucia's voice was as sharp as her own. “Will yes or no make any difference to you? The man was a mercenary, I heard. His hands are hardly bloodless. There is a streak of violence in him. It glitters bright as a sword blade.”

Feyrer gives his characters vitality. Veronica Danti stands out because she is fierce, unafraid, and constrained by her mystical insight and sense of personal honor. She is a change agent, a survivor, and a woman who is both intensely sensuous and profoundly spiritual; she is not a passive romantic interest. Antonio, whose banishment has left him disillusioned but not broken, is as strong as she is. He has a multi-layered complexity that deepens with each new chapter because of his quiet intensity, loyalty, and vulnerability.

Secondary characters are as compelling, including spies who disguise themselves as pious, monks who are on the verge of fanaticism, and courtesans who are wrapped in influence. Feyrer's talent is in crafting morally nuanced characters that capture the tumultuous society in which they live. Each character has a purpose, a secret agenda, and a heart of their own.

Strong chapter continuity is maintained throughout the book. Character arcs develop without sudden jumps or contradictions, and historical and narrative timelines are coherent. A metaphorical thread that unites the narrative is the Tarot prophecy that is introduced early in the novel. Feyrer never loses sight of the emotional core of the story, which is the conflict between fate and free will and how both are put to the test by love.

The author skillfully raises the tensions without using melodrama, and the conflict - both romantic and political - has a gratifying build. Every disclosure feels justified, and every conflict is a logical byproduct of the society she has meticulously constructed.

It's safe to assume, without giving away too much, that The Prince of Cups has a poignant, bittersweet ending. We are left with a sense of both loss and victory as the conclusion respects the themes of fate, sacrifice, and transformation. Feyrer chooses to reflect the intricacy and unpredictable nature of life in an era where danger and love coexisted rather than neatly wrapping things up. It's a daring and fitting conclusion that stays with you long after the last page.

The Prince of Cups stands out for its skillful fusion of historical fiction, romance, and mysticism. Even though historical romances are widespread, very few are able to strike a balance between the spiritual symbolism of Tarot, Renaissance politics, and intense internal strife and the physical pleasure of love. The Tarot aspect is not merely decorative; it is essential to the plot's organization and emotional impact. This was one of my favorite parts of this book.

Furthermore, the Renaissance scene is shown with an uncommon level of detail and richness. Feyrer creates a universe that is both mystical and grounded in historical reality by delving deeply into the mindset, anxieties, and fervor of the era rather than depending on cliches or superficial historical clues.

Feyrer writes amazing words. Her language is descriptive, poetic, and lush, inviting the reader to slow down and enjoy the moment, whether it's the echo of whispered betrayal in a cathedral, the feel of silk, or the suspense of a secret kiss. She uses words to paint pictures, yet she never goes overboard. Her descriptions support the plot and characters by evoking strong feelings and bringing us into the action.

Equally powerful is the dialogue, which is subtext-layered and historically relevant while maintaining a constant sense of purpose. The narrative has a rhythm that reflects the rise and fall of danger and desire.

The story arc of the book is masterfully written. Feyrer skillfully and passionately organizes the story from its foreboding opening to its tumultuous middle and moving ending. The arc has the traditional structure of increasing tension, crisis, and resolution, but it also includes unexpected twists and emotional digressions that give it more nuance and complexity.

Character and situation both naturally change with time. Every stage of the narrative develops naturally from the one before it, and nothing feels hurried. The emotional impact increases as the stakes escalate, from political danger to personal passion. By the last chapters, the reader is completely engrossed in what will transpire as well as what must be given up for love to endure, even if only in memory.

A memorable historical romance, The Prince of Cups is notable for its richly imagined universe, daring sensuality, and poetic depth. People who enjoy stories of high-stakes love, spiritual resonance, and strong desire set against the sweeping tides of history will enjoy this book. A gem of a book, Gayle Feyrer's work sheds light on the gloom of Florence's most turbulent period and portrays the kind of love that can only be created by fate and fire.

This is a must-read for enthusiasts of literary historical romance, Renaissance intrigue, and tarot-infused storytelling. A fantastic accomplishment.

5 stars from the Historical Fiction Company and the “Highly Recommended” award of excellence

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