I will start by saying The Enchantress of Florence isn't for everyone. It's meant to be an allegory of The Arabian Nights, thus there are many jaded personalities, while character development and dialogue are extremely limited. Also, the story line is fast-paced, and there are stories within stories. And if that's not enough, it's rich in the type of history only well-educated people might know about. And yet it's an adult fable, so if neither of those suit your taste you probably won't like it. This is a book for the most advanced minds, with a complex plot and a multitude of characters and subplots. Another thing a lot of people aren't liking is that in the first half there's a lot of sex and foul language, but to me it's written in a way that's so intoxicating I didn't care. The second half is better anyway, and the ending is a total mindfuck. So, if you're up for the challenge, go for it!
All that aside, this novel was as magical in prose, enriching in intellect, intriguing in relationships, and downright disturbing as any I've ever read. I have a solid background in the 16th century and high renaissance Florence, so I once I read the teaser, I knew there'd be a strong chance that I'd love it. Machiavelli, Akbar the Great, Queen Elizabeth, Amerigo Vespucci, Vlad the Impaler, Lorenzo Medici, Genghis Kahn, Magellan... All are linked together in this work of sheer brilliance (some are even main characters). Themes of lust, separation, and loyalty abound, as settings range from all ends of the Earth; from India to the Middle East, the Middle East to Italy, and Italy to the Ancient Americas. It's probably one of the top two or three historical fictions I've read.
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