The second instalment in a trilogy charting the rise of the House of Medici as they become Masters of Florence and progenitors of the Renaissance.

Winner of the Premio Bancarella, 2017 The second instalment in a prize-winning series charting the rise of the House of Medici as they become Masters of Florence and progenitors of the Renaissance. Florence, 1469. Lorenzo de' Medici is to be wed. The marriage will cement a powerful alliance for his family. But his heart belongs to another. Torn between love and power, he has become complacent. He has forgotten the bloody path he forged on his ascent to power, and the enemies left in his wake. When the family's historical enemies and shadowy new conspirators put their bloody plot into action, the consequences will be terrible. In order to protect their supremacy, the Medici will enact a violent vengeance from which few will be spared.

"The story of the Medici is so juicy and rich and Strukul makes good use of it. A page-turning adventure novel with a little depth to spice the mix. All life is here, lean back and enjoy" - NB Magazine

"Exciting. With an excellent translation by Richard McKenna, a strong plot and well-defined characters, the book brings alive the life and culture of 15th-century Florence" - Historical Novel Society