Official Review: The Laureate by Ken Tentarelli

[Julie Petitbon]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Laureate" by Ken Tentarelli.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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The Laureate by Ken Tentarelli introduces the reader to Nico Argenti, an enthusiatic and idealistic young man who has recently graduated from law school. It is August of 1464, shortly after the death of Cosimo Medici, and Nico travels home to put his degree to use in Florence. While waiting for his application and subsequent magistrate appointment, Nico learns that there is much political unrest in Florence. Many leaders of the Republic believe that the Medici family is too powerful and that their control must end. However, these leaders appear less interested in the good of the Republic and more interested in their own political gain.

Bartolomeo Scala, a Florentine Chancellor, recruits Nico to spy on the wealthy and powerful suspects who threaten the political future of Florence. Scala is certain that the leaders of the Republic are planning to violently usurp power. He heard rumors of a possible assassination attempt, but the assassin and the target remain unclear. Nico, eager to assist in this puzzle, uses his legal knowledge and knowledge of Florentine people and politics to unravel the mystery. Can Nico unveil the murderous plot and help bring peace to Florence?

One of my favorite lines in the book is, “When big men throw rocks at each other, small men get hit with stones.” This line, spoken by Nico’s hard-working cousin, reveals a lot about Nico and why he feels compelled to help Scala. Nico is a moral young lawyer who is loyal to the integrity of the Republic, and he knows that some of the leaders will do anything to gain control. He, like Scala, does not want to see the people of Florence suffer because of an insidious power struggle. The author skillfully uses thought-provoking analogies like this throughout the novel to develop characters and highlight the theme.

I enjoyed reading The Laureate. The author’s knowledge of the Italian Renaissance is impressive, and the story is rich with information about Italy during the 1400’s. Though the focus of the story is about politics, government, and church intrigue, there are also details about architecture, cultural habits, cuisine, fashion, society life, art and more. The author is clearly an expert in Italian history, and he uses it to create a thorough, well-rounded setting and group of characters for his story.

Even though I am amazed by the wealth of knowledge of the author, the way in which the background information is relayed seems a bit forced. Too much information is given at once, which makes the pacing at the start of the story slow. At times, the exposition reads more like a textbook than the beginning of a novel. I am glad for the background information, but I wish it were woven into the story more. It seems like a rather forced way to explain the nuances of Florentine government, and it made for a slow start to an otherwise engaging story.

This is an interesting piece of historical fiction that I recommend to readers who enjoy mysteries. I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. The story and the setting are intriguing, the characters are well developed, and the author's knowledge of the Italian Renaissance is remarkable. However, there are grammatical errors throughout the novel. The writing shifts tenses repeatedly, and there are many missing or misplaced commas. Most of the errors did not interfere with the context, but the tense shifts did often make me stop and reread the sentence. Even with the errors in conventions and the slower exposition, this is a novel worth reading.

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The Laureate
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Like Julie Petitbon's review? Post a comment saying so!

[Stephanie Elizabeth]

I really enjoyed reading your review, and that quote is quite thought-provoking. It is too bad that the author provided too much detail all at once. Great review!

[Franklin dutch]

I love your review it makes me understand the book more. Awesome review!

[Rachel Lea]

I love a well-researched historical novel--especially if it also has an engaging plot and great characters, but I agree that it can be difficult for an author to weave the needed exposition seamlessly throughout the story without making it sound like a textbook. Great review!

[Brendan Donaghy]

I like the sound of the book, although it seems to have a few flaws. Your review gives a very balanced account - many thanks!

[kandscreeley]

There's a delicate balance between being educational enough and overwhelming the reader. I'm not sure that's quite achieved here. I know little about law in the 1400s, but I don't know if this would hold my attention long enough for me to learn. Thanks for the review, though.

[kdstrack]

The historical facts and the extensive list of themes you have noted make this look really interesting. I especially enjoyed the quote about the rocks and stones. It would be interesting to find other nuggets like that in this book! Thanks for your insightful review.

[jimthorne2]

Good review. Your descriptive piece makes me want to read the book. Your comments are enlightening and interesting.

[Julie Petitbon]

I love your review it makes me understand the book more. Awesome review!

Thank you!

[Julie Petitbon]

Good review. Your descriptive piece makes me want to read the book. Your comments are enlightening and interesting.

Thank you. It is an interesting book that I enjoyed reading. I hope you enjoy it.

[Julie Petitbon]

The historical facts and the extensive list of themes you have noted make this look really interesting. I especially enjoyed the quote about the rocks and stones. It would be interesting to find other nuggets like that in this book! Thanks for your insightful review.

I really liked the author's metaphors as well. It gave the characters more dimension and added so much to the book. Thanks for your response!