“Evil flourished when good people walked by and said nothing”
Synopsis: Raven Wood spends her days at Florence’s Uffizi gallery restoring Renaissance art. But an innocent walk home after an evening with friends changes her life forever. When she intervenes in the senseless beating of a homeless man, his attackers turn on her, dragging her into an alley. Raven is only semiconscious when their assault is interrupted by a cacophony of growls followed by her attackers’ screams. Mercifully, she blacks out, but not before catching a glimpse of a shadowy figure who whispers to her...
Cassita vulneratus.
When Raven awakes, she is inexplicably changed. Upon returning to the Uffizi, no one recognizes her. More disturbingly, she discovers that she’s been absent an entire week. With no recollection of her disappearance, Raven learns that her absence coincides with one of the largest robberies in Uffizi history—the theft of a set of priceless Botticelli illustrations. When the police identify her as their prime suspect, Raven is desperate to clear her name. She seeks out one of Florence’s wealthiest and most elusive men in an attempt to uncover the truth. Their encounter leads Raven to a dark underworld whose inhabitants kill to keep their secrets...
“Trouble is not what you do. Trouble is what you are”
In the first book of the Florentine Series, Sylvain Reynard introduced an evil supernatural creature who proved to be dangerously alluring.
In The Raven, we get to know better the elusive William and the brave Raven Wood. If you are expecting a story where the human is a damsel in distress who needs to be saved by someone with special powers, you are bound to be surprised: as the story progresses, we understand how the supernatural being is the one who truly needs help.
Writing about vampires (or “vampyres”, as SR prefers. Read the story and you’ll understand why) is a great challenge for any writer after more than a decade with bloodsuckers climbing the lists of the most successful books worldwide.
I am awed by the way SR explores all the differences between humans and supernatural creatures. Do not expect vampires posing as humans: SR’s vampires live among humans, but do not lead their lives in the same way: among humans does not mean like humans. This makes them helpless when it comes to human activities they have never experienced - the scenes about movies are absolutely delectable - and the gap between different worlds can lead to tragedy when love is involved.
In The Raven, SR puts to use some of the strongest traits of his style:
- a flawless prose, with a wide choice of elegant words. Every sentence is beautifully crafted, with quotes you will want to share and ironic remarks that will bring a smile to your face even in the darkest scenes;
- the ability to make readers see the setting, thanks to his poetic descriptions. Allow SR to be your guide to Florence in summertime and through some of the world’s most precious works of art;
- a well-known expertise in the art of seduction. Let me warn you: once you open your door (and your heart) to William, you will be spellbound.
Enjoy the Book trailer!
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