A classic love story, literally set in the classic past.
This is an easy read, sweet and short enough, although it
was quite hard to follow at the beginning because of the plethora of names. It
doesn't help that readers are expected to learn characters' names, their
aliases, their titles, all in the first chapter, some without 'meeting' the
characters first. There were also unfamiliar words, and while they make the era
believable, all of these could overwhelm readers like me, who prefer to get
familiar with the characters as the story goes.
The descriptions, settings, and mannerisms are well done,
teleporting readers to the past and bringing out the nostalgic, time-period
classic, like the Gone With the Wind style of love story although this book is
set way beyond that.
The characters, Dante and Beatrice (don't ask me about their
titles and others), are likable enough, although I think the FMC is
underdeveloped and comes across more like a brat, in line with many modern-day
protestors who join a cause ‘just because’ without the real background
knowledge and research. Having said that, I think the story is fun, and I can
picture it as an entertaining miniseries with subtle romance that feels more
refreshing than the genre's core. Still, IMO, it's quite hard for this genre to
escape predictability. I believe no one would be surprised by where the story
goes and how it would end.
4 out of 5
