Born into one of the most powerful families of 15th century Venice, Caterina Cornaro is created Daughter of Venice in order to marry King James of Cyprus. When the King is murdered soon after the marriage is consummated, 19 year old Caterina is forbidden to remarry. The does not prevent her taking secret lovers.
After 15 years as Queen, she bows to pressure to relinquish her beloved Island Kingdom to the Republic of Venice and accept the domain of Asolo in its place. The Domina di Asolo appears outwardly happy,but she is tormented by the deep secret she harbours within.
In 1491 after the great earthquake in Cyprus, a young orphan boy is found wandering in the village of Psomolophou and taken in by the monks of Ayios Heiracleidios. After several years, the novice Stavros and his companion novice Manoli go on a pilgrimage to Rome where they meet Padre Davide, the Domina’s Cypriot chaplain. The Domina and the novice monks are destined to meet and her painful secret threatened to be revealed.
A consummate, exhilarating novel based in medieval times, at the height of the Venetian Empire. It is a powerful story of murder, intrigue, war, love and spirituality. Lavish banquets, singing minstrels playing their virginals, and recitals of chronicles, all mask the intrigues of royal court.
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