I can't believe that I didn't review this book back when I originally read it! Must have been an oversite, I love Donna Russo and her writing style. Her female characters have strength and personality. She is able to portray how difficult it was to be a woman artist during the renaissance while making the story believable. Loved this book so much that I not only gave it 5 stars but I read all other books she's written

Despite a few quibbles, I enjoyed the first book in this trilogy. Unfortunately, I had a really hard time getting into this sequel.

I thought I had posted a review for this but apparently not... It's been some time since I read this but I really enjoyed this and thought it was even better than the first book. We learn more about the women and their past.

In this time women could draw at home but not be an artist that was for a man to do. These women had to develop their talent in hiding as women were not allowed to be artists. Women were supposed to have children and run their homes. These women were learning to be better artists with Leonardo Da Vinci as their mentor. The women were hoping this time would be there chance to be recognized by other artists. Viviana is an artist who belongs to a group called The Disciples Of Da Vinci. Viviana, Isabella, Fiammetta, and Mattea are all members of this group. The risks these women are willing to take for their art. The women were lucky in that Da Vinci’s thinking was ahead of his time and were willing to teach this women to better their art. The women want to bid on some work to be done on a chapel in time. Lorenzo unofficially runs Florence and has changed since his brothers death so the women have hope things may change for them and their art. The women do get permission from Lorenzo to work on the chapel but Lorenzo doesn’t believe they have the talent or the ability to be successful. The church is against women painting especially in a place of worship. Florence is not ready to recognize women as artists as artists have a lot of power in Florence. Also the attention may disrupt their lives and there was a chance of physical violence being brought to these women. Than Da Vinci was sent to Milan as by Lorenzo as he had a lot of unfinished projects so the women ow see less of him the last couple of years. Although he does visit the female artists at least once a month. Leonardo came to the meeting where they discussed working on the chapel and he told the women to go home and tell their families before they did anything else.
I enjoyed this book. I loved the fact it told Da Vinci’s POV and I liked the plot and the pace of this. I also liked the fact Michelangelo was brought up when he was nine years old. I thought this was very well written. I also really enjoyed this book and felt these women were courageous. I am happy I am in the generation I was born in. To be so limited to what you were to do with your life. I felt the characters were great as was the book itself and I highly recommend,

The Competition is the second book in the Da Vinci's Disciples Series by Donna Russo Morin. I have read the first book and highly recommend doing that first, even though this one could work as a stand alone it's nice to understand references to previous events. I got to know who these women, their past and present situations which I feel enhanced my reading of this book.

One of the things I loved about The Competition is how it was steeped in time. With vivid descriptions of Florence, the culture was brought to life. Add the world of art it wasn't hard to get a clear sense of how seriously the men felt that it was a man's world. These women were brave enough too risk so much to break into their domain.

There were times I found myself frustrated with the obstacles put before them as well as the treatment they received. The author did a great job of portraying these events and I think it's great when a writer can make her reader feel the frustration, anger and disappointment along with her characters..

I found this book to be entertaining and a series I highly recommend. Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book and HFVBT for the opportunity to be part of this tour.

Set in the 15th century Florence, during the rule of Lorenzo de Medici, the greatest patron of Renaissance art. Book II starts after the assassination of his brother Giuliano.

The story brings a lesser known subject of women who call themselves Da Vinci’s Disciples. They are women artists under the tutelage of Leonardo da Vinci. They are forced to develop their skills in hiding as women were not allowed to be artists at the time. But they feel that the time has come for women to paint openly and not in hiding. They want to bid on a commission of redoing fresco at a chapel. They see a change in Lorenzo after the death of his brother, and that gives them courage in their pursuit.

The story beautifully weaves a brief biography of Leonardo, touching upon some aspects of his life including him falling out of favor with Lorenzo due to Leonardo’s many unfinished commissions. “I must experience all I can.” (His investigative mind led to many inventions way ahead of his time, but at the same time during his life time he was known for many unfinished projects).

The story also skillfully introduces many famous artists of Florence. My favorite was of a nine year old Michelangelo.

This book had a potential of being a 5 star read. It starts as a page-turner, but towards the end an unnecessary drama of one of the disciples’ illegitimacy takes it away from the story. It doesn’t enhance the story, rather makes an unnecessary distraction. Afterwards, the story doesn’t carry enough essence to keep its 5 stars. The details of rescuing fresco are interesting, but not enough.

I have had some time thinking about the book before I wrote this review and I think although it's a good book, would I have preferred to have read the previous book first. Now, I don't mean that it was hard to get into the story in this book, it's more like the mentioning of events from the first book made me curious about that book, to get the past stories behind all the characters. And, reading the first book would have made it easier to understand the characters, instead of learning during the books progress more about them.

Nevertheless, despite my lack of previous knowledge did I enjoy this book. I find the era fascinating and one thing I truly loved was reading a book about Leonardo da Vinci. Yes, it's a story about da Vinci's disciples, but I can't help being fascinated by the man and I loved that his POV was included in the book. I was also intrigued by Lorenzo de Medici. I really need to find more books about both men to read.

Anyway, besides that was it the women's struggles to be accepted as artists the thing that I found absolute fascinated to read about. It's OK for a woman to draw at home, but to be an artist? Nah, that's just for men. Made my blood boil I tell ya when I read some parts of the books when they were found out and had to take the public's scorn.

A big thank you to Diversion Books, Donna Ruson Morin, and Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Book two in the da Vinci's Disciples series, Ruson Morin continues to find inspiration in the historical events of Renaissance Florence to tell the story of her female artists. This book, however, does not revolve around one particular event like the first did, and therefore seems to float rootless, more fiction than history. Instead we learn a little about frescos.

I enjoyed the plot of Book One much more. Although I think this plot was necessary to the progress of the series. The reader does need to learn more about the ladies' personal lives, their talents, their insecurities. And the way the book ends its obvious their will be more historical tie-ins coming. The flow of the writing is quite smooth. I finished this book in several hours before I realized it. I'd be very interested in reading Book Three.

Thanks Diversion Books and netgalley for this ARC

This is one of my favorite series set in the Renaissance! Strong unapologetic women artists who don't back down from a challenge, and expand of knowledge and minds with each novel. Will make you want to do more, shout from the rooftops, and research the period for more inspiration.

Thanks Diversion Books and netgalley for this ARC

This is one of my favorite series set in the Renaissance! Strong unapologetic women artists who don't back down from a challenge, and expand of knowledge and minds with each novel. Will make you want to do more, shout from the rooftops, and research the period for more inspiration.

Doesn't look like I will finish this one - I may have to find the first book then return to this one again at a later date. Not really connecting with the characters which is a shame as this period in Florentine history usually sparks my interest.

What I liked about this novel is its aspirations even if the result is mixed - the group of Renaissance Italian women group together to do a forbidden thing - paint! Their dilemmas with husbands and sons and lovers is convincing - they are however given sanction by attachment to Leonardo da Vinci - I guess given the times, they needed a man as authority (and they all giggle and treat him as a master .. ) but it jars. There is a romantic wash to it all that relies on the under-dog position of women - and the relationships are ridden with cliche. I liked the ambience however and they prevail in the end - Lorenzo Il Magnifico is convincingly portrayed - as are the two sons who are returned from war and make convincing support for their mother, now rid of an abusive husband. The novel points to the next book and alludes to Savonarola which will be good fun - I suppose I wish it were a bit darker, more realistic - but there are nods in that direction which occasionally give us a depth as readers of fiction we crave (or maybe that's just me) - but characters were persuasive, and there is a good plot when - last minute- they have to retrieve everything due to intentional vandalism (people are shocked at their efforts). Slim but entertaining overall.

The second book in the Da Vinci's Disciples series. I enjoyed the first book but found 'The Competition' predictable and uneventful. There was an opportunity to make this simple story more exciting but it ran through the pages without a ripple. A shame as I enjoyed the first book.