This book was swoon worthy! Palombo's main character Valentina was so enticingly complex. Her combined role of courtesan and assassin seemed to be completely unfathomable. However by the end, Palombo has the reader convinced that there was nothing else that Valentina could be. Palombo's writing truly accentuated Renaissance Venice. Readers will taste the wine, smell the food, and feel the sharpness of the dagger. Palombo gave a nice twist to history by having the Council of Ten hire a woman. Extremely enjoyable book!

This book had lively characters and great world bulging, then an impossible relationship. I’d call this adventure historical fiction as the sense of thrilling adventure was pervasive. Just what a smart reader needs to escape the current real world Intrigue.

It was a book that gripped my attention and was an easy read.

I really enjoyed the premise and the characters of the story.

If you've ever found Venice, particularly Venice in the 16th century, to be a fascinating topic, this may be a good book to pick up. The same thing can be said if you're interested in the stories of sex workers. The Assassin of Venice delves into both, taking a faraway time and bringing it to life through the eyes of a tough and slightly jaded but likeable character.

Valentina does not sugarcoat the world she lives in. After all, the life of a courtesan is filled with risk and often the very men who pursue her services would happily condemn her for them. But while Valentina is frank about this reality, she is confident, unashamed of who she is and proud of the agency she's managed to carve out for herself. Needless to say, I became quite fond of Valentina by the end. I was sad to see her go.

I received the Audiobook of The Assassin of Venice from NetGalley. The voice actress was fantastic.

This was unfortunately a DNF for me. I couldn’t get into the story and didn’t really enjoy the characters. Its not my cup of tea but I think it could be someone else’s

Valentina is a popular courtesan in Venice who is intelligent, beautiful and deadly. The Council of Ten occasionally has her eliminate one of her clients. But she is eventually pushed too far and looks for revenge against a powerful but corrupt senator, while also protecting herself and those she loves.

"The Assassin of Venice" had an enticing premise, but I couldn't quite immerse myself in the story while reading the novel.

Although the book was filled with fascinating details, it felt overly long and the specific aspects of the story seemed to be excessively elaborated. Despite this, the overall plot was compelling, and I found the characters and the novel's setting to be quite engaging. However, the extensive descriptions made it challenging to stay connected with the book and return to reading it. Nevertheless, I did enjoy unraveling the main secret of the novel and the gradual unfolding of the story. As I mentioned earlier, I do think that a shorter length would have contributed to a more enjoyable reading experience.

Lately, I've developed a keen interest in novels set in old Italy, making it my newfound favorite genre. I want to extend my thanks to NetGalley for providing a complimentary and advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

The Assassin of Venice is a dark seductive and romantic historical fiction set in 16th century Venice.

The narrator spun an intriguing and compelling story around a cunning courtesan FMC named Valentina.

Espionage
Assassin
Betrayal
Political Intrigue
Forbidden Love

I randomly picked this book from NetGalley, based on the title and throughly enjoyed it.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ALC for my honest feedback.

A courtesan by trade an assassin because of a sense of duty. Valentina is a popular courtesan who has been recruited to assassinate those who threaten the existence of Venice. When she starts to question the motives behind her orders, the lives of her partner and their child are threatened. Interesting characters.

Lush, jewel-toned, high-society Venice of the sixteenth century: on the surface, full of glittering parties, feasts, finery, gossip and sensuality. Below, however, lurks intrigue, betrayal, deception, bodies found floating in the canals and knives flashing in the dark. This book's plot was so juicy and its main character, the glamorous but mysterious Valentina, was lethally magnetic. A decadent, sink-your-teeth-in sort of read!

The Assassin of Venice was a very intriguing historical fiction novel. The narrator did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life and understanding their struggles and motivations. You can feel the sumptuous of the details that are included in the novel and I could picture Venice and all of the realities of the era. The main character made me really want to continue reading the story and I would definitely add other books by Alyssa Palombo to my TBR pile.

Valentina is a courtesan that also works as an undercover assassin under the instructions of the Council of Ten in order to protect Venice and its political system. She doesn’t have any qualms about these until they instruct her to assassinate her favorite lover.

The plot of the book was not as complex as I expected it to be. It takes a while to establish the circumstances which are described in the blurb. I expected Valentina, the assassin, to be more sharp-witted and ruthless, but she is not as savvy as I hoped her to be. She goes and questions some people, but when the time on her ultimatum runs out, she just accepts the threats that were made. Valentina has very little agency for a woman that is supposed to be a powerful assassin and strong (for the time) emancipated woman. She doesn’t even try the most obvious solution to her problem until someone else pushes her to. There are also no major plot turns or surprises. Because of that, I do not think that category of thriller fits the plot very well. I would say it that this is a historical fiction drama with romance and a hint of mystery.
I am not an expert, but I think most things that were described are historically accurate, although some of the dialogue felt more modern.

Furthermore, I did really like the setting of historical Venice, and found the details and the idea of the book to be interesting and novel (at least to me). The writing was descriptive and easy to follow. My issue with this book is that the blurb already spoiled the majority of the plot and made me have great expectations for what is to follow in the book. Because the storyline is not very complex, this book could just not deliver what I expected from the blurb. If dampen your expectations slightly, don’t read the blurb beforehand, or you just want to ‘visit’ historical Venice, this book might still be enjoyable to you.

I listened to the audiobook and would recommend the production. I really liked the narrator. Her voice is very fitting to the story, and she is even good at doing male voices, which is rear.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for gifting me this ALC of the audiobook to review. All opinions are my own. I was not paid to leave this review.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙑𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘀𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗼
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: Follow Valentina Riccardi, a skilled courtesan navigating the intricate world of 16th-century Venice. Her role working for the Council of Ten requires her to seduce and eliminate powerful threats to their city. Valentina’s loyalty is unwavering until she unexpectedly falls for Bastiano Bragadin, a fellow assassin. When Bastiano starts uncovering unsettling truths, Valentina faces a heart-wrenching dilemma. Caught between her commitment to duty and her love for Bastiano, she dives into uncovering the Council's true agenda with the support of her fellow courtesans. Valentina races against time to protect Bastiano and unearth a perilous conspiracy that could reshape Venice’s destiny. This tale intricately blends romance, suspense, and the vibrant backdrop of Renaissance history, promising to enthrall readers of historical mysteries.
 
𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: Valentina is such a captivating character. I love how she forms genuine connections beyond just seduction. The story is filled with intrigue, making her life as a courtesan incredibly engaging. The pacing in this story was consistent and never felt slow or disjointed. The cover of this book is what initially caught my interest, but I ended up captivated by the author’s vibrant depiction of 16th-century Venice. The beautifully crafted Venetian setting and rich history add a romantic charm that makes for an excellent read. Palombo’s storytelling was full of unexpected twists, making this read exciting and unforgettable.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
🗡️ Historical fiction
🗡️ Espionage
🗡️ Assassins
🗡️ Strong female characters
🗡️ Corrupt leaders

Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for providing me with the audioARC for this book in exchange for my honest review.

3.5⭐️s rounded up. Interesting and good historical content of intrigue and plotting from the mid 16th century Venice, as well as how society worked then with their strange societal landscape. I had thought there would be more of the female assassin focus but the bulk of the mystery/thriller aspect came in the second half.

A lot of the book was painting the picture of a Venice Courtesan - basically a mix of a Geisha and a high end, well educated Escort or prostitute. I felt like most of the first half of the story was about Valentina’s and her fellow courtesan’s world with navigating all her clients - still interesting but not what I thought I was getting into. That being said, I enjoyed the second half a lot more than the first.

I did enjoy the friendships and loyalty of the women in the book. It painted a great picture of having each other’s backs in a world of men.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Nicol Zanzarella and she did a wonderful job of bringing Valentina and the characters to life.
I requested the book on a whim based on the premise and from the beginning it had me hooked, and it didn't disappoint.
In The Assassin of Venice, we also find a strong female protagonist in Valentina Riccardi - while she was savage, determined, resourceful, and extremely intelligent, she never shied away from vulnerability and showing love to the people in her life who deserved it. The other characters are equally captivating - Ambrogio, Bastiano, and Amalia were amongst my favorites, and just added to the novel and story line perfectly.
Another thing I enjoyed about this story is its social commentary and parallels it draws. The political intrigue is masterfully woven into the narrative, adding layers upon layers of complexity that help provide the story with depth and intrigue.
I enjoy the historical fiction, especially when I learn more about history, and this book definitely did not disappoint. I also enjoyed the author's notes. I would definitely recommend this book to those who love historical fiction.

Thank you NetGalley for the audio ARC to review.

"Had this been any other time, had there been less at stake, I would have commented acidly on the fact that men seemed low on creativity when it came to insulting women. "Bitch" and "whore" were all they were ever able to come up with, and as I cheerfully acknowledged being both, it was rather less than insulting". **mic drop**

This was such a cool historical fiction read. I loved how badass the lead character was, and I enjoyed the story. I loved the feminist take and it was just so interesting. There was so much at stake and I really didn't know how this book was going to end. Also, the narrator was amazing for this book. I could seriously listen to her read me my grocery list.

Thank you Netgalley for sharing a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley for the audio copy of this book. This was a wonderful book. Valentina is a courtesan in Venice. She hasn’t always lived there and her background comes out in alternating chapters. She is in love with the third son of a wealthy family. However, The Ten, a powerful group of men who help the Doge keep order, have tasked Valentina with murder. She does so willingly, believing she is keeping Venice safe. However when one of her victims manages to spit out a few words before his last breath, Valentina is forced to question what she knows. When she is asked to kill her lover and father of her child, she panics. The story is well told. Authors’ note lets you know she took certain liberties. This would make a wonderful beach read. It would also work well for book club. Thank me later

Narrated by Nicol Zanzarella
Presented by Dreamscape Media

Exceptional!

This was such great fun!

Valentina is a courtesan, but also happens to be an assassin. She loves what she does and she's good at it, too. But her next assignment leaves her questioning everything.

Man, I was HOOKED! The narrator drew me straight in, had me onside with Valentina and Bastiano instantly, and listening to things unfold was so entertaining.

Valentina is a fantastic leading lady - she's confident without being arrogant, and she's competent. She enjoys what she does and feels no shame, and she creates meaningful connections - it's not all about seduction and manipulation (though there's plenty of that, too). She's easy to root for, and the narrator did such a fantastic job of bringing her to life.

The story is full of intrigue, with plenty to keep you hanging on. Her life as a courtesan is interesting enough, before adding in everything else! There's never a dull moment and the characters do well to hold the story strong.

The Venetian setting is delightful and well crafted, and the historical aspect adds a real romanticism to everything. I loved the time I spent in this world - it was truly fascinating.

Absolute props to the narrator - was not bored for a second. She brought the characters to life, distinguished everyone so well, while somehow conveying the different levels of wealth through voice alone. Masterfully performed and I would happily listen to this narrator any day.

Immensely enjoyed this one, and I'll be keeping an eye out for more from this author AND narrator.

With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC

A lovely setting and a great premise made this book a fast-paced and interesting read.

Valentina is a highly sought-after courtesan. Having seen tragedy befall her young love and home during war, she is tough as a nut determined on protecting her adopted home Venice. Her position as a mistress to high-ranking people of Venice makes her an ideal spy and assassin. She takes orders from rhe Ten to protect her home state. Her only weakness is her long-term lover (and keeper of her heart), Bastiano and their daughter.

Valentina starts to question her orders when she is asked to kill Bastiano. Are they really coming from the Ten, and are they to protect the state? Or is it some personal agenda at play? And how is she to choose between Bastiano and her daughter. Her need to protect her loves leads to her start investigating and bringing the villain to justice.

I liked this book, but one thing really irked me. How could Valentina not include Bastiano in her decisions. It was his life and of his daughters that was in danger. He is portrayed as a doting papa, so why does he not have a choice in how to capture the villain? This definitely undermined the love between Bastiano and Valentina for me. Yes, she's tough, but can she not be vulnerable as well? But for this rant, i really liked this book. The narration was well done and well paced.

#netgalley #Theassassinofvenice

The year is 1538, and Valentina is a well-known courtesan in Venice… with a secret side hustle as an assassin. After tragedy struck 11 years prior, she’s made Venice her home and is both skilled at seduction and reliable in accomplishing her deadly assignments. The Council of Ten—a secretive and powerful set of rulers—seem to know all, and Valentina’s only job is to obey their assassination orders. As a woman in her profession, she has the kind of access and position that makes her an asset to the Council of Ten. But when they order her to kill her lover, Bastiano—the father of her young daughter—they’ve gone too far. Valentina must find a way out of this mess, even if it means eliminating one of the most powerful men in Venice.

From the very beginning, The Assassin of Venice is easy to fall into. I love the way the backdrop of 1538 Venice is drawn, from its canals to its political powers to the courtesans who make a good living there. Valentina is a formidable woman herself, both courtesan and deadly assassin. But she’s not completely ruthless or without moral compass; she does what she has to do, and justifies her killings as eliminating bad men… and also keeping herself (and her daughter) safe. Valentina is loving to Bastiano and their child, she’s a loyal friend, and she’s determined to do what is right, however it may look to others.

It’s not often I read about courtesans or assassins, let alone both in one book, and it was fun to get into these characters and this shadowy world. Much of the first half of the novel sets the stage, showing Valentina in action, but also making her doubt a recent kill for the first time. Was the man actually innocent? And if so, what does that mean for her and her assignments? But when she’s ordered to kill her lover Bastiano, things escalate even more. How can she uncover a powerful man’s secrets in order to save the lives of the two people who matter the most to her? What is she willing to do to save her daughter?

The Assassin of Venice is action-packed and smart, and it puts our characters into seemingly impossible circumstances. But I love how cunning Valentina is, her friendship with a fellow courtesan, and the strength she shows throughout the novel. I also enjoyed the glimpses into her past in 1527, when she went by a different name and experienced a life-changing loss, and how it comes back around in the end. As much as I love these characters, I wouldn’t hesitate to read more books set in this world.

Audiobook
Nicol Zanzarella is an excellent narrator for The Assassin of Venice. She breathes life into Valentina, capturing her strength and courage well. She also speaks with the kind of Italian accent that, for me, made the audiobook much more immersive. It felt like I was whisked back in time to 16th century Italy, making the story that much more vivid.

The Assassin of Venice is an utterly captivating novel. It has historical details, emotionally compelling trials, strong characters, and a fast pace that keeps it engaging throughout. I loved getting to know these characters and seeing them navigate difficult choices. This is the kind of novel I need to read more of! Though this is only my first time reading Alyssa Palombo, I have all of her other books high on my TBR, so look out for more reviews of her work.