The Virgins of Venice: A Novel

by Gina Buonaguro

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Fiction. Literature. Historical Fiction. HTML: In sixteenth-century Venice, one young noblewoman dares to resist the choices made for her Venice in 1509 is on the brink of war. The displeasure of Pope Julius II is a continuing threat to the republic, as is the barely contained fighting in the countryside. Amid this turmoil, noblewoman Justina Soranzo, just sixteen, hopes to make a rare love marriage with her sweetheart, Luca Cicogna. Her hopes are dashed when her father decides her younger sister, Rosa, will marry in a strategic alliance and Justina will be sent to the San Zaccaria convent, in the tradition of aristocratic daughters. Lord Soranzo is not acting only to protect his family. It's well known that he is in debt to both his trading partners and the most infamous courtesan in the city, La Diamante, and the pressure is closing in. After arriving at the convent, Justina takes solace in her aunt Livia, one of the nuns, and in the growing knowledge that all is not strictly devout at San Zaccaria. Justina is shocked to discover how the women of the convent find their own freedom in what seems to her like a prison. But secrets and scandals breach the convent walls, and Justina learns there may be even worse fates for her than the veil, if La Diamante makes good on her threats. Desperate to protect herself and the ones she loves, Justina turns to Luca for help. She finds she must trust her own heart to make the impossible decisions that may save or ruin them all. .… (more)

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I don't read books of this nature often, as I tend to find the language and pacing unengaging, but I was surprised by Buoganuro's book. The Virgins of Venice was a delightful change of pace from my regular catalog of self-help and sci-fi or horror.

Justina's mind is just so interesting. Her love life, perspective, and relationships with her family and peers gave her a shine I don't always get in this genre. She forged out on her own and decided that her life was her own despite being forced into her circumstances. What's more fun for me is how historically accurate a lot of this book is. It felt like watching these characters really live their lives in all the turmoil and feeling of the era. Buonaguro really did her due diligence in making this book, and the skillful writing she has for a period piece like this is astonishing. A fantastic writer and a great book. Highly recommend. (

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Pritaa | May 17, 2023 |

The Virgins of Venice is a novel told from the point of view of the main character Justina. It takes place in Venice in 1509. I loved learning about Justina and everything she had gone through and seeing her growth. Justina was in love with her brother’s friend and was hoping she could marry him but because of her father’s debt it is decided she will be sent to a convent. Additionally, her sister Rosa, at the age of 13 is forced to marry. At the convent Justina struggles with the realization of how women are treated. She sees her sister in a marriage that isn’t healthy; her sister’s husband is cruel and abusive. Being at the convent Justina is able to self-reflect, grow, and find inner strength to get through her life, relationships, and helping her sister. The book has a lot of heartache, war, personal struggles, and sacrifices. But it also has love, hope, and growth in it. The book is well written, and I loved the character development for all the main characters as well as the complexities of the various relationships. I enjoyed learning about Venice through the authors descriptions of the city as well. (

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RedHouseBooks | May 15, 2023 |

The Virgins of Venice by Gina Buonaguro
1509 Venice
Rosa and Justina are the two daughters of the family, 13 and 17.
Pablo is the elder son who is to inherit the estate but due to father's debts he has made decisions that will affect the whole house. It's all about the elder son inheriting the estate while everybody else has to suffer and sacrifice.
Love how she is able to do what she loves,writing and how it just takes off and someone wants to publish it...
This story is filled with heartache, sacrifices, hardships, struggles in every regard you can imagine and then some. Events, war, personal and political in the area at the time also sway the outcome of their lifes as time goes on.
Loved learning about Venice, islands, Grand Canal and life around it, and new words for me to look up.
Captivating story is told from Justina's point of view but encompasses so many.
Resources and acknowledgments are mentioned at the back of the book. Love learning how this book came about. First time reading this author and can’t wait to read more of her works.
Received this review copy from the publisher and this is my honest opinion. (

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jbarr5 | Apr 25, 2023 |

Historical fiction novel The Virgins of Venice is Set in sixteenth century Venice amid the renaissance. We are introduced to Justina Soranzo who is in love with Luca Ciogna, they hope to marry but her father decides that she is to be sent to a convent (as is tradition at the time) and has arranged for her younger sister Rosa to marry Luca instead, which will form a strategic alliance and hopefully bring financial security back to the family. Heartbroken, Justina finds herself in the hands of the nuns at San Zaccaria convent where she will get more of an education than she realises, with secrets, scandal and threats Justina must fight for her survival.

Not only is it an emotionally inspiring story with well-drawn characters that I grew to care about deeply along the way, but it is also historically informative.

I’m very glad I read The Virgins of Venice because it was such a moving experience and it really made me reflect on my own life, and certainly made me thankful for the freedoms we enjoy each day. (

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Philpott | Apr 24, 2023 |

A historical fiction full of mystery, drama and love. Set in the 16th century, this story has so much to give to the reader, the drama in which the main character develops is just brilliant, the whole situation with her family, friends, and herself is very convincing and so entertaining. I love this kind of books; they are my escape and every page is like I’m living it myself.
A must read if you like the romance, and a very scandalous situation in which a convent is developed. (

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Lunarzie | Apr 7, 2023 |

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Fiction. Literature. Historical Fiction. HTML:

In sixteenth-century Venice, one young noblewoman dares to resist the choices made for her

Venice in 1509 is on the brink of war. The displeasure of Pope Julius II is a continuing threat to the republic, as is the barely contained fighting in the countryside. Amid this turmoil, noblewoman Justina Soranzo, just sixteen, hopes to make a rare love marriage with her sweetheart, Luca Cicogna. Her hopes are dashed when her father decides her younger sister, Rosa, will marry in a strategic alliance and Justina will be sent to the San Zaccaria convent, in the tradition of aristocratic daughters. Lord Soranzo is not acting only to protect his family. It's well known that he is in debt to both his trading partners and the most infamous courtesan in the city, La Diamante, and the pressure is closing in.

After arriving at the convent, Justina takes solace in her aunt Livia, one of the nuns, and in the growing knowledge that all is not strictly devout at San Zaccaria. Justina is shocked to discover how the women of the convent find their own freedom in what seems to her like a prison. But secrets and scandals breach the convent walls, and Justina learns there may be even worse fates for her than the veil, if La Diamante makes good on her threats.

Desperate to protect herself and the ones she loves, Justina turns to Luca for help. She finds she must trust her own heart to make the impossible decisions that may save or ruin them all.

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