The Falcon of Palermo

Interested in medieval Sicily, I found this book a wonderful read. I was impressed with the historical accuracy and how Ms. Brodihn made the characters come alive. I loved the historical asides--for those of us who could use some help in this department. In other words, the author never left anyone behind. I also loved the writing style and the rhetorical techniques she used to move the story at a brisk pace. I now have a renewed interest in Fredrick II. I hope this author will do something with the Sicilian Vespers, another very tellable story.

This novel of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick is a vivid, rich, multi-threaded narrative by a real master of the genre. It's a panoramic view of medieval rulers, politics, religion, alliances, manipulations, lovers -- a thick tapestry giving both the grand scale and the interrelated details. Frederick's skilled efforts at integrating the disparate Sicilian and German cultures, the diplomatic feats arising from his own cosmopolitan viewpoint, and his penetrating concentration on bettering the empire and its people are astonishing. The book does justice to a complex man of enormous ambition and his shifting and wide-ranging world. It's a huge achievement, but more than that it is a fascinating, vastly entertaining read! More, Ms. Bordhin, more!

An accurate and wonderful read! I harldy could put this down. Bordihn is full of description and one becomes drawn into it almost feeling as if one is there. I look forward to more books by Bordihn! A superb novel!

"The Falcon of Palermo" is a gripping historical novel. Its author, Maria R. Bordihn, introduced me to one of the most colourful and dazzling personalities in history: Frederic II of Hohenstaufen, King of Sicily and Germany, Roman Emperor and King of Jerusalem. I felt physically moved into the 13th century, where I took part in Frederic's life. I followed him in his search for the truth and came to admire him for his exceptional tolerance for other cultures and religions. Bordihn tells the story of his life, his struggle with the papacy and the crusades, his search for power, for freedom for his people and last, but not least, the story of his great passion for Bianca Lancia. Bordihn's historical facts are accurate. Her Frederic is vividly human and all the main characters she convincingly introduces really existed. This is a very well written book you will be unable to put down. You will solely regret the fact that there is no sequel to it.