The Palace: An Historical Horror Novel

"The Palace" is first and foremost a novel of historical fiction about the Renaissance in Florence, or as it was called in the fifteenth century, the Repubblica of Fiorenza. The rebirth of the arts, science, politics and economics which was occurring throughout most of Europe at this time, first occurred in this Tuscan city and continued to be more pervasive here than anywhere else. Fiorenza's writers, painters, architects and philosophers all made it a model of Renaissance culture. And no one did more to further this movement than Lorenzo di Piero de' Medici, or Lorenzo the Magnificent, (il Magnifico), as he was called by his contemporaries. Il Magnifico and his influence figures strongly in this story as does Girolamo Savonarola's, the Dominican monk who preached fire and brimstone and brought the inquisition to Florence. The conflict between rebirth and repression - education vs. superstition - are major themes throughout the narrative. So...where's the vampire? Well, our protagonist Francesco Ragoczy da San Germano is THE vampire and the hero of author Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's extraordinary series. However, fans of Laurell Hamilton, Anne Rice, Charlaine Harris, etc., take note - you won't find fangs, gore, horror and supernatural violence here. San Germano is an exceptionally nice guy who just happens to have walked the earth since the beginning of time - practically. He, unlike other vampiric creations, is able to stroll about in daylight as long as he carries soil from his homeland in his shoes. He does need blood to survive - but the human donor must be willing to give a pint or two or he won't drink. And true emotional attachments nourish San Germano as much as the blood he takes. So the concept of "love" and affection figure strongly here. He is also extremely smart with an intellect and love of the arts that rival de' Medici's - who is his close friend. In other words Francesco Ragoczy da San Germano personifies the Renaissance man - with the added attraction of various super-human qualities. When the novel begins, San Germano has commissioned an opulent palazzo to be built with secret hidden rooms where he can sleep peacefully in his native earth and practice his alchemy without interruption. Fiorenza is a place where he believes he can settle down and lead a happy life - or at least the equivalent of one lifetime. Here he has the confidence and friendship of Il Magnifico and what he believes to be a satisfying relationship with a woman, Donna Estasia, the cousin of Botticelli the artist. He has sworn the four builders who constructed the "private rooms" to secrecy and arranged for three of them to leave the country to lessen the likelihood of loose lips. When de' Medici dies suddenly and Savonarola, with his reign of terror, assumes power serious problems arise for San Germano. Demetrice Volandrai, a beautiful, learned widow and Il Magnifico's former lover and cousin, goes to live with the vampire. Although she does not know the fac

The Palace, the second novel in the Saint-Germain series, provides a look at the religious and political hardships in Renaissance Italy. The book focuses on the underlying struggles of the Pope in Rome and the renegade priest Savonarola, as well as the political up's and down's of the era. Our hero, the ever-elusive Francesco Ragoczy da San Germano, is caught in the middle of these conflicts to the point where he has to flee the city for his safety.For those unfamiliar with the series, Saint-Germain is a Vampire, but not in the way we have come to know of them through other books and movies. He shares many of the same characteristics of the Vampires we know but to a lesser degree; without the flash, the magic, and evil we are accustomed to. He comes from a royal background, has a great scope of influence, is very wealthy, has a strong intellect, and due to his kind and caring nature, attracts the ladies of the time.This novel is rather a sad one, since it focuses around the political and religious pain and torment people had to endure in order to survive. Italy, while in a glorious Renaissance, still was under the strong influence of the Church as well as local changing politics. Being called a Heretic, whether true or not, meant certain death, in a savage and cruel way. It is under these conditions that Francesco Ragoczy has chosen to live and this novel follows several lives within the government, the Church, the local builders, and artists. If books with historical themes interest you, then you will certainly enjoy this book. If you're already a fan of Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, then you're sure to love the book.

I do not think anyone would really expect that they could live a life such as that of St. Germaine but these books (I have read them all, twice) will certainly transport you to the era in which the story occurs. The writting is vivid, alive with the local color, even smells are there. Having traveled throughout the world and presently living in China, I have been to the places described in these books, all of them. the color is accurate even to present day, only the vile church and the smells are missing, a little anyway. To read these books is to dream a little dream and transport oneself to places been and never been, to places gone and not quite forgotten. It is to become a man such as all men should be and live a life dreams are made of. Keep up the good work Ms. Yarbro.Roy Browning

I've often thought that the power organized Christian religion has in this world can be terrifying. THE PALACE explores this with a most fearsome antagonist, a monk named Savonarola. Set in 15th Century Italy, this second of the Saint-Germain novels focuses on the horrors one man can cause in the name of religion. Featuring historical figures such as the de Medici's and the artist Botticelli, THE PALACE is ripe with Yarbro's beautiful, poetic prose, her incredible imagery and fabulous characterization. It's sensual, riveting. A novel that both horror and historical fiction fans can appreciate and since it's available in hardback from Stealth Press, Yarbro fans can fall in love with it all over again.

The Palace is a historical novel featuring a vampire hero. It's the second one in a series written about this character. Those who already know that they like vampire novels, anything at all that features a vampire, can skip this review, and likewise, those who hate the whole idea of vampires can skip it. But for those trying to decide whether or not to read more of this genre, or whether the one vampire novel you've already read was a fluke, it may help if we have some ways to categorize these novels. Thus: BunRab's Standard Vampire Elements. First, most authors of vampire novels approach from one of the main genres of genre fiction; thus their background may be primarily in romance, or in science fiction/fantasy, or in murder mysteries, or in horror. Second, many vampire novels come in series; knowing whether this is one of a series, and where in the series it falls, may be helpful. Then we have some particular characteristics: - Is the vampire character (or characters) a "good guy" or a "bad guy"? Or are there some of each? - Are there continuing characters besides the vampire, through the series? - Are there other types of supernatural beings besides vampires? - Can the vampire stand daylight under some circumstances, or not stand daylight at all? - Does the vampire have a few other supernatural characteristics, many other supernatural characteristics, or none other than just being a vampire? (E.g., super strength, change into an animal, turn invisible) - Does the vampire have a regular job and place in society, or is being a vampire his or her entire raison d'etre? - Does the vampire literally drink blood, or is there some other (perhaps metaphorical) method of feeding? - Is sex a major plot element, a minor plot element, or nonexistent? - Is the entire vampire feeding act a metaphor for sex, part of a standard sex act, or unrelated to sex? - Is the story set in one historical period, more than one historical period, or entirely in the present day? - Does the story have elements of humor, or is it strictly serious? - Is the writing style good, or is the writing just there to manage to hold together the plot and characters?Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's series about the vampire St. Germain starts from the historical romance genre (although Yarbro is equally well known as a science fiction writer), and is a continuing series. St. Germain is definitely a good guy, using the knowledge he's gained in several thousand years of living to help others. There are a few characters that continue from book to book besides him: the women he turns into vampires, and his "servant," Roger, who is a ghoul. Ghouls are the only other supernatural characters who appear in these books. St. Germain can stand daylight with the right preparations. He has unusual strength, but not limitless; unusual wisdom; and is an "alchemist" but there are no overt "magic" powers. In most of the series, he has an occupation of being an aristocrat, insofar as that was a