The Prince by Sylvain Reynard

Posted January 20, 2015 by Karen in Book Reviews / 0 Comments

The Prince by Sylvain ReynardThe Prince by Sylvain Reynard
Also by this author: The Raven, The Shadow, Gabriel's Promise
Published by InterMix, Penguin on January 20, 2015
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 93
Format: eBook
ASIN: B00NUMIOY4
Goodreads
four-stars

The unveiling of a set of priceless illustrations of Dante’s Divine Comedy at the Uffizi Gallery exposes the unsuspecting Professor Gabriel Emerson and his beloved wife, Julianne, to a mysterious and dangerous enemy.

Unbeknownst to the Professor, the illustrations he secretly acquired years ago were stolen a century earlier from the ruler of Florence’s underworld. Now one of the most dangerous beings in Italy is determined to reclaim his prized artwork and exact revenge on the Emersons, but not before he uncovers something disturbing about Julianne …

Set in the city of Florence, “The Prince” is a prequel novella to “The Raven,” which is the first book in the new Florentine Series Trilogy by Sylvain Reynard.

“The Prince” can be read as a standalone but readers of The Gabriel Series may be curious about the connection between The Professor’s world and the dark, secret underworld of “The Prince.”

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Karen Ponders The Prince by Sylvain Reynard

I adore the writing of Sylvain Reynard. His writing makes my soul sing as he envelopes me into his stories with his finally crafted tales of love and redemption.  He has entered the writing world of paranormal romance with his novella The Prince: A Gabriel’s Inferno/Florentine Series Novella.  

 

My fellow readers, who are in love with Gabriel and Julianne from the Gabriel Inferno novels, will thrill at the chance for more time with the couple. I was enraptured in the dark mystery of the Prince, the main character’s title in Reynard’s tale of betrayal, assassination, and revenge.  Gabriel and Julianne were used as a tie into this new world as the couple had some stolen property that once belonged to the Prince. He doesn’t like people touching his belongings, nor does he appreciate the people who happen to find themselves owners of it. For future reference, don’t be touching the Prince’s stuff!

 

Some readers may not like the Prince since his revenge is centered on the Emersons.   The Prince is not this character’s name, but rather his title. He is the Prince of Florence, which in Reynard’s  paranormal world is still a principality; and Rome is the kingdom.   The Prince is surrounded by a council who he rules with an iron hand. You risk your life by failing him. The Prince acts as if his council is just itching to betray him, and you can tell he has major trust issues. You can’t have true loyalty without trust, and the Prince is setting himself up for his own problems when he refuses to rely on others. But he understands that friendships, although rewarding, comes with a cost, especially if it leads to betrayal; because it would be a difficult thing to kill a friend.

 

I suspect that some in his inner circle are historical characters, which made for a very interesting read.  As with any good paranormal tale, the paranormal elements are natural and flow naturally in the story.   It is implied that the Prince and his ilk are vampires that are able to die via beheading. But a wound to the heart is not a mortal one. In Reynard’s story, paranormals do not run and hiss at the site of religious paraphernalia, as evidence by the Prince’s visit to the Spanish Chapel of Santa Maria Novella during his one sided conversation with his mentor.  I shall offer no hints on who the Prince’s mentor could be, and will let the reader figure this one out on their own. As I suspected, who the Prince was in his past mortal life and who he is presently are total opposites.  Yes, the mystery and history that the Prince holds make me absolutely giddy.  The conversation with his mentor also leads us to a general estimate of the Prince’s age. Let’s just say he’s no spring chicken.

 

Reynard has also set up a group of baddies called the Curia, a group even the vampires are wary of.  This series has promise and I am thrilled to see Reynard’s world building progress. The use of the Italian model of principality to mold his vampire society is brilliant.  Can Machiavelli and the Medicis be far behind?  Giddy Dance.

Please note loose ends abound, as this is a prequel to Reynard’s new Florentine series.

Fresco in the Spanish Chapel Santa Maria Novella

triumphofstthomas700

Andrea di Bonaiuto, Triumph of St Thomas and Allegory of the Sciences, 1365-68, fresco
Cappella Spagnuolo, Santa Maria Novella, Florence

 

four-stars

About Sylvain Reynard

I am honoured to have had my novels appear on the New York Times and USAToday Bestseller lists. I was a Semifinalist for Best Author in the 2011 and 2012 Goodreads Choice Awards. “Gabriel’s Inferno” was a Semifinalist for Best Romance in 2011 and “Gabriel’s Rapture” was a Finalist for Best Romance in 2012, in the Goodreads Choice Awards, as well. The final novel in The Gabriel Series, “Gabriel’s Redemption,” debuted at #6 on the New York Times Bestseller list. It was a Finalist for a 2014 Goodreads Choice Award as Best Romance.I’m interested in the way literature can help us explore aspects of the human condition – particularly suffering, sex, love, faith, and redemption. My favourite stories are those in which a character takes a journey, either a physical journey to a new and exciting place, or a personal journey in which he or she learns something about himself/herself.

I’m also interested in how aesthetic elements such as art, architecture, food, drink, and music can be used to tell a story or to illuminate the traits of a particular character. In my writing, I combine all of these elements with the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the transformative power of goodness.

I try to use my platform as an author to raise awareness about the following charities: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation, WorldVision, Alex’s Lemonade Stand, and Covenant House.

For more information, see my Twitter account or my website.

To email me, please use the below address.
info@sylvainreynard.com

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