Book Review: Up To The Throne (The Dark Renaissance, #1)
Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Up To The Throne by Toby Frost
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Series: The Dark Renaissance (Book 1 of 3)
Genre: Fantasy, political fantasy
Published: December 18th 2018, independently published
If you’re looking for political intrigue and a badass female main protagonist, Up To The Throne might just suit your fancy.
The setting is inspired by the Italian Renaissance, albeit in a world enhanced by magic and alchemy. There was even a nod to Leonardo da Vinci in the narrative, while referencing to an inventor in this world whom the church considers as a madman. Also similar to our own history of the Catholic Church, this was also a time of the Inquisition who was determined to wipe out ‘heretic’ magic-users.
The story is centred around a revenge plot. Giulia Degarno, our main protagonist, was a female thief who has been severely scarred and left for dead 6 years ago on the orders of a master criminal, Publius Severra. Giulia returns to Pagalia after spending years honing her skills to bring her plans of assassinating Severra to fruition. However, during the course of those long years, Severra has also built significant political strength and is no longer a mere criminal. Strong enough to be in position as one of the three contenders to seize the throne of Pagalia, with the very ill incumbent Prince expected to die pretty soon. With his stronghold over many of the guilds in the city and living in a house that rivals a fortress, how would Giulia ever get close enough to assassinate Severra?
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