A Tale of Paris & Paris: Echoes of Troy by Edmond Thornfield is an adult historical fantasy set primarily in fifteenth-century Cortona, Italy, a period defined by religious authority, political tension, and unspoken desire. The novel follows the intertwined lives caught between duty and longing, most notably Lorenzo di Ranieri, a Florentine soldier returning to his hometown, and Vittorio dei Varani, whose arrival quietly alters existing bonds. The narrative links personal stories with the looming presence of inquisitors, social surveillance, and the threat of accusation. Thornfield layers domestic scenes, military concerns, and intimate reflections to show how love persists even in constrained spaces. Supernatural echoes and mythic references, including allusions to Troy and classical figures, weave through the historical setting, suggesting that certain human struggles repeat across eras.

Edmond Thornfield writes in an intentionally archaic voice that sometimes mirrors medieval syntax. The diction and sentence rhythms demand patience and close reading. Descriptions of food, streets, churches, and interiors ground the narrative in daily life, while shifts in points of view add dimension. A Tale of Paris & Paris leans much more toward a literary readership than a general or mass-market audience. The sustained archaic register, deliberate pacing, and emphasis on interiority over plot momentum ask more of the reader than contemporary historical fiction written for broad consumption. Rather than simplifying language or smoothing the voice for ease, the novel commits fully to an inflected narration that rewards readers who enjoy stylistic density and historical texture. The book highlights atmosphere, moral tension, and reflective scenes, aligning it with literary historical fantasy rather than commercial historical romance or adventure. It's a book for those who appreciate challenging prose and thematic layering.

A Tale of Paris & Paris: Echoes of Troy, in the Chronicles of Cortona by Edmond Thornfield, follows Lorenzo di Ranieri, a militia sergeant in Cortona, when inquisitors from Perugia arrive to pursue charges of heresy. Lorenzo forms a backstairs circle with Matteo at the Ranieri stable and relies on Costanza Briani to care for Priano, a novice smuggled out after punishment inside San Francesco. While the tribunal builds its case through Friar Domenico, Lorenzo imposes stricter custody rules. He tracks denunciations, supported by Vittorio dei Varani, obstructing the investigators through intimidation. Lorenzo convenes his commanders, including Angelo, Stefano, Claudio, and Rocco, but becomes the subject of an official inquiry himself. Blackmail threatens to expose Lorenzo’s bond with Vittorio. As the arrests spread, Cortona tightens into a test of secrecy.

Edmond Thornfield’s A Tale of Paris & Paris is set in Cortona during an inquisitorial campaign, and Lorenzo di Ranieri leads the plot as a man whose strength and compassion come straight from the heart, providing shelter, protection, and standing up to stop further harm. The relationship he develops with Vittorio dei Varani is especially dangerous during the Inquisition of the Faith. They share the night in private, and then deliberately distance themselves during Mass, where restraint must replace touch. Thornfield presents the setting and politics together well as the religious authority reshapes ordinary lives. This is clear when Lorenzo’s stable becomes a place of care, concealment, and coordination under civic watch. The writing is elegant, and this book will suit adult readers drawn to historical fiction grounded in the Renaissance, where moral decision-making and intimate relationships were shaped by public pressure.