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Reviewed by Stephen Christopher for Readers' Favorite
Lord Lorenzo Medici, the de facto ruler of Florence, has summoned ship captain Niccolo Corsini to his estate. A mysterious fleet of ships flying a white flag with a black cross is decimating cities on Italy’s coast with Florence in its sights. This fleet doesn’t appear to represent a nation, so Medici is unsure who his enemy is. Corsini sets out to discover what the fleet’s plan is and who commissioned it. What he discovers is truly shocking. With the help of his loyal crew and Leonardo da Vinci (yes, the real da Vinci himself), he attempts to thwart their plans. Can he save the day and the city of Florence? Read Steven F Freeman’s Rise of the Black Cross: Niccolo Corsini Renaissance Adventures Book 1 to find out.
I’m already a Steven F Freeman superfan; his Blackwell Files series is one of my favorites of all time. When I found out that he writes historical fiction too, I was so excited. I’m so glad I read this book; I loved it from beginning to end. It’s historical fiction, so the Black Cross fleet never existed, but the concept is so plausible that it could have. What I love most about historical fiction is when an author can slip real-life figures into the narrative as if they truly belong there. Steven F Freeman does this with both Lorenzo Medici and da Vinci. The action scenes are wonderfully crafted, and I felt the pain that Niccolo felt on occasion (you’ll know what I’m talking about when you read it). Rise of the Black Cross has it all: action, adventure, high-seas villains, corrupt officials, and even romance. I’m so ready for book two; it’s already added to my TBR list.
