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Title details for The Book of Unholy Mischief by Elle Newmark - Available

The Book of Unholy Mischief

A Novel

by Elle Newmark
Raul Esparza
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
In a world of violence and intrigue, who guards the truth?
It is 1498, dawn of the Renaissance, and Venice teems with rumors about an ancient book believed to hold the secrets of power—alchemy, love, and even immortality. Some will stop at nothing to find it; others will die to protect it. As intrigue grips Her Most Serene Republic, Luciano, a light-fingered, streetwise orphan, gets caught up in the madness. The doge's enigmatic chef takes him into the palace kitchen as an apprentice, where he is initiated into the chef's deliciously mysterious world—itself alive with dangerous secrets. After Luciano witnesses an inexplicable murder, he embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the truth. What he discovers will test his loyalty, show him the dark side of men's souls, and threaten his love for an audacious convent girl. But it will also swing open the shutters of his mind, and leave an indelible mark on his soul.
A luminous and seductive novel, The Chef 's Apprentice is, at its heart, a high-spirited tribute to the fruits of knowledge and the extraordinary power of those who hold its key.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    December 8, 2008

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780743578059
      • File size: 164000 KB
      • Duration: 05:41:39

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      September 22, 2008
      Luciano, the wily hero of Newmark's entertaining first novel, is only a street urchin when the doge of Venice's chef finds him, but once dragged into the kitchen as an apprentice, he discovers more bubbling than boiling water. While the town is in an uproar over the rumor of an ancient book containing magical potions and lessons on alchemy, Luciano pines away for a girl and learns the basics of chopping, sweeping and eavesdropping. As he and his maestro become friendlier, Luciano begins to learn that there's more to his teacher than a garden of strange plants and a box of spices. Newmark does a fine job of building suspense and keeping the novel barreling along, and her knowledge of and affection for 15th-century Venice adds charm to this nicely told adventure yarn.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Raœl Esparza gives a thoroughly engrossing performance, understated and subtle, with nuance to spare, in Elle Newmark's fantastical exploration of life in Venice at the end of the fifteenth century. Luciano, a cunning street urchin, finds his luck changed when he becomes an apprentice chef in the doge's palace. An accomplished eavesdropper, Luciano learns that prominent men are searching for a secret book that is alleged to contain alchemical formulas, love potions, and the secret to immortality. Esparza's narration enhances Newmark's lavish, mouth-watering descriptions of food, and with slight vocal shifts and just the suggestion of Italian accents, he adds mystery and romance, highlighting court intrigues, the odors and aromas of Venice, and Newmark's many quirky characters. Especially recommended for listeners who aren't dieting. S.J.H. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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