Praise for
The Violinist of Venice

“This panoramic novel of composer Antonio Vivaldi’s life sweeps readers into a world of beautiful melodies and forbidden passion. Palombo allows music, more than the characters, to be the key to her sumptuous novel. One can almost hear the sweet notes while reading of the passionate and tragic star-crossed lovers. Those who adore the music and history will find what they desire in these pages.”

—RT Book Reviews

“Mesmerizing … So gorgeous are the relationships and music reflected here that the reader will want to spend hours listening to truly beautiful music created by both Antonio Vivaldi and Adriana d’Amato. Stunning, lovely historical fiction that is a must-read!”

—Historical Novel Society

“Alyssa Palombo’s training as a classical musician is evident in her first novel, The Violinist of Venice, a historical romance set in the eighteenth century.… Palombo skillfully blends historical facts with innovative and colorful fiction, creating a delightful, fast-paced romance that is sure to please music lovers and romance readers alike.”

—Shelf Awareness

“A lovely book, engrossing and realistic. In simple, spare prose, Palombo gives life to an improbable romance between Vivaldi, the ‘Red Priest,’ and Adriana d’Amato, the lovely daughter of a wealthy merchant. Music is Adriana’s downfall—she falls deeply and passionately in love with the composer—and ultimately her salvation. The most compelling aspect of the novel is Adriana’s love of music and the author’s virtuoso descriptions of Vivaldi’s compositions. The passages are so evocative one can almost hear the ebb and flow of the music. We are in the hands of not only a master storyteller but also a dedicated music lover.”

—Roberta Rich, international bestselling author of The Midwife of Venice

“Utterly captivating! Palombo brings the world of Vivaldi to life in a sweeping tale of love in all its many forms. Beautiful, poignant, and at times heart-wrenching, this should be at the top of everyone’s list to read.”

—Jessica Leake, author of Arcana and The Order of the Eternal Sun

“The Violinist of Venice by Alyssa Palombo is a warm and compelling story of the secret love affair in the life of the famous Baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi. Vivid and alive and thrumming with the exquisite strains of violin music, the novel explores the impossible choices between love and duty and the demands of art in the decadent world of early-eighteenth-century Venice.”

—Kate Forsyth, international bestselling author of Bitter Greens

“A passionate, heartbreaking love story between a brilliant young violinist whose father forbids her to make music and the gentle, gifted composer who restores it to her. I was utterly swept away by their impossible love and the rich worlds which grew from it in this moving novel set among the aristocrats and musicians of eighteenth-century Venice.”

—Stephanie Cowell, author of Marrying Mozart and Claude & Camille: A Novel of Monet

“Vivid, emotional, and profoundly satisfying. This marvelous debut is a sumptuous tale of a passionate affair between Vivaldi and a promising student set to a masterful musical score. Palombo has created a fascinating portrait of both the beauty and limitations of life in aristocratic Venice.”

—Jennifer Laam, author of The Secret Daughter of the Tsar

“Debut author and musician Palombo creates a lovely fictional account of a great love affair.… A nicely crafted first effort that reimagines Vivaldi’s life in a bittersweet narrative.”

—Kirkus Reviews