Dragons of Tirenia

I often feel like there's three genres of historical books. If it's for men, it's a war story; if it's for women, it's a romance. If it's for everyone, it's a murder mystery. The Phoenix of Florence  starts off as a murder mystery. Onorio Celavini investigates the brutal murder of a serial seducer and his latest mistress in Renaissance Florence, but soon the investigation starts to feel personal. About a third of the way through, there is a massive revelation about the character - so massive I wonder if it should have been revealed on the back of the book, because it's what the entire rest of the book is about. The middle third gives us Onorio's backstory, and the final third wraps it all together. It's also at this point that the genre changes: ultimately, this is an action novel with a fairly straightforward revenge plot. I can't help but feel that this book is inspired by  A Song of Ice and Fire.  Its main character seems highly inspired...

The seven siblings had returned to Vanzenia at dawn on the last day of Carnevale. This was the day that Silvia Franco's plot was destined to come to fruition. Already they could sense the increased magic flowing about them due to the lunar convergence - the magic that Silvia would doubtlessly try to use. They were now sure that Silvia must have possessed dozens of people to be able to remain in Vanzenia, and that she next intended to possess the Saint and use her powers for evil. The di Benicios knew that if they were going to stop Silvia and rescue the young saint from her clutches, they would need help. Antonio Rossi, Saint Maria's bodyguard, would be useful, but they did not know where he was, and doubtlessly where he was, Silvia would also be hiding. They did not want to reveal to her that they were alive yet. Adrianna's foster-father Paolo, who they now knew was secretly a brass dragon, could be a powerful ally as well. But he had gone to ground out of fear that his ...

After the battle with the Red Plumes, the de Benicios returned home and had a much-deserved sleep. When they awoke, it was past noon on the next day already, and Luigi told them that an unknown visitor had come to see them while they slept, and promised to return later. He left only his crest: the sign of Gianetta's secret police. The siblings realised that this must mean that their mission to attack Carnelio's manor and steal the aboleth was about to happen. Before the stranger returned, the de Benicios decided to recruit new allies. They went to visit Aksil, the cat-man mercenary. Aksil was still recovering from injuries sustained the previous day. He told them about how the attack on the mercenary compound had gone wrong, as the Red Cloaks had rallied and counterattacked much more quickly than had been expected. Once he realised that the mission had failed, Aksil gave the order to retreat, and was wounded during the withdrawal. Now he had been replaced as revolutionary ge...

Very early the next day, before the sun had even risen, there was a council of war at a private house rented by Silvia Franco. The courtesan and her bodyguard Ornella Donati were there, along with Santa Maria, Antonio, Fra Lucio, Aksil of Sahel, the di Benicio family, and other supporters. Even though it was expected, Paolo's absence at the table was upsetting. Silvia laid out the plan that she'd formulated with Aksil. The time for revolution was almost here. Thanks to Giovanna Buoncastello and her printing press, revolutionary material was circulating throughout the city. Today at dawn, the humanists would launch two attacks to begin the revolution. Aksil would lead his followers to attack the main garrison of the Pennacchi Rossi mercenaries, aiming to kill their leader Capitano Lorenzo Brandi in revenge for the attack on the Grande Convente, and to cut off the head of the mercenaries. Meanwhile, Fra Lucio and his followers would storm the prison at the Ponte de Lacrime and ...

Tirenia uses a calendar very similar to our own. It was first compiled by the Auromian Empire, who counted years from the ascension of the first Golden Emperor; years were called A. A., standing for Anno Auri (Golden Years). After the fall of the Empire and the coming of La Salvatrice,  the count of years was restarted by the church, and years are now called A. S., standing for Anno Salvatricis (Year of the Saviour). The current year is 1016 A.S. Every year is divided into thirteen months. Twelve of these months are normal months of 29 days, which is one cycle of Sorella Anziana,  the yellow moon. The thirteenth month is a special holiday month held over the winter. It is designed to keep the year in track with Tellaia's movement around the sun, and is 17 days long, or 19 days long every eight years - which is one cycle of the moons Sorellina or Sorellona . The church is responsible for declaring when these extra two days are to be inserted into the calendar. The thirteen mo...

With the help of magic, astronomers in Tellaia have a good understanding of the bodies in their solar system. Tellaia is one of eight planets orbiting the sun Sole. It has three moons, called the Three Sisters. Further out are the stars, which have been divided into thirteen major constellations, each lending their name to a month. At the centre of the solar system is Sole, the sun, which does not move (as far as anyone knows). The first planet orbiting it is Fortuna. This is a small white planet, with an orbit of 53 days. It is associated with the element of Air, and the magic of Illusion. The second planet is Bellona. It is red, and about half the size of Tellaia. Its orbit is 97 days. It is associated with the element of Fire, and the magic of Evocation. The third planet is Amora. It is gold, and about three-quarters the size of Tellaia. Its orbit is 173 days. It is associated with the element of Water, and the magic of Enchantment. The fourth planet is Tellaia. It is a bl...

Before the time of the Auromian Empire or La Salvatrice, humans worshipped a wide array of gods. Many of these were based on natural phenomena, such as the sun and moon, or upon the personifications of human characteristics. Others were inspired by meetings between early humans and supernatural beings, particularly elementals and fairies. In some cases, it is hard to say whether a particular god was inspired by a spiritual being, or whether the spiritual being stepped into the role of a god that was already worshipped. Over time, as different tribes came into contact with each other, deities were syncretised: different sun gods were all assumed to be regional aspects of the same sun god, for instance. Finally, the Auromian Empire adopted many of the gods, and associated them with the sun, moon and planets. The greatest gold dragons ritually 'became' these gods, becoming a focus for human worship. The gods chosen by the Auromian Empire became the 'classical gods,' alth...