Love-at-arms

Rafael Sabatini set this swashbuckling romance in the Italy of the Borgias, among the feuding duchies and shifting loyalties of the late fifteenth century. Francesco del Falco, the Count of Aquila, is a warrior of quiet honor who would rather stay clear of the intrigues swirling around the court, yet duty and love pull him in. He becomes entangled with the proud Valentina della Rovere, promised to a marriage she despises, and with the schemes of ambitious lords who treat her as a pawn. Sabatini delivers what his readers came for: crossed swords, coded messages, sieges, and a hero who keeps his word at any cost. It is period adventure written with brio and a sure sense of pace. Free PDF and EPUB editions are available.