I tend not to re-read books. But this is one I read multiple times in HS and college. Sadly, I don't have a copy to re-read today. Yarbro does a masterful job juxtaposing the real-world life of the poet Ariosto against the imaginary, alt-history world of his imagination, the subject of his epic poems. ( )

I was intrigued by the cover of this Renaissance-set fantasy, but unfortunately it didn't live up to expectations. Split between 'reality' and 'fantasy', it follows the daydreams of the poet Ludovico Ariosto, who seeks to escape his mundane life through fantasies of being a great paladin among the peoples of the New World. The concept was fun, but unfortunately the book never quite gets its momentum going, and I was disappointed to find that Ariosto's 'reality' has been rewritten as a Renaissance alternative universe in which all the famous people conveniently still existed. I would much rather have had the contrast between historical fiction and fantasy which the blurb implies. Maybe my disappointment comes from mistaken expectations; but even beyond that it didn't particularly grab me as a piece of writing.

For a full review, please see my blog:
http://theidlewoman.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/ariosto-chelsea-quinn-yarbro.html ( )

OK
Noted during my 1980's attempt to read every book in my small town library. ( )

I'm embarrassed to admit I read this. I'm not embarrassed to admit I hated it. I'm amazed this got published. ( )

In spite of the St. Germain in parenthesis in the listing this is not one of Yarbro's St. Germain novels. This book is more of a Walter Mittyesque escape. The mundane life of the title character goes from actuality to what he is fantasizing about. I found the book tedious and never finished reading it.