Venezia

Escaped from pirates’ clutches, Lucilla, servant to the merchant Ximeno, and her friend Ademara, a runaway convent dweller, are reunited after a year’s separation when Lucilla accompanies Master Ximeno on his trade mission along the Illyrian Coast and, ultimately, to Constantinople.

Set in early medieval Venice and Byzantium, the gateway between Europe and Asia, the nexus of two clashing civilizations, the sequel to Venezia: The Talisman, Venezia: The Shaman’s Quest finds Ademara and Lucilla caught once again in an intrigue driven by vile, duplicitous people lusting for power and wealth. In a gesture of bravery, Lucilla exchanges her freedom for Ademara’s. Then Ademara and her lover Bartolo journey east, seeking Bartolo’s mother, the Shaman, from whom he was separated by vicious marauders. Lucilla is taken by ship on the stunningly blue Adriatic Sea to the glorious Byzantine capital, Constantinople, where she is thrust into a challenging adventure of love, betrayal, and self-discovery.

Author Biography

This is Franca Hernandez’s second historical fiction novel and sequel to Venezia-The Talisman. She is an experienced free-lance journalist. Venezia-The Shaman’s Quest is also inspired by her love of history, years of travel in Italy, Europe, and as a Peace Corps volunteer in Central Asia.