"New readers, beware! Once you start reading one of David's books, real life comes to a screeching halt until you finish it." - Sharon Kay Penman, Here Be Dragons and The Sunne In Splendour From bestselling author David Blixt (The Master Of Verona, What Girls Are Good For), a thrilling novel of Renaissance intrigue! Italy, 1325. Eight years after the tumultuous events of The Master Of Verona, Pietro Alighieri is living in exile in Ravenna, grieving the loss of his famous poetic father by studying law. Secretly, Pietro is also raising Cesco, bastard heir to Verona's prince, the magnificent Cangrande della Scala. When word of Cangrande's sudden death reaches their sleepy seaside town, Pietro must abandon his studies to race north before rivals can usurp Cesco's rightful place on Verona's throne. But young Cesco refuses to be anyone's pawn. Headstrong, willful, and devious, he defies even the stars. Determined to enter Verona in his own way, Cesco risks his life to display his mercurial wit to the city he's meant to rule. Meanwhile, far behind the scenes, a mastermind pulls the strings, moving all the players towards a bloody finale. Born from Shakespeare's Italian plays, the poetry of Dante, and the events of history, Voice Of The Falconer explores the danger, deceit, and deviltry of early Renaissance Italy, and the terrible choices one must make just to stay alive. Filled with swashbuckling adventure and unrequited love, this epic journey recalls the best of Bernard Cornwell, Sharon Kay Penman, and Dorothy Dunnett. Praise for the Star-Cross'd Series: "A novel of intricate plot, taut narrative, sharp period detail and beautifully realized characters." - Publishers Weekly "Intricate plotting, well-staged scenes, and colorful descriptions enhance head-spinning but lively entertainment." - Kirkus Reviews "A delightful romp through the backstory of 'Romeo & Juliet.'" - Chicago Sun-Times "Be prepared to burn the midnight oil. It's well worth it." - Historical Novel Society "David Blixt bursts onto the historical fiction scene with this masterful tale of adventure, love, and intrigue -- this is high adventure at its best, an epic novel filled with the breathtaking feats and evanescent beauty of the early Renaissance." - C.W. Gortner, The Last Queen and The Tudor Secret "Shakespearean actor David Blixt traces the genesis of the famous feud between the Montagues and Capulets in this sharp, arresting novel that is completely impossible to put down." - Michelle Moran, Nefertiti and Madame Tussaud "Dante's Italy and the internecine, blood-feuding struggle of the dominant families of the northern city states. This story of corruption and the quest for power is as compelling as Mario Puzo'sGodfather and as thrilling as any of Rafael Sabatini's historical adventures." - Peter Tremayne, The Chalice Of Blood