Book Review of Florenzer by Phil Melanson

 

Name of Book: Florenzer

Author: Phil Melanson

ISBN: 9781324095033

Publisher: Liveright 

Type of book: Italy, Renaissance, 1464, 1471-1483, coming of age, LGBtQ character, church, banking, money, legacy, charge, scheming 

Year it was published: 2025

Summary:

Set in Renaissance-era Florence, this ravishing debut reimagines the intersecting lives of three ambitious young men—a banker, a priest, and a gay painter named Leonardo.

Leonardo da Vinci, twelve years old and a bastard, leaves the Tuscan countryside to join his father in Florence with dreams of becoming a painter. Francesco Salviati, also a bastard and scorned for his too-dark skin, dedicates himself to the Catholic Church with grand hopes of salvation. Towering above them both is Lorenzo de’ Medici, barely a man, yet soon to be the patriarch of the world’s wealthiest and most influential bank. Each is, in his own way, a son of Florence. Each will, when their paths cross, shed blood on Florence’s streets.

Brash and breathtaking, this lush historical drama explores the dangerous pursuit of artistic and political achievement—especially at a time when “florenzers,” or gay men such as Leonardo, were often persecuted. Mining the origins of one of history’s finest artists and the city where he came of age, Florenzer introduces an enthralling new voice in fiction.

Characters:

Main characters are Leonardo Da'Vinci, Francesco Salviati and Lorenzo De'Medici. At the start Leonardo Da'Vinci is a timid and an outcast boy who is trying to make peace with himself and his desires as well as trying to ascertain his talents. He wants to go against the norm but is afraid and uncertain about how to do it. Francesco Salviati is a schemer who holds himself as better than anyone else and joins a church. He is ambitious and is willing to do what he can to progress his agenda. Lorenzo De'Medici is the head of the infamous Medici family and is trying to outshine his grandfather's legacy. He is also ambitious and often feels as if he has the world on his shoulders. The secondary characters are well written, in particular Iac and Lorenzo's mother, Lucrezia as well as his brother Giuliano. For more on those characters I would recommend reading the book. 

Theme:

Humans make plans while G-d laughs

Plot:

The story is in third person narrative from Leonardo's, Lorenzo's and Salviati's points of views. The main point of the story is growth of Leonardo from a timid and uncertain youth besieged by melancholy, anxiety and self doubts into a man who is well known and famous all over the world. The tale begins 1464 at a funeral where our protagonists loosely cross paths with one another; twelve year old Leonardo who is about to begin an apprenticeship program of painting; fourteen year old Lorenzo De'Medici who is forced to become head of household and wants to create a legacy that will dwarf that of his grandfather, Cosimo De'Medici (well known for banks and loans) and twenty-one year old Francesco Salviati a bastard child of unknown parentage who longs more for church than working with an influential cousin. After the prologue the story picks up seven years later and from then on continues to 1483 as we are with the men through laughter and tears during this fascinating period of time. 

Author Information:
(From goodreads)

N/A

Opinion:

From what I saw my opinions about this novel is very similar to other reviewers' on Goodreads. As a historical fiction reader, especially a reader that highly prefers non-WWII settings, this was simply a treat to read and experience, especially descriptions of color and thoughts were so vivid and breathtaking that one believes this book acts as a time machine to Italian Renaissance. In terms of improvement, I do wish that the characters would have had more chances to intersect paths with one another and I don't think I really understand why the three characters of Leonardo DaVinci,  Francesco Salviati and Lorenzo De'Medici were in the same book. For example, how did Salviati's actions affect Leonardo? I don't think I understood that. I did understand the rivalry between Lorenzo and Salviati however which was done well. I think in my opinion the book should have been split in two rather than one; one book should feature Leonardo Da'Vinci while the next should focus on Lorenzo and Salviati. Or, as some readers suggested, Salviati and Lorenzo could be more of supporting characters than main characters. 

This was given for review

4 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)