The story of Tomasso de Befanini, son of the astrologer to the Medicis, whose quest to become Catherine de Medici's master chef is interrupted by war, intrigue, and magic, includes a glossary and recipes for several of the dishes involved. Reprint.
Michaela-Marie Roessner-Hermann is an American science-fiction writer publishing under the name Michaela Roessner.
Born in San Francisco, Michaela Roessner was raised in (successively) California, New York, Pennsylvania, Thailand, and Oregon. Trained as a visual artist, she holds a BFA in Ceramics from the California College of Arts and Crafts and an MFA in Painting from Lone Mountain College, and exhibits under the name M. M. Roessner-Herman. In 1989, she won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer.
Her first novel, Walkabout Woman, was a 1989 nominee for the Mythopoeic Award, and won the Crawford Award. She has also published the science fiction novel Vanishing Point and number of short stories, published in Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, SciFiction, Omni Online, Strange Plasma, Fantasy & Science Fiction, and elsewhere. She is also the author of two historical novels, The Stars Dispose (1997) and The Stars Compel (1999), about Catherine de Medici. She lives in southern California.
She has taught at the Clarion Workshop at Michigan State University and the Gotham Writers' Workshop.
While this book was filed in the fantasy section, it falls more under the historical setting than anything. But no matter what genre it's considered this is definitely one to read. From the servants' quarters to the ruling families of late-Renaissance-era Florence, Italy, this story follows the early life of Catherine de'Medici and her family during this tumultuous times. The story is told primarily through the eyes of a young boy, Tommaso, the son of the cook in the Ruggiero household, a family friend of the de'Medici rulers. Tommaso's mother, a strega, attempts to protect her family and the young de'Medicis by communing with the spirits she reaches via scrying. Ruggiero the Old also communes with the same spirits for similar reasons, but he uses a more scientific method, and he does not know of any other's efforts. More important to the story is the political intrigues and artistic endeavors of the various factions inhabiting Italy during this era. Whether you're a student of history or just someone who likes a good story, I highly recommend this book.
The Stars Dispose is a sumptuous feast of a novel set in 1500s Florence, told from the perspective of the artistic apprentice chef Tomasso. Tomasso's family has long ties of loyalty to both the Medici aristocracy and the astrologer and physician Ruggiero, who also moves in halls of the powerful, trying to influence events. Ruggiero often says, "the stars dispose, they do not compel," and this is true how magic and the otherworldly in this novel influence the edges of things but rarely exert direct control. Both strega and scholarly magic are tucked secretly behind closed doors. The novel dwells much more lovingly on lush Florentine art and cooking, and on all the vivid personalities involved. Tomasso's orbit of chefs and artists gives an intriguing back-room view of the struggles between the opposing forces who want Florence as a Republic, under local Medici control, or as a pawn of the Pope (himself a bastard Medici at this time). Yet just as compelling is Tomasso's coming of age story itself, as he navigates fraught family relationships, independence and loyalty, love and disappointment. Highly recommended not just for fans of similar Italian Renaissance fantasies like Lackey, Flint and Freer's The Shadow of the Lion but also for fans of food writing and travel writing set in Italy, even if you aren't generally a fantasy reader.
The Stars Dispose is more than just an historical novel set in Florence in the early 16th century; it has at it's heart the magic of the strega, Italian witches. This, combined with alchemy, underpins the events detailed in the novel; the political machinations of the de Medici and their enemies, plague and the siege of the city. Michaela Roessner's research is impeccable, mixing fact with the lives of her characters and producing a novel that is, in my view compelling reading.
A fantasy retelling of the life of Catherine de Medici, through the eyes of the servants (mostly chefs) who work for the great families of Florence. The descriptions of food are the most mouth-watering that I've encountered in literature in years. The fantasy/occult elements grow more prominent as the story goes on, which could be a problem for some readers. Also, there's not much closure, probably because the story continues in The Stars Compel.
The Medici through the eyes of the families that take care of them, the kitchen staff and their cats...tangible and tactile story telling. A wonderful adventure for the senses and the mind.
All the new roses in Piera's cheeks drained away, leaving her looking as though she'd been carved from the palest ivory. Tommaso was sure he appeared the same. Although that particular pattern of the bells had never run before in his lifetime, he knew--as did every other citizen--what the chimes announced: The plague had come again to Florence.
A period of history I was glad to learn more about. 4 star because it was often difficult to understand which character was speaking or being spoken of because the names were similar and unusual for one not used to the Italian language.
What do you get if you mix Art, History, Cookery, Politics, and Astrology .... find it here. Perhaps with a little less ingredients we could have a bit more flavour (depth).
This is the first book I've read from this author, and if this is anything to judge her work by, I'd definitely be looking for more.
First off, it's a foodie fantasy. I can't exactly say that food plays a big part in the plot (although the kitchen and the hearth definitely does), but food is important in that the characters whom we follow are culinary artists in their own right. I'm a big fan of fantasy novels where the writer takes the time to describe the food and the preparation thereof, since it plays a role in the world-building. The Stars Dispose isn't high fantasy--it's set in Florence during the Renaissance--so the world-building isn't quite as outre as in your usual epic fantasy novels. But food helps set the tone, anyway.
The fantasy elements in the book aren't in-your-face magical stuff going on; in fact, it's usually hidden, done in secret, and the effects aren't easily seen. Sure, some of the characters practise 'magic' openly, like Old Ruggiero. But the gist of the real work is done by characters who are behind the scenes, so to speak.
I'd say there are different levels to this novel:
1, The shallowest level, which is Florence in danger. This is basically the province of powerful men: the Medicis, the Ruggieros, the artists (especially Michaelangelo Buonarotti) etc. We see these men do their best to keep Florence safer, and later on rally around Caterina Medici as a figurehead against Cardinal Clement. They are powerful men, BUT this is a game with different rules, and they do not normally have the power to change their own fate.
2, The part seen by one of the main characters, Tomasso. He's usually the POV we follow. And Tomasso doesn't know everything that's going on, even though he's at the very centre of it. Starting out as an apprentice carver for the Ruggiero family, Tomasso also trains as an artist under Il Tribolino.
Being a servant to powerful families means that Tomasso is pretty much up to date with all that's happening in Florence. Both from the perspective of the common people (his fellow servants and fellow apprentices) and men in power (the people he serves, his master's artist friends, and even his lover). Sometimes, he is given the power to change the course of the future--but he is seldom aware of the fact that he has done so.
3, The part seen by the female characters. Piera, in particular, plays the biggest role in the novel. She is the one who contrives AND succeeds to keep her family and Caterina safe. Caterina, who trusts Piera and Ginevra, gains power--not only in the political field, but also in the field of (shall we call it) witchcraft. Piera's magic here is instinctive and natural. Nothing quite as scientific as Old Ruggiero's. But we can see that she is no less powerful than the old man (sometimes, in fact, more). Like many arts of the hearth and the kitchen, Piera's magic is secretive and not obvious. It's the most important element in the novel, but one that many of its characters don't notice.
4, Gattamelata. (Cat with kittens. Very important to plot, as well.)
It's a novel about Florence, but it's not a BIG novel per se. I'm going to say that actually, it's a novel about a family who got embroiled in the political turmoil because of the Medicis--who are related to Piera and her family, anyway. But it's still about Piera's family.
Also, homosexual relationship between Tomasso and Michaelangelo. That came out as a bit of a surprise--although still nicely foreshadowed.
Tommaso de Befanini is destined to be a great cook. His family have been cooks for generations, working in the households of astrologer Cosimo Ruggiero and of the Medici family. But when he's pulled into intrigue surrounding the young Duchessina, Caterina de' Medici, his horizons expand more than he could have imagined, as his life is intertwined with hers.
I loved Roessner's evocation of Renaissance Florence: the people (real and imaginary), the sights, the smells, and most of all the tastes. The food descriptions are absolutely mouth-watering. I also loved her use of kitchen and hearth magic; the astrologers do magic as well, but it's the homely sort I really found entrancing, the magic worked by Tommaso's mother Piera.
There was one thing that bothered me quite a bit about the book, though, which was Tommaso's sexual relationship with a much older man. Possibly this would have been less squicky in that time period, but what can I say, I found it unsettling and had to think of Tommaso as older in order for it not to bother me too much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The Stars Dispose is a marvelously creative novel, beautifully written. It begins very much as a historical novel, set in Renaissance Florence, a rich tapestry of life among the artists, guilds and powerful -- all drawn as fully-conceived characters. Only gradually does Roessner introduce magical elements and hers is a particularly arcane approach to mystic realms, vastly different from the usual tropes of fantasy, just as this Florence is vastly different from the medievalist settings of "epic fantasy."
Roessner's use of language is exquisite and she doesn't hesitate to drop the reader into an unfamiliar world of new words and mores, all without dragging the story down with explanations. This is mature writing intended for mature readers. Enough of you must read this and press for completion of the trilogy; two books is not sufficient.
Admission: I know Ms Roessner but honestly would not go on about the book if it wasn't as terrific as it is.
Renaissance Florence comes alive in this story of Tommaso de Befanini, apprentice sculptor and cook who is at the center of monumentous historical events, rubbing shoulders with the likes of young Catherine de Medici and Michelangelo. Tommaso is a pawn in a cosmic game his mother and Ruggiero are playing with sorcery and astrology against the forces of darkness. A cat and her litter of special kittens are integral to the magic and the plot, which I loved. However, I think a lot of readers will not, or will want a story with more action, or will be offended by the homosexual love story sub-plot.
A good book, worth reading. Something about it is uneven, although I can't put my finger on it—the pacing or the focus or some other nebulous thing like that. But it is written well, sometimes even beautifully, with plenty of sensual description.
This may have been the first fantasy I encountered with a queer (as in gay or bisexual) major character. I've always counted that in its favor not only because hey, it was about time, but because it was done well—sensibly, sympathetically, believably, in short successfully.
Beautifully researched, the setting (historically, geographically, architecturally) is brought to life and peopled with characters both real and imagined. Rich with cultural details but imbued with supernatural elements, this is speculative fiction at its best. Really enjoyed the main character's journey from childhood to young adulthood and seeing the depth of detail in the life of artists and cooks, all set against the turmoil of 1400s Florence.
So richly imagined -- really well written. It's been a while since i read this, but in picking up John Saturnall's Feast, I was reminded of this novel and had to look it up.