The Stars Dispose [Mass Market Paperback]

Michaela Roessner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1998

Set in Renaissance Florence, this fantasy retelling of the life of Catherine de' Medici is as beautiful and as richly magical as the works of the great artists who people its pages. When Catherine was born, she was the sole legitimate heir to a great fortune and great power. But her father had died before she was born, and her mother died only a few weeks afterward, leaving the child to the guardianship of the pope and the fosterage of servants. From this beginning, Roessner tells an intimate story, of the servant families of the Medici who practice the secret magics of the kitchen and hearth. The Befanini family is bound to the Medici by blood and oaths, through children born on the wrong side of the blanket, recognized but not legitimate. Thomas, the son of Catherine's foster mother, is bound particularly to Catherine by magic and love, for he is destined to become Catherine's chef, and to that end he is not only taught the arts of the kitchen but is apprenticed out to a sculptor, and befriended by the great Michelangelo. But war intervenes in the charted courses of these children, and in the struggles between the pope and the German emperor and the city of Florence itself, their futures - and their very lives - are set at risk.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Befanini family rules the kitchens of the de Medici and their allies, serving well by fortifying their patrons' reputations and influence with all the power that a brilliant meal can supply. Young Ginevra Befanini serves more directly as companion and confidante to Caterina de Medici, while Ginevra's brother Tommaso is learning his family's craft and enhancing it with his own ideas and talents. The political forces of Renaissance Florence pull and push at them; plague stalks them; and other alien forces move through the kitchens and the city, menacing Caterina and her friends.

Historically precise, culinarily evocative (at the very least, have some pan di campagna and olives on hand as you read), and fantastically inventive, Michaela Roessner's writing will sweep you into the mazelike streets of Florence and the ominous tension of sorcerous conflict. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Set in Renaissance Florence, this historical fantasy features Catherine de Medici, her astrologer, and her chef. The book abounds in colorful descriptions of the city and its people, but the focal point is food and its preparation; there are even recipes and a food glossary. Highly recommended for fantasy collections.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; Reprint edition (March 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812550145
• ISBN-13: 978-0812550146
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,222,642 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Stars Dispose is a magical brew of Renaissance fantasy, August 20, 2000

By 

Rebecca Brown "rebeccasreads" (Clallam Bay, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Stars Dispose (Hardcover)

Tomasso is twelve years old & his world, as an apprentice to his father the Chef of the House of Medici, is in the great kitchens of Renaissance Florence - where bastards roam & astrolgers rule; heirs plot & marriages are made. Caterina de' Medici's world is in the upstairs shadows, learning with her handmaid, Tomasso's sister, to survive long enough to attain her inheritance. Amid the layers of master & servant lies the world of the Occult - older than Christianity working its astonishing magic. Meanwhile plague & barbarians are knocking at the doors of the pretty Italian city.

I am in awe of this author's writing craft. She has the skill to sketch before you a great feast, a magnificent sculpture, a dazzling spot of magic & enchanting cats! I would disappear for hours into the worlds she has created, fed by her well chosen words, authentic details & breadth of view.

If you love historical fantasies with just the right balance of fact & fantasy as to make the read seamless, then this is a book for you. For my full review & eInterview with Michaela Roessner do visit my site [...].

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Ah, Florence......, October 3, 2005

By 

Linda Pagliuco "katknit" (CT, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Stars Dispose (Mass Market Paperback)

Astra declinant, non necessitant.
The stars dispose, they do not compel.

A rich blend of history and authentic period detail with a touch of mysticism, The Stars Dispose tells the story of young Tommaso de Befanini, born into a Florentine family famed for its fine cooking. Tommaso, only 11 years of age, finds himself struggling with more than learning to properly carve a roast. The city of Florence is being torn asunder by warring factions, and the Befanini are employed by many of the important movers and shakers. This novel teems with famous characters - Michelangelo, Caterina de Medici, and Pope Clement, to name but a few. Roessner is a skillful writer, particular in her flair for description. Where this book falls short is in its plot, which is surprisingly slow and lumbering, ultimately leaving the reader hanging, a device that suggests plans for a sequel. Still, Stars is well worth reading for its atmosphere and winning characters. And if you like reading about fabulous feasts and recipes, open a bottle of your favorite vino, nibble some melone and prosciutto, and curl up with The Stars Dispose.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I didn't expect to love this as much as I did!, March 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Stars Dispose (Mass Market Paperback)

When I first read the back cover, I thought this was one of those books I would use to pass the time waiting for the bus, but which wouldn't hold my attention for long. To be honest, the appeal was in the size, not the content... I found that I could not put it down. It took me a little while to figure out who the little kitchen goddess is (I won't reveal the secret; besides, I suspect I was just slower than most on the uptake...) but I was certainly drawn into the family's lives. The relationship between Tomasso and Michaelangelo felt a little contrived, but it didn't bother me enough to detract from the appeal of the book. The atmosphere of the book seemed authentic and sometimes I could almost smell the stew bubbling away. (Now, I'm a sucker for any book that includes recipes, but that's not the only thing I liked...) When I was finished, I did not put THE STARS DISPOSE into my pile of finished paperbacks (the ones I'll be taking to the used book store to trade in on more paperbacks.) It's a keeper, so I can read it again and relive the magic.