The Wind Dancer [Mass Market Paperback]

Iris Johansen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1991

A hidden killer...a conspiracy of treachery...and two people caught in the most desperate game of all...


In Renaissance Italy, intrigue is as intricate as carved cathedral doors, but none is so captivating as that surrounding the prized Wind Dancer, the lost treasure of a family--and of the man who will stop at nothing to reclaim it. Lionello Andreas is bound by his vow to guard the exquisite statue. But to recover what is rightfully his, he will need the help of a thief--one he can control body and soul. He finds his answer on the treacherous backstreets of Florence, in a sharp-witted young woman whose poverty leaves her no choice. But in the end, the allure of the Wind Dancer, and the ruthlessness of those who would possess her, will catapult them both into a terrifying realm where death may be the most merciful escape.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Johansen ( Strong, Hot Windsone title/pk ) gets her new trilogy off to a promising start with a lively and imaginative blend of romance and adventure set in early-16th-century Italy. A small gold statue of the winged horse Pegasus that, as legend has it, was given to Lionello Andreas's family at the fall of Troy has been stolen by Lion's enemy, Francisco Damari. The rightful owner intends to steal it back. A contact alerts him to an accomplished pickpocket whose loyalty and skills can be bought: 16-year-old Sanchia, a slave owned by a local printer. Lion acquires the girl, intending to exploit her talents to recover the statue and then retire her to a life of comfort. But the plan goes awry, and and by the time Sanchia falls into the hands of the brutal Damari, Lion has already begun to wonder if his real treasure might in fact be a light-fingered young woman. In Lorenzo Vasaro, companion to the hero, Johansen offers an unlikely but likable character who upstages everyone else in the book, a worldly-wise and intriguing blend of ruthlessness and charm. 700,000 first printing.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Praise for Iris Johansen’s novels

“Iris Johansen keeps the reader intrigued with complex characters and plenty of plot twists....Moves so fast, you’ll be reading the epilogue before you notice.”
--People

“Johansen’s thrillers ooze enough testosterone to suggest she also descends from the house of Robert Ludlum. Johansen pushes the gender boundary in popular fiction, offering up that rarity: a woman’s novel for men.”
--Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (February 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553288555
• ISBN-13: 978-0553288551
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.1 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #225,562 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Iris Johansen is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Pandora's Daughter, Stalemate, Killer Dreams, On the Run, and many more. She lives near Atlanta, Georgia.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved It!!, February 13, 2006

By 

Cinder Coy (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wind Dancer (Mass Market Paperback)

I read "The Wind Dancer" a long time ago. Well, actually I didn't get all the way through it. I read as far as I could stand; I hated it. What I hated most was how Sanchia was such an obedient slave. At the time, I wasn't thinking about how she grew up a slave and thought to always be one, for her mother told her to simply accept it. I was outraged by how Lion had so much control over her. Sickened.

Well, not too long ago as I was cleaning, I found this book and thought that maybe I should give another attempt at reading it, considering the fact that I actually paid money for it.

I read and read; I couldn't put it down. Sanchia's attitude towards her enslavement definitely does change. Sanchia also becomes a very strong woman. I felt that she grew much wiser after that unfortunate incident at Solinari (sp?).

This book is definitely a must read! I felt connected with the characters, and every single one of the characters were as every bit as interesting as the hero and heroine, Lion and Sanchia. However, Lorenzo is by far my favorite character. Perhaps it's his witty words that bring him out the most. At first, you think he's emotionless and hides behind his jokes and sarcasm. But is he? Near the end your have an entirely different attitude towards him. He really does show his true colors.

Beware that this book has many unfortunate events, some almost unbelieveably outrageous. Your reaction may be-- "NO WAY! How could Johansen possibly do this to us?!"

You should definitey get this book! And I hope I didn't give too much away in this review :/

23 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's amazing that no one else reviewed this book, August 26, 1998

By 

Helga Zahra - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wind Dancer (Mass Market Paperback)

The first and best of the Wind Dancer trilogy, this book contains all the Iris Johansen ingredients for a good read - a tough hero, a resourceful heroine, betrayal and suffering - with a happy ending. Plus steamy scenes. Iris Johansen does tend to manipulate history (see Storm Winds for a good example) but always in a believable manner and always leaving the reader with a feeling that it could have happened that way.

I like Johansen because her characters are not static - they evolve throughout the story - becoming stronger all the time. She's not too squemish about revenge either.

What I regretted was the manner in which nearly all the supporting characters were killed off, especially little Paolo - It seemed so cruel but it was actually crucial for the plot and for demonstrating the ruthlessness of the Borgias

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than I was expecting, March 30, 2004

By 

truefeather77 "truefeather77" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Wind Dancer (Mass Market Paperback)

This book shouldn't be classed as a "romance novel", because it's much better than what usually passes for that genre: it's a real novel, with complex characters, genuine development and transformation, none of the shameless, embarrassing features that bring the level down.

The hero is not perfect, and is not a knight in shining armor; no one is entirely good or entirely evil, just complex people in a primitive time, trying to live and be happy. This makes the characters so much more intricate, convincing, and fascinating - - and the book a much more engrossing read.

I wasn't expecting this at first read, and it took me a while to adjust; I found the secondary characters more likeable and compelling than the primary couple. Re-reading, I found them all fascinating, although I quite agreed with the 'official' review above - - the Lorenzo character steals the show.

The best feature: the human relationships. The author shows how historical and personal events often/always spring from the simple human motives: jealousy, spite, lust, love, mastery, competition, desire to win the fair maiden. These are the forces that shape history.