Rated of 5
by Colleen T. (Lakewood, CO) Daughter of Siena
Average story with some interesting twists. Would like to have seen more in depth character development.
Rated of 5
by Samantha H. (Golden, CO) Daughter of Siena - nothing special
This novel got off to a slow start, not because of a lack of plot elements, but because it took me a long time to gain sympathy for any of the characters. I found the sections on the history of Siena interesting, but otherwise the story did not draw me in. I also found the publisher's choice of printing the first section of each chapter in italics detracted from my reading enjoyment. Italics is not easy to read, and in many cases the first sections went on for several pages -- all in italics, which I found annoying.
All in all the book was okay. Nothing special in my opinion.
Rated of 5
by Rita H. (Centennial, CO) The Daughter of Siena
This book will stand among my favorites. All of the characters are so well depicted and gripping, even the minor ones. I was quickly drawn into the drama and intrigue of the Palio horse races and the power struggle of medieval Siena. This is a book that I could not put down and has made me eager to read Fiorato's other books.
Rated of 5
by Debbie-Lyn C. (Kitty Hawk, N.C.) The Daughter of Siena
I enjoy reading books that link historical information along with a good story line. After personally visiting Siena, Italy I particularly appreciate the facts Marina Fiorato incorporates into her romantic story of Pia and Riccardo. It is wonderful to look back and remember that beautiful Italian city with a better educational concept of the Piazza del Campo, the Palio, and the 17 Contrade.
Rated of 5
by Shirley F. (Franksville, WI) Sense of Siena
I love historical fiction and this book did not disappoint. It took a while to get into the sense of the book but the characters were engaging and the author made the rivalries of the Palio seem real. I liked the story although I must say the romance was a little predictable. This is a great summer read and an entertaining look back into the 1700s in Italy. It made me want to go back to Siena to really investigate the contradi and the meaning of the Palio.
Rated of 5
by DEJ (Riverside, CA) Good Summer Read
Replete with vivid descriptions of the beautiful city of Siena, well-researched details of horse racing in the Palio (an event that continues to this day), and tidbits from the captivating intrigue of the Medici family, Daughter of Sienna has the potential to be a fascinating treat of historical fiction. Against this richly textured backdrop, however, the characters Marino Fiorato has created seem oddly one dimensional. Pia is the typically good, beautiful, and slightly rebellious historical heroine. Riccardo as her love interest and potential hero of the tale is served up as a literary metaphor for the figures of Romulus and Remus, sons of Rome and victims of familial intrigue that is echoed predictably in Fiorato's tale. Zebra is a classically Dickensian street urchin. Villains are not characterized beyond their distinctive peccadilloes. By far the most interesting character is Violente whose personal story is a welcome counterpoint to the less-well developed plots lines with which her story connects. Overall a reasonably satisfying read for a lazy summer afternoon, but not as stimulating or engaging as one might hope.
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of 5
by Colleen T. (Lakewood, CO) 
of 5
by Rita H. (Centennial, CO) 
of 5
by Debbie-Lyn C. (Kitty Hawk, N.C.) 
