MASK OF DREAMS

In this historical novel, an Italian girl navigates her engagement to a mysterious man in 1490s Venice.

Caterina never really knew her mother, so she is used to a life ruled by her father, Ludovico, and her nurse, Nonna. She is betrothed to Ariosto, a cruel man who is many years her senior. When Ariosto is lost at sea, Ludovico seeks new suitors for Caterina. Meanwhile, Rade, a Slavic man more accustomed to violence than finery, wins a letter written by Ludovico about finding a suitor in a card game. Rade makes his way to Venice, believing he is fated to be with Caterina. He employs a man to make a skinlike mask for him to wear to hide his scarred face. But once Ludovico agrees to Rade’s lengthy betrothal to Caterina, he finds he must wear the mask all the time. He is enamored with Caterina, though he has a rival: the dashing Alessandro, a young man with whom she is falling in love. The competition heats up between the two men, with Rade’s jealousy potentially pushing Caterina away. Later, Rade finds himself dealing with the execution of a friend and his discovery of Caterina and Alessandro alone together. Grant’s prose is excellent—it is evident throughout the engrossing story that she has a sharp style and knows how to skillfully set a scene, toeing a fine line between descriptive and overwrought: “Finally, as suddenly as it had come, the shoal turned and faded away into the limitless gray of the horizon….Fortune is a woman, thought Rade. Would that it were so.” The author’s characters are similarly well defined. Through Rade, readers see a life hardened by violence and the fear of rejection, which necessitates wearing a mask. Additionally, Rade’s deepening affection for Caterina is especially engaging. As for the other characters, Grant effectively balances her cast with intriguing minor players, including Rade’s sensual “teacher,” Rosa, and his former second-in-command, Vuk. But there are some moments that feel superfluous or that cause the tale to drag a bit. Though the betrothal is meant to be long, it sometimes seems as if Rade and Caterina spend a lot of time apart. The story would have benefited from more scenes with the two protagonists.

An enjoyable betrothal tale in a vivid historical setting.