From the blurb: 1570 in the Italian city of Ferrara. Sixteen-year-old Serafina is ripped by her family from an illicit love affair and forced into the convent of Santa Caterina, renowned for its superb music. Serafina's one weapon is her glorious voice, but she refuses to sing. Madonna Chiara, an abbess as fluent in politics as she is in prayer, finds her new charge has unleashed a power play - rebellion, ecstasies and hysterias - within the convent. However, watching over Serafina is Zuana, the sister in charge of the infirmary, who understands and might even challenge her incarceration.

Reserved for a special Uncon purpose.

Releasing at the 2011 BCUK Unconvention in Nottingham.

Thank you again:-) I heard Sarah Dunant talk about this when it was first published and have wanted to read it ever since.

Really good, atmospheric story. There are a few authors out there writing about monks so it's nice to read something set in a nunnery - which have their own fascinating politics.

I liked the way this wasn't presented as a simple good vs bad story. Serafina wasn't some innocent heroine, and the nunnery wasn't SUCH a terrible place to be within the grand scheme of rennaisance Italy. But at the same time, it's a pretty grim life for an adventurous young woman.

If you are new to bookcrossing - welcome and congratulations for finding a book! Please leave a journal entry to let me and any other readers know where it has gone and what you thought of it.

No takers at the meetup so I've picked this back up to release elsewhere.

Picked up at the monthly meeting on Thursday.