I got this ex-library hardcover from Better World Books. I've enjoyed the "Saint-Germain" series since the first book,Hotel Transylvania, set in 18th-century Paris; the mix of historical detail with perilous adventure and occasional steamy romance is an effective one. [The books jump around in time, so if you're devoted to reading a series in order you'll have to decide whether to read these in order of publication or in order by in-story timeframe. The author's web site includes a list of the books in either order. The books each stand alone quite well, though.] Some of my favorites include Blood Games, set in ancient Rome, and Out of the House of Life, set in ancient Egypt and, so far, the earliest look at the Count's history. I also love The Saint-Germain Chronicles, a collection of short stories ranging from the 17th century to modern times. [The down side of the asynchronous order is that if one has followed the series as the books came out, it will become obvious that a main character in the 1500s was not mentioned in books set in the 1600s or 1700s and therefore probably didn't last long - but there could be many reasons for this, so perhaps it isn't that much of an issue!]

This one fits in between the events of The Palace and Darker Jewels, and is set primarily in Venice, with a risky road-trip to Amsterdam. (Despite taking place during the turbulent days of Henry VIII, the emphasis is on the European Reformation - a bit sad, as I'd have loved a scene where St. Germain encountered Thomas Cromwell!) St. Germain has established himself as a wealthy foreigner in Venice, and is the patron of a talented musician - a young woman - whose compositions he's having printed and whose career he plans to promote. They are also (surprise!) lovers, with the usual careful dance of when and how much of his true nature to reveal to her, before the decision can be made as to whether she will opt to become one of his kind after her death. His attempts to protect her while he's away for a long business trip fail rather badly thanks to an untrustworthy steward and assorted enemies, with ongoing negotiations between St. Germain and his faithful Roger and their allies against the suspicious and/or corrupt establishment.

Things seem to work out quite well by the end - with a rather chilling fate in store for one of the villains, possibly even harsher than he deserved, though I didn't weep for him. Others, too, get their comeuppance, but some are too highly-placed to be vulnerable, and so the political dance continues. As for the fate of St. Germain and those he tries to protect, there's a brief epilogue revealing some of that; I won't say more.

Another fun entry in the series, imbued with the details of life in Venice in the troubled years of 1530-1532.

Guidelines for safely visiting and stocking Little Free Libraries during the COVID-19 pandemic, from the LFL site here.

I left this book in the Little Free Library; hope someone enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in NH here.]

*** Released for the 2021 Clean Start for the New Year challenge, for the embedded "Ace" in the title. ***