Sofia is a 14-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select weeks, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role! She talks about it below, but you can find her on Instagram here!
Hi readers! Before you read this review, I just wanted to let you all know about my new Instagram account, @sofias_ya_book_nook! On this account, I will be posting each time a new review comes out, along with some other types of fun book posts. I would really appreciate it if you checked out my page and followed so you can stay up to date! Thank you, and without further ado, onto the review!
Dear readers,
Please let me introduce you to Medici Heist by Caitlin Schneiderhan, a fast-paced story set in the renaissance! Told from many perspectives, this novel follows a young team’s plan to steal from the Pope. Set during the Reformation period of the renaissance, tensions are high and the riches of the church were even higher! This exciting book is also packed with historical references, including Cosimo de Medici (head of the all powerful Medici family that controlled Florence), the Palazzo Medici, and even Michelangelo. The exhilarating action balances out the history though, making this the perfect book for someone new to historical fiction!
Goodreads Summary
Welcome to Florence, 1517, a world of intrigue, opulence, secrets, and murder. The Medici family rules the city from their seat of wealth, but the people of Florence remember the few decades they spent as a Republic, free from the Medicis and their puppet Pope, Leo X. Sharp-witted seventeen-year-old con-woman Rosa Cellini has plans for the Pope and the Medicis – and, more specifically, the mountain of indulgence money they’ve been extorting from the people of Tuscany. To pull off the Renaissance’s greatest robbery, she’ll recruit a team of capable Sarra the tinkerer, Khalid the fighter, and Giacomo, the irrepressible master of disguise. To top it all off, and to smooth their entrance into the fortress-like Palazzo Medici, Rosa even enlists the reluctant help of famed artist and local misanthrope, Michelangelo. Old secrets resurface and tensions in the gang flare as the authorities draw closer and the Medicis’ noose pulls tighter around Tuscany itself. What began as a robbery becomes a bid to save Florence from certain destruction – if Rosa and company don’t destroy each other first. Get ready for an absolute swashbuckling riot, beginning with a ‘mud’ pie to the Pope’s face, and ending with a climatic heist that would give Danny Ocean a run for his money. Bursting with snark, innuendo and action, Medici Heist is your next un-put-downable obsession.
My Thoughts
Medici Heist is a high stakes novel where the main characters have the dangerous plan to steal from the Medici family of 1500’s Florence. I originally picked this book up because I recognized the name “Medici” from my history class’s Renaissance unit and am so glad I did! I was not prepared for the intricate plot that included many mysterious characters and a secret plot to change Florence’s government. Each member has a different reason for their involvement in the heist, ranging from unprocessed grief to escapism, all of which unravels throughout the story. This book truly feels like an action movie at times, with all the intense and exhilarating scenes! Because of this, I think Medici Heist is perfect for a typical action reader to sample historical fiction! Giacomo’s charming personality balances Khalid’s tough facade. Sarra and Rosa seem to have history together that they aren’t willing to talk about. Michelangelo is the wild card who could reveal their plan to the Medicis at any point, certainly killing them all. As the heist continues, characters’ relationships evolve as they learn the value of teamwork.
Medici Heist is a young adult book that delivers an exciting reading experience while also teaching a little history! There are plenty of action rich scenes but none get too gory in detail.
**Thanks so much, Sofia!**