Such vivid descriptions of Venice! After reading this novel I have placed this city on my "must see" list. ( )

I just could not get into this book--the author uses far too many unnecessary adjectives and forced metaphors. ( )

Review by Stephanie

The Murano glassmakers of Venice are celebrated and revered. But now three are dead, killed for attempting to leave the city that both prized their work and kept them prisoner. For in this, the 17th century, the secret of their craft must, by law, never leave Venetian shores. Yet there is someone who keeps the secret while defying tradition. She is Sophia Fiolario, and she, too, is a glassmaker. Her crime is being a woman --Sophia is well aware that her family would be crushed by scandal if the truth of her knowledge and skill with glass were revealed. But there has never been any threat-until now. A wealthy nobleman with strong connections to the powerful Doge has requested her hand in marriage, and her refusal could draw dangerous attention. Yet having to accept and cease her art would devastate her. If there is an escape, Sophia intends to find it.

Now, between creating precious glass parts for one of Professor Galileo Galilei's astonishing inventions and attending lavish parties at the Doge's Palace, Sophia is crossing paths with very influential people--including one who could change her life forever. But in Venice, every secret has its price. And Sophia must decide how much she is willing to pay.

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Is it just me, or was history class one of the most painful classes ever, in high school? It wasn't particularly hard, just...boring.
The Secret of the Glass by Donna Russo Morin is of the "historical fiction" genre. For me, reading historical novels was always the best part of history class. It became weary to have to read pages and pages of thick, heavy textbooks, and then sit through hours and hours of dull documentaries (though they were an easy method for me to catch up on my sleep), so being able to read something fictional, yet still relevant, was always a sort of relief. Had I been given the chance to read The Secrets of the Glass in 10th grade Honors World History, I might have dreaded that course a little less. Otherwise, I couldn't quite get myself to enjoy this book.

Don't get me wrong, it's beautifully written. Morin pays such breathtaking attention to detail, and I swear, there wasn't one word that was used twice throughout the entire book. Aside from extensive vocabulary and amazing imagery however, the story lacked intrigue.

Sophia, the protagonist, is an entirely two-dimensional character. She's the most beautiful of the three Fiolario daughters, and the most innocent of them too. Her biggest concerns are 1) her father is suffering from dementia; 2) she is betrothed to a man she despises, Pasquale da Fuligna; 3) she is in "love" with another man, Teodoro Gradenigo; and 4) she is the only woman in the world who knows the art of glassmaking. But because Sophia was such an unrealistic and unmoving character, I couldn't find mind myself feeling sympathetic for her at all. First of all, she practically bawled every time her father blanked out. Every so often, he would forget everything, everyone, and the doctors said he was losing his mind to age. Sophia is supposed to be the practical goody-good virgin; she's not doing anything practical or goody-good by crying for her father's disease. It was painful for me to read about such babyish behavior. Secondly, Morin made it clear that Sophia must marry da Fuligna, a man who is neither rich, nor handsome in any way. I actually laughed at this a little; surely the Fiolario family must have had the tiniest ounce of dignity. Why they would marry their eldest daughter off to a man who neither loved their daughter, nor had anything to offer, I'll be darned. And of course, Teodoro. Ah. He was probably the only character in the book I could imagine without giggling or wincing. Handsome, charming, polite...what a gentleman. So much of gentleman to Sophia actually, that within first meeting him, she declared to herself that she was in love with him. Chemistry? Nooo, who needs chemistry when you have love at first sight (even though you're already engaged)?

Morin was clearly attempting to weave an intricate plot with complicated details, but for some reason, the two didn't mix. The Secret of the Glass made out for a really, really interesting textbook. I could have written my essay on Roman Studies with just this book, in the 10th grade. But as a novel, it was weak and had difficulty capturing my attention.

I understand that this book was written because of an initial passion Donna Russo Morin held for Italian glassworks...a little too big of a passion, perhaps? I mean, the first paragraph of the book is an epic simile where glassblowing is compared to the reaching of an orgasm. I thought I was a fan of the hot and sweaty stuff until I read those few lines.

Most historical romances are romance novels with little tidbits of the respective history thrown in; The Secret of the Glass was an informative description with tidbits of respective romance thrown in. If you're into that kind of stuff, this book will enchant you. But if you're like me and require more fiction than fact, then Morin's story may bore you to tears.

Rating: six out of ten. Would I recommend? Sure. Enthusiastically? Eh...

http://www.romancing-the-book.com/2010/11/review-secret-of-glass-by-donna-russo.... ( )

In this second historical novel by author Donna Russo Morin, readers are welcomed to the luscious, secret world of 17th century Venice, where the Murano glassmakers create some of the most beautiful and most desirable glass in the world. The local authorities are so obsessed with keeping the process behind the glassmaking secret that they kill any glassmaker who dares to leave Venice.

After three glassmakers are killed for attempting to leave the city, the Murano glassmakers are in an uproar. Sophia Fiolario, though, has committed the greatest crime of all. In the absence of a male heir, her glassmaker father has taught Sophia Murano glassmaking in secret, though she is a woman and absolutely in love with the craft. But when her father falls ill and the family business and wealth are put in jeopardy, Sophia is forced into an engagement with a wealthy, well-connected nobleman who can solve all her family's financial woes -but that would mean giving up glassmaking forever. After becoming the personal glassmaker for Galileo's inventions, Sophia becomes drawn into the world of Venician politics.

While The Secret of the Glass offers an interesting setup, it doesn't move much past that. The world is interesting, the conflict is interesting, Sophia is interesting, but they fail to hold the reader's attention for long and the plot manages to be so spread out over such little action that the story comes to a crawl for the majority of the novel that left me wondering why this story wasn't nearly 300 pages shorter. The inclusion of Galileo as a character was somewhat unique, but seemed to add nothing to the story other than to attempt to inject something different into the plot.

For me, basically everything about The Secret of the Glass fell flat. It was a great idea, but it was never fully realized or well-executed. This one was painful -flat setting, flat characters and a pointless plot that just never came together. ( )

Donna Russo Morin's second historical novel "The Secret of the Glass" takes place in 17th century Venice among the courts and canals of Le Serenissima's Island of Murano. For centuries Murano has been renowned for the gorgeous and shimmering glass it creates. Many families have taught generation after generation, the secret of glass making, a secret forbidden to leave the island.

With polished writing and a penchant for historical detail, Morin tells her story of young Sophia, daughter of Murano's best glassmaker, who in secret has learned the art of glassmaking from her father. Not a soul but they know that she is a proficient and talented artisan, and her knowledge must be kept in confidence. The Doge and politicians governing Venice forbid women to work the glass under threat of punishment, imprisonment or death. The author begins the story with Sophia's father developing dementia, causing his glassmaking hands to falter and no longer create. Worried for her family's future, Sophia works the glass in concealed operation by night, keeping the family shop profiting with no one to know but herself. A knock on the door one day surprises her, none other than the famed astronomer Galileo is requesting an unusual glass lens for a scientific invention he hopes to impress the Doge and his council with. Realizing she is up for the task, she agrees to the commission and manufactures the fragile work for him, producing Galileo's first set of telescopic lens.

Unfortunately for Sophia, with her father failing rapidly, her parents make a marriage match for her to a local noble. A man Sophia finds repulsive and arrogant. He has no promises of love, holds no respect or kindness for Sophia, and out and out informs her he is marrying her for the benefit of taking over the glassworks. In shock she is told that once wed, after her father has died, he will send her sisters and mother to a convent. Doing her family duty by acquiescing to this folly, she and her fiancé Pasquale begin to show face amidst the grand fete's and festivals as he properly courts her before marriage bands are set. Wishing a way out of her dilemma, Sophia is introduced to another handsome gentleman at one evenings event, and from this blooming friendship she finds the love of her life, as well as a dear friend with a plan to outwit Pasquale and to save Sophia's family livelihood.

Glamour and glitz, opulent parties and romantic gondola rides permeate the pages of this historical novel, setting the atmosphere for an alluring portrayal of Venice in the 1600s. Although I found the novel a bit long and drawn out and came across many boring sections, all and all it is an enjoyable read well told. Morin's writing style is very accomplished, her historical research allowed me a detailed view of the times, and her character development very endearing. I feel the short fall was within the plot itself. There were a lot pages for a very simple story that was not very complex, and I found it very predictable as it fell into the formula of most historical romance novels of this kind. Having Galileo make a cameo appearance will more than likely be the key interest for readers deciding to purchase the book or not, But I warn that his presence is scarce. Venice is one of my favorite locations to escape to when armchair traveling, and I felt the author did an exquisite job of taking me there, and presenting me with a fairytale Venice of the past. ( )