by Anne Rice
First published 1995
In the opulent world of 18th-century Italian opera, a new breed of singer reigns supreme: the castrati. Their unearthly voices captivate audiences, but their castration condemns them to a lifetime of scorn. When a young castrato is caught up in a deadly feud, he must navigate the decadent intrigue of Venice and the volcanic chaos of Naples to seek his revenge. As passions ignite and his own humanity hangs in the balance, the castrato must decide how far he will go to claim the glory he's always craved.
Genres: drama, romance, literary-fiction, historical-fiction
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, revenge
Setting: Venice (Italy)
Period: Eighteenth Century
544 pages · Paperback · Random House Publishing Group
Content warnings: violence