Welcome readers to my stop on The Poison Keepers Blog Tour
THE POISON KEEPER
BY DEBORAH SWIFT
Publication Date: May 18, 2021
Quire Books
Paperback & eBook; 406 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Naples 1633
Aqua Tofana – One drop to heal. Three drops to kill.
Giulia Tofana longs for more responsibility in her mother’s apothecary business, but Mamma has always been secretive and refuses to tell Giulia the hidden keys to her success. When Mamma is arrested for the poisoning of the powerful Duke de Verdi, Giulia is shocked to uncover the darker side of her trade.
Giulia must run for her life, and escapes to Naples, under the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, to the home of her Aunt Isabetta, a famous courtesan. But when Giulia hears that her mother has been executed, and the cruel manner of her death, she swears she will wreak revenge on the Duke de Verdi.
The trouble is, Naples is in the grip of Domenico, the Duke’s brother, who controls the city with the ‘Camorra’, the mafia. Worse, her Aunt Isabetta, under Domenico’s thrall, insists that she should be consort to him – the brother of the man she has vowed to kill.
Based on the legendary life of Italian poisoner Giulia Tofana, this is a story of hidden family secrets, and how even the darkest desires can be vanquished by courage and love.
AMAZON US | AMAZON UK | BARNES AND NOBLE | INDIEBOUND
Please excuse any grammatical errors, or typos. I have done my best, but in reality I am just reader. and will leave the writing to all the incredible authors out there.
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers.
The Poison Keeper by Deborah Swift is a thrilling tale of Giulia Tofana.
1633 Palermo, Giulia Tofana desires to learn all the secrets that her mother keeps from her in her apothecary. When her mother is linked to the attempted murder of cruel Duke de Verdi. The shocking truth comes to life, Giulia mother is a notorious poisoner, who supplies women the means to escape the harsh realities of marriage.
In a series of events Giulia’s world is turned upside down, she must flee the own home she knows leaving behind her mother and everything she knows. Barely escaping with her life she boards a boat bound for Naples.
Giulia D’Adamo seeks out her aunt Isabetta, who she knows nothing about. Upon her arrival she faced with true reality of her aunt’s profession. She now finds herself thrust into the life of courtesan. The realization of her mother outcomes to light, along with her aunt’s political connections.
Giulia vengeance takes a life of its own and finds herself taking up her mother’s line of work as her profession as a courtesan comes to end.
Swift delivers another vividly descriptive, interesting, and well-written read here. The characters and a setting both totally captivated and intrigued me. I was totally taken in and fascinated with both the main character and the details of her life.
The book is the perfect blend of historical fiction and the authors own creativity. Once I started reading this one it was hard not to get totally wrapped up into its fascinating storyline. I devoured this one as fast as I could and was completely drawn into the lives of these characters.
Thanks to the author and to HFBT!
About the Author
Deborah Swift is the author of three previous historical novels for adults, The Lady’s Slipper, The Gilded Lily, and A Divided Inheritance, all published by Macmillan/St Martin’s Press, as well as the Highway Trilogy for teens (and anyone young at heart!). Her first novel was shortlisted for the Impress prize for new novelists.
She lives on the edge of the beautiful and literary English Lake District – a place made famous by the poets Wordsworth and Coleridge.
For more information, please visit Deborah Swift’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.
Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, May 17
Guest Post at Novels Alive
Review at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals
Tuesday, May 18
Guest Post at The Writing Desk
Wednesday, May 19
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Thursday, May 20
Excerpt at Passages to the Past
Friday, May 21
Review at Booking With Janelle
Monday, May 24
Review at Bookworlder
Wednesday, May 26
Review at Novels Alive
Review at Library of Clean Reads
Thursday, May 27
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books
Interview at Books & Benches
Friday, May 28
Feature at History from a Woman’s Perspective
Monday, May 31
Review at Donna’s Book Blog
Tuesday, June 1
Excerpt at What Is That Book About
Thursday, June 3
Review at Reader_ceygo
Friday, June 4
Excerpt at Coffee and Ink
Interview at Reader_ceygo
Review at The Enchanted Shelf
Giveaway
Enter to win a signed paperback copy or eBook of The Poison Keeper!
The giveaway is open internationally and ends on June 4th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
Direct Link: https://gleam.io/competitions/vGawO-the-poison-keeper
Thank you!
Gwendalyn’s Books 
Thank you so much for this wonderful photo and review! I love it! And love the new blog look too!
Amy
HF Virtual Book Tours
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