The Sword of Venice — Thomas Quinn

The powerful, raging second novel in The Venetians trilogy that tells of the bitter and enduring conflict between two powerful Italian noble families

The Lion of St. Mark told the story of the deep-seated rivalry between the patrician Ziani and Soranzo families---a long history of hatred and strife that had passed from one generation to the next. In the end, the brave Antonio Ziani and the proud Giovanni Soranzo set aside their personal vendettas against each other in order to save their beloved city of Venice from attack by the Ottoman Turks.

But their truce could not endure. Though Venice has managed to remain free from invasion, danger still looms on the horizon as she is threatened, in turn, by her implacable foes---the Turks, rival Italian city-states, and the papacy, all seeking to reduce her legendary power and possess her great wealth.

In these perilous times, new members of the Ziani and Soranzo families wage a bitter and violent campaign of retribution against one another. The truce that Giovanni and Antonio had made together proves fleeting as their sons resume the passionate feud with even greater malice.

Told against the backdrop of historical events---the continuing war between Venice and the Ottoman Empire, the Ferrara War that exploded across the Italian peninsula, and the constant intrigues of the powerful papacy---The Sword of Venice brings to life the Ziani and Soranzo families, who must cope with love, loss, treachery, kidnapping, murder, war, and peace. As invading forces march ever closer, Venice and her leading families must fight for survival or perish with their city.