THE HOUSE OF BARIC

Bald wraps up her House of Baric trilogy, a family drama of war, intrigue, and romance, set in the mid-17th-century Venetian Republic.

It’s the summer of 1649, and the Baric household is on the move. Picking up where the second book in Bald’s trilogy ended, Part 3 begins with Jero Baric and Ruby Spiros on the road. Accompanied by four mercenaries, the couple is now deep within the Ottoman Empire, heading to the Greek port of Thessaloniki, where they hope to receive permission to marry from Ruby’s father. Suddenly, a member of a roving trio of Balkan thieves tries to kidnap Ruby. The frightening event is the catalyst for a cascade of life-and-death adventures and misadventures that comprise the first quarter of the novel. Back at Baric Castle, Baron Mauro Baric is unaware of his brother’s dire circumstances. Mauro, his Ottoman Greek wife, Resi, and their entourage are preparing to leave the Venetian territory of Croatia for a wedding celebration in Venice, where they will stay at the luxurious family estate of Mauro’s ebullient friend Fabian Carrera. Excitement is in the air, and the novel moves from its grim opening to the gaiety of high society Venice. The Baric and Carrera women take center stage in this lavish period piece composed in modern-day prose. The visit to Venice is an enjoyable, historically rich, and brightly colored narrative excursion into the beauty of the city and the extravagant lifestyles of the royal Venetians. It is a welcome respite from Jero’s travails. But when Resi joins the Carrera women to attend a wedding party tea honoring Mira, the soon-to-be-bride, she sees the waspishness just below the refined surface of the bejeweled and elegantly gowned ladies. The large cast and complex relationships will likely require initial patience from those new to the series and unfamiliar with the intricate character backstories. Although Bald has posted summaries of the first two volumes on her blog (JillianBald.com), this novel may appeal more to readers looking for an immersive portrait of an era instead of nonstop action.

An engaging, albeit occasionally overwrought, melodrama with copious historical details.