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City of Swords (Stravaganza #6)

3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 · rating details · 382 ratings · 51 reviews

Desperately unhappy, Laura has resorted to secretly self-harming. But Laura is a Stravagante, somebody who can travel in time and space. When she finds her talisman, a small silver dagger, she stravagates with it to sixteenth-century Fortezza, a town similar to Lucca in Italy, where she meets her Stravagante, who is a swordsmith. But Laura also meets the charming and attra...more

Paperback, 368 pages

Published August 12th 2012 by Bloomsbury (first published July 5th 2012)

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Mar 17, 2013 Soscha de Klerk rated it 4 of 5 stars

Oh my god.
To my very very big and happy surprise I found it today in the American Book Center Amsterdam. I thought it would be released in august! it looks awesome but I'm gonna wait reading it and first finish the book I'm currently reading. I will probably start reading it this week though.
more coming!

11-7-12:
started reading.

19-7-12
So I have finished a few days ago but hadn't had time to write my review yet.
It was really really good but I had to give four stars, because the book had ups a...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Ashley Brooke rated it 3 of 5 stars

'City of Swords', what to say... Let me start with this: I really do love the Stravaganza series as a whole. Everything from the characters to the settings to the overall concept-- I love it. 'City of Swords' is the sixth and final book in this under appreciated series. I'll miss jumping into Talia with the Stravaganti for many reasons, most of all because every time I opened a Stravaganza book, it felt like I was back in Italy!

On to 'City of Swords'... Is it my favorite of the series? No. Is it...more

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Mar 28, 2013 Laraemilie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

City of swords is the last book of the Stravaganza series so far. As the fans of the series will probably be used to by now, we follow an unhappy teenager on his trips to sixteenth century Talia, where he has a mission to accomplish. This time, we get to know Laura, who cuts herself in order to feel better. It is then quite a surprise to see her transported to Fortezza, where she meets her Stravagante, a swordsmith. But in Talia, Laura has a lot to think about, as civil was is about to destroy t...more City of swords is the last book of the Stravaganza series so far. As the fans of the series will probably be used to by now, we follow an unhappy teenager on his trips to sixteenth century Talia, where he has a mission to accomplish. This time, we get to know Laura, who cuts herself in order to feel better. It is then quite a surprise to see her transported to Fortezza, where she meets her Stravagante, a swordsmith. But in Talia, Laura has a lot to think about, as civil was is about to destroy the city, and she must chose her side before it is too late... which is not an easy task when everybody expects her to fight against a charming man.
I must start by saying that, although I enjoyed this book overall, it is definitely not the best one in the series and I was a little disappointed. The beginning was quite strange, as we met the other English Stravaganti before Laura. It was a way of changing the style a little, as Isabel, Georgia, Nick and Sky had guessed that Laura would be the one receiving the talisman, but I felt it was taking the reader’s attention off her. As the story goes on, this feeling only became stronger; I never really felt I was discovering Fortezza with Laura. I rather listened to her telling her adventures to her new friends, which made it less interesting and lively as in the previous books.
An important part of the plot takes place in England. I enjoyed this in City of Ships, but here I felt it was sometimes a little too much. However, meeting Vicky Mulholland and several other characters we know from the rest of the series was a nice experience – and turned out quite surprising in the end. What I particularly enjoyed was Laura’s problem. We know from the first few pages that she resorts to self-harming, but there is much more to that than we would expect. Mary Hoffman really developed this aspect of her personality, much more than she did with any of the other characters, which was a good surprise.
Turning to the plot itself, I found it a little too predictable. There were a few twists and turns, but they did not seem that realistic and I was not thrilled as I normally am. Meeting the usual Stravaganti was nice again, but they had not changed a lot, which I found rather disappointing. On the other hand, having Arianna and Luciano talk about their wedding was great and it was a good strategy to maintain the reader’s attention: Will they finally manage to get married?
I have given quite a lot of negative point about City of Swords, but I do not want you to think that I did not like it or that I would not recommend it to you. It is a great story; I just felt it did not quite live up to what I expected after five successful previous books – especially the fifth one. However, if I had to give a single reason to convince you to read it, I would say: the ending. As I said before, I was not living the story with the characters, but felt I was only a spectator. The action is sometimes quite slow, but in the last few pages, the pace clearly gets quicker. And suddenly, everything is over, before you even realise it. The ending remains nevertheless open, and each reader has to wonder... Will there be a seventh book?(less)

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Dec 01, 2012 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book! (Do not read on if you haven't read this book.) Although the siege did seem to end very quickly, it set up for a whole stream of events that were absolutely nail-biting in my case. And the part where Ludo got shot was just so...scary and sad! And then all the Stravaganti stravagante so they can come to Luciano and Arianna's wedding and Laura decides to stay with Ludo! Finally, FINALLY Luciano and Arianna got married! But Ludo wasn't going to make it so Laura went ba...more

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Oct 02, 2012 Jessica rated it 2 of 5 stars

I never finished reading this book for two different reasons. Number one: I became bored of it, and it did not entertain me enough to keep wanting to go back to it,(which normally happens when I'm reading a book)so I forgot about it.
And 2: My mum took the book back to the library before I had even finished it!

This book was highly recommended by many, but I found it dull and too predictable. HOWEVER, if you like romantic books then this may be for you.
I guess it might have got better as the bo...more

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Dec 08, 2012 Jan rated it 4 of 5 stars

I started reading the Stravaganza series when I was still a teenager and I was very glad to come back to it several years later, as new stories appear. It was a pleasure to devour this book in 3 nights.

Although I agree with some other reviews that Laura's character wasn't as developed as it could have perhaps been, I see that Hoffman has included many other sub-plots in this story, involving most of the characters met in the previous books, including Mortimer Goldsmith and Vicky Mulholland, as w...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Rinoa Heartilly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: eagerly-awaiting, these-sound-awesome, all-my-love, historical-fiction-and-biographies

Peeps, I've got a feeling that this isn't the end yet. And just FYI, yes goddammit, Ferdinando is fat. Thank you Mary Hoffman for reminding me every time they speak of him.

Actual review to probably come tomorrow.

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Dec 07, 2012 Muireann rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2012

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 07, 2013 Nina rated it 3 of 5 stars

So near, and yet so far...
This book had so much potential. The plot was fabulous, but sadly the characters, especially the main character, were slightly underdeveloped. I read the entire book wondering why the character does the things she does, only to find out about a traumatic experience of hers in the last few pages. This would ordinarily not have been a problem, had the author played further into the character's emotions. We are told what happens in the story, but we never really get into t...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Luke rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm not sure how I stumbled on this series, but I've enjoyed it for the most part, even though it is aimed at a much younger audience. This book sees a repeat of the tried and true formula, a new Stravaganti is called up, this time a girl called Laura. As with most Stravaganti she has a secret problem, in her case she's a self-harmer.

This was not one of my favourite of the series, the whole thing seemed far too rushed and the newest Stravanti did bugger all, as opposed to the tasks carried out b...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Lady Entropy rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars.

It was a little less engaging than the previous books, but it's still very good, and filled with interesting setting -- this is how you make an "alternate history" setting, Ms. Lian Hearn. I didn't care as much for Laura as I did for the other protagonists, maybe because the author was too focused again giving Lucian an important role, and trying to cram in the other Stravaganti that left poor Laura with a very watered down and weak role. A pity because of all the recent protagonists s...more

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Apr 21, 2013 Luna rated it 4 of 5 stars

First off, I have to say that I'm so disappointed this is the last Stravaganza book when Hoffman says she has ideas to write it as a 12-book series (one book for each city-state). ;-; I wish the publisher would give it another chance! There's so much more I want to know about Talia and how things will progress, especially considering how this book leaves off.

But in any case. It was fun jumping back into Talia, although it's often years and years between when I read each book, so it can be diffic...more First off, I have to say that I'm so disappointed this is the last Stravaganza book when Hoffman says she has ideas to write it as a 12-book series (one book for each city-state). ;-; I wish the publisher would give it another chance! There's so much more I want to know about Talia and how things will progress, especially considering how this book leaves off.

But in any case. It was fun jumping back into Talia, although it's often years and years between when I read each book, so it can be difficult for me to keep everything straight. Still, I felt by the end of the book that I remembered everything of import, as it does a good job of reminding you what happened along the way.

I'm not sure I connected with the new Stravagante, Laura, as much as previous "main" characters, especially at first, when there was so little of the "What the hell am I doing here?" that plagued previous Stravagantes. (Now it's "Hi, welcome to the club, business as usual!" which is weird but kind of cool, I suppose.) By the end, though, I liked her more. (100 points for her comparing her crush to David Bowie in Labyrinth--not that he was a jerk in that way or anything, she was just fantasizing how he could be even more sexy, but yes for allusions to my favorite Byronic hero. XD)

(view spoiler)

But anyway, small grievances. I loved the story and got hooked!(less)

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Oct 02, 2012 Mara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-owned, 2012-reads, alternate-reality

Cover Blurb: I don’t like the new cover art for the Stravaganza series, because it leers! I do like the people they choose, though, because they actually look how I imagine the characters (except this girl looks older than Laura is supposed to be). But it still stares at me, and I don’t like staring covers.

What I Liked: The conflict in this one was more exciting, and now that the Stravaganti in both worlds were more coordinated with each other, the story was able to move past any slow beginning...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Irene rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: boring, disappointing, cover-hurts-my-eyes, stupid-stupid-stupid, romancelandia, ya, could-not-finish

I get the feeling that these four points were the structure of the story.

1. Let's have all the real-world Stravaganti gather together and stalk the person who might be the next Stravaganti. Totally normal, right?

2. It makes perfect sense to end every three paragraphs with a cliffhanger. It's not like the continuation is a centimeter away.

3. You know, the MC is so cool, let's make her totally not freak out when she learns she's in another world. Just because she cuts herself doesn't mean she's e...more

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Oct 04, 2012 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-love-stories, time-travel-involved

Ms Hoffman, you are a clever, clever lady.

I'm not quite sure what to feel. I'm so torn!! The ending is exactly what I hoped for (view spoiler) and it ended on a good note but now one of my longtime favorite series - and love stories - is over!!

For now at least.

I'll say it again: Ms Hoffman, you are a clever, clever lady. With the 'action-packed' ending she gave us, (view spoiler)...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Helene rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, bought-in-2012, series, 2012-reads, fantasy, favorites

(This review was originally published on helenesworldofbooks.blogspot.com)

When I really love a book I find it far more difficult to write a review. City of Swords is one of those books. I’m totally in love with that book, but it’s so hard to put it in a readable review. But I’ll try!

So City of Swords is the sixth book in one of my all time favorite series, Stravaganza. There are so many awesome things about it: the world setting, the writing style, characters, covers. I’ve loved every book in th...more

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Oct 21, 2012 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-and-sci-fi, historical-fiction, young-adult

I'd like to start out this review saying how much I love Mary Hoffman's books. I think she is a brilliant writer, and I was overjoyed and a little embarrassed when she actually found a review I had made on her last book, "City of Ships" on my 1st blog: http://librarygirl10.blogspot.com/201.... And yes there was much more to the story as a whole other than Arianna and Luciano getting married. Now if I had checked out this blog post by the author, http://bookmavenmary.blogspot.com/201..., I may ha...more I'd like to start out this review saying how much I love Mary Hoffman's books. I think she is a brilliant writer, and I was overjoyed and a little embarrassed when she actually found a review I had made on her last book, "City of Ships" on my 1st blog: http://librarygirl10.blogspot.com/201.... And yes there was much more to the story as a whole other than Arianna and Luciano getting married. Now if I had checked out this blog post by the author, http://bookmavenmary.blogspot.com/201..., I may have known that the series was originally supposed to be a trilogy and she would love to extend the series for an additional 6 books, but for the time being that is not possible.

I'm glad she did this book, "City of Swords" however it almost seems like she rushed through it. I liked Laura's character but she had almost no character development, aside from "she's a cutter" and she's the newest Stravaganti who gets to spend less time there than the others. As another reviewer said, there is more story devoted to Luciano and the other Stravaganti than Laura. This book was based in Fortezza in Talia (Lucca in Italy)and follows Lucia di Chimici, whose father Jacopo was one of the good guys but sadly dies in the beginning of the book. So Lucia is set to be crowned ruler of Fortezza until the Manoush Ludo comes out and says that he is the illegitimate son of Jacopo and a year older, and challenges her right to rule. They rule in Lucia's favor and Ludo decides to attack with his splinter group of Fortezzan military and subjects that support his claim. Lucia ends up being defended by the Grand Duke Fabrizio, her cousin, and her assembled family's army. Laura and the other Stravaganti end up fighting for the Di Chimici's against Ludo, even though Laura has feelings for him. Who will win and what will happen to Laura and Ludo? And yes Arianna and Luciano do get married in Belleza, but at what cost to the Stravaganti and di Chimici sides? To find out, read the 6th book in the Stravaganza series.

It took me awhile to really get into the book and the way she ended it, with several loose ends, makes me think that she does plan for at least a 7th book, or at least left it open for her to do so. I will say though that I didn't guess about Laura's real role as a Stravaganti until the very end of the book. Recommended for ages 12+, 3 1/2 stars. (less)

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Nov 04, 2012 Kcatty rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: stravaganza, to-get, reviewed

And it all came down to the fact that Guido Parola owed Rinaldo di Chimici money.
*
I have a lot invested in this book. Why? I kept up a rational fandom of these books for six years. I convinced my county library to buy three copies, and I was first on the hold list. I was the one who put this book on Goodreads to begin with, and if you don't believe me, look at the librarian edits. I LOVE this series.
And so my disappointment with the prologue was profound. There was too much involvement of other...more

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Feb 09, 2013 Mkb rated it 3 of 5 stars

Starting at number six in a series is not really a fair way to judge it. I suspect that starting at number one would be the ideal way to do this. It looks like a fun series--it really makes me think of Enid Blyton's adventure series. It is very much in that tradition. There are a group of students from the same school who have an adventure over the study break/exam period. Although the characters are teenagers and there is some romance, the pacing, dialogue and setup echoe classic children's nov...more

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Oct 18, 2012 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Book #6 in this series - hard to remember all of the characters and events of the previous 5. Fortunately, there was at least a family tree in the back to help jog the memory banks. Probably best to read this series all at once, rather than at 2 year intervals between publications. At any rate, it was a good series, maybe getting a little absurd at this point.

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Apr 10, 2013 Jessica rated it 2 of 5 stars

I liked the previous books in this series. But Hoffman has way too many characters, and it just doesn't feel like we got very much time with any of them. I really wanted to read more about Ludo and Laura's romance, but they barely interact in the book. It just felt rushed. It still had Hoffman's fun storytelling, but not enough for the reader to feel satisfied.

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Aug 21, 2012 Melissa Higey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: library-ebooks-read

Mary Hoffman's Stravaganza books are amongst my favorite series titles of all time! It's no secret I'm a fan of all things Italy, and she has yet again brought us back to Talia, it's alter-ego, filled with suspense, romance, and even a cliff-hanger. I'm not sure how I'm going to survive until her next novel!

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Sep 05, 2012 Marg rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

It was a good instalment, but I do have some critiques. One of them being it has been so long since I’ve read the last book and there is a huge cast of characters. If I’m lost with the characters, I can’t imagine if someone was just starting the series with this book. That said, the author does include a brief character list, but that only helps so much – it doesn’t relate all of the past interactions of the characters. Second problem was the ending. The main story line finished, along with many...more

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Jan 16, 2013 Maria added it

3.5 stars
I enjoyed this book, but I can't pinpoint exactly what it is that made me not LOVE it. You should definitely take time to read it if you've kept up with the rest of the series. That's all. I don't know what to say today... Sorry!
Overall: enjoyable, set aside some time for it, don't prepare an alter

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Sep 12, 2012 Yuanting Lee rated it 3 of 5 stars

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

I felt like there was too many things going on in this book, compared to the previous books which had numeral subplots but was still well-paced. For City of Swords, I felt like there was just way too much and I hardly saw Laura at all.

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Feb 23, 2013 Stephi ♥ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-ish-fiction

I can't believe this series is over. There is none left!!! What am I going to do?? I read the whole series in less then a week, I'm going to need more material!! It's been really good though!

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Jun 20, 2011 Kitty marked it as to-read

So happy this is coming out...ive been waiting for LONG time, 2012 seems like a long time! Thank you so much for writing this!

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Oct 23, 2012 Samantha rated it 5 of 5 stars

The newest book in the Stravaganza series is just as amazing as the rest of them. I have been drawn into this alternate version of Italy known as Talia and so wish that I could find my own talisman so I could stravagate back and be a part of it all. I honestly could not put this book down, and now that I am finished I find myself dreaming of the next one, and I truly hope that there will be a seventh book. There are 12 city-states in Talia and each book focuses on a different one so there could...more

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Mar 20, 2013 Daniella rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thought this book was a great one to finish the series with. The siege was good, though I agree over a little too quickly for my liking, but the whole Ludo and Laura affair was interesting and so was the inner workings of the DiChimici family with Lucia.
I loved the ending, though the last paragraph was told from a cheetah's point of view and a bit cheesy, and thought that it neatly tied up all the loose ends and questions I had, though I did want to know a little more about the lives of the St...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Kim-Anh rated it 4 of 5 stars

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About Mary Hoffman

Mary Hoffman is a bestselling British author and reviewer, born in 1945. She is a true enthusiast of Italy and spends a lot of her time there, which shows in her Stravaganza novels: a series currently in publication. In total, she has written over 80 books, including the aforementioned Stravaganza series and the bestselling picture book, Amazing Grace. Mary is also the editor of a review magazine...more

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City of Swords (Stravaganza #6)

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