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Miramonde #3
A Place in the World
The secrets of the past are treacherous…and irresistible.
A Renaissance-era female artist and an American scholar. Linked by a centuries-old mystery…
2016: Scholar Zari seizes the chance to return to Europe as a consultant for an art dealer. Overwhelmed by her job, she has little time to hunt for clues about Mira. But when art experts embrace a theory that Mira’s paintings are the work of a famous man, Zari must act. Racing against time, she travels to a windswept corner of Spain. What she discovers there solves the puzzle of Mira forever—and unlocks the secrets of Zari’s own past.
1505: Pregnant and reunited with the love of her life, artist Mira survives a harrowing journey to the city of her dreams. But Bayonne is nothing like she imagined. Navigating a dangerous world ruled by merchants and bishops, she struggles to reignite her painting career. When an old enemy rises from the shadows, Mira’s life is thrown into chaos all over again—and she is faced with a shattering decision.
A thrilling tale of obsession, mystery, and intrigue, this mesmerizing saga will stay with you long after you read the last page.
- GenresHistorical FictionArt
458 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2019
49 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Amy Maroney
15 books99 followersAmy Maroney lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family. She studied English literature at Boston University and public policy at Portland State University, and spent many years as a writer and editor of nonfiction. When she’s not diving down research rabbit holes, she enjoys hiking, traveling, dancing, and reading. She is the author of the Miramonde Series and the Sea and Stone Chronicles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 31, 2020
A decent ending to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book of this trilogy and was entertained with the final two volumes. The story is a good one.
However, I found Zari so insecure. I realize that she's trying to "find herself", yet her actions often didn't seem true.
This book was too long. There was a lot of filler & dragged in places. The Zari/Wil story became more of a romance than a story about finding Mira. Also, the story seems unfinished. Yes, we can see where it goes, but Zari's story is given to us; we don't see how she did it or where it will go. We see only the beginning.
A decent trilogy. Loved the first book, liked the second, liked the third a little bit less. Yet would read a fourth should it be written to hear more of the discovery of Mira's story. There's still a lot to discover.
However, I found Zari so insecure. I realize that she's trying to "find herself", yet her actions often didn't seem true.
This book was too long. There was a lot of filler & dragged in places. The Zari/Wil story became more of a romance than a story about finding Mira. Also, the story seems unfinished. Yes, we can see where it goes, but Zari's story is given to us; we don't see how she did it or where it will go. We see only the beginning.
A decent trilogy. Loved the first book, liked the second, liked the third a little bit less. Yet would read a fourth should it be written to hear more of the discovery of Mira's story. There's still a lot to discover.
September 14, 2022
Lovely and fitting ending to this series.
November 14, 2019
This is the last in the series and I'm sad to see it end. I thoroughly enjoyed this dual time-line narrative that takes us back to the sixteenth century, and Mira, a female artist trying to find her place in the world. On the trail of this artist is Zari, and art historian who is confounded at every turn by other less well-informed (and male) historians of the establishment. Both women are looking to make their mark, and both have long journeys to find their niche. For Zari it is a fight to prove that Mira's paintings were not painted by a better known male artist. For Mira there is a more life-threatening adventure as one of her old enemies seeks to wreak revenge. The plot of both time-lines keeps the reader turning the pages anxious to find out what will happen next.
The settings in this book are beautifully drawn, the convents, the rich merchants' houses, and the landscape around Bayonne. I also enjoyed reading about Zari's journey to Basque country, and her encounter with her distant relatives in her search for her own identity.
There is much more in these books than a brief review will allow. If you haven't read the others, do start from the beginning. All three are excellent reads and I highly recommend all three for art and history lovers and anyone who wants a well-written, thoughtfully crafted book.
The settings in this book are beautifully drawn, the convents, the rich merchants' houses, and the landscape around Bayonne. I also enjoyed reading about Zari's journey to Basque country, and her encounter with her distant relatives in her search for her own identity.
There is much more in these books than a brief review will allow. If you haven't read the others, do start from the beginning. All three are excellent reads and I highly recommend all three for art and history lovers and anyone who wants a well-written, thoughtfully crafted book.
September 11, 2019
This is the final book in the series..I was so sad to see it end! Great, historical, art related novels! As an artist, I loved all the details about restoration of Old Masters paintings and all the research was very interesting. I loved both Mira, the Renaissance artist and the modern day art researcher, Zari. I enjoy books that go back and forth in time.
If you are an artist and/or love historical fiction, get all 4 books in the series...you won’t be sorry! My only complaint is that I wanted to know all the details about how Mira was finally recognized...but I think that was mainly because I didn’t want the book to end! I was given an advance copy by the author...but I would have bought it anyway!
If you are an artist and/or love historical fiction, get all 4 books in the series...you won’t be sorry! My only complaint is that I wanted to know all the details about how Mira was finally recognized...but I think that was mainly because I didn’t want the book to end! I was given an advance copy by the author...but I would have bought it anyway!
June 1, 2020
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: A Place in the World
Author: Amy Maroney
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 18
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 8/10
Of the 18 readers:
18 would read another book by this author.
16 thought the cover was good or excellent.
17 felt it was easy to follow.
18 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 9 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 9 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
16 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
18 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘For me, I loved the setting. It was as if it was a character in the story.’ Male reader, 29
‘Mira is a rich character who I thoroughly enjoyed following. The author has put together a clever plot of mystery and suspense. Also, the ‘art’ element of the book is informative and will undoubtedly be enjoyed by any art lovers.’ Reader, aged 40
‘I have enjoyed all three books in this complex and thoroughly gripping historical drama. The characters, good and bad, jump off the page, and the plot is gripping. The historical setting is always fully imagined by the author and she puts it across to the reader in a wonderfully descriptive way. Of course, the central premise of two artists living so far apart in history but still connected, is very clever. I will read more of this author’s books.’ Male reader, aged 59
‘Descriptive writing style but still able to keep up the pacing. A rare talent.’ Female reader, aged 39
To Sum It Up:
‘A cleverly plotted, complex saga written with flamboyance! A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: A Place in the World
Author: Amy Maroney
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 18
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 8/10
Of the 18 readers:
18 would read another book by this author.
16 thought the cover was good or excellent.
17 felt it was easy to follow.
18 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 9 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 9 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
16 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
18 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘For me, I loved the setting. It was as if it was a character in the story.’ Male reader, 29
‘Mira is a rich character who I thoroughly enjoyed following. The author has put together a clever plot of mystery and suspense. Also, the ‘art’ element of the book is informative and will undoubtedly be enjoyed by any art lovers.’ Reader, aged 40
‘I have enjoyed all three books in this complex and thoroughly gripping historical drama. The characters, good and bad, jump off the page, and the plot is gripping. The historical setting is always fully imagined by the author and she puts it across to the reader in a wonderfully descriptive way. Of course, the central premise of two artists living so far apart in history but still connected, is very clever. I will read more of this author’s books.’ Male reader, aged 59
‘Descriptive writing style but still able to keep up the pacing. A rare talent.’ Female reader, aged 39
To Sum It Up:
‘A cleverly plotted, complex saga written with flamboyance! A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
April 21, 2021
Please, please write a fourth book!
I loved this series and can’t bear to say goodbye to the characters, their world and their stories. I finished A Place in the World with a real sense of loss. If you love travel, good food and drink, the fascinating world of modern art restoration, academia and the true workings of auctions, then this is the series for you. That’s before we get to a total immersion in early sixteenth century France, Spain and the Basque country. I had the feeling that the author had been on her own pilgrimage to not only these two places but England and the Netherlands too, capturing every detail as if she were travelling the well-worn path of the Compostela de Santiago (also featured).
As soon as you pick up the wonderful first instalment: The Girl from Oto, you are entering two worlds, the modern and the medieval. As Maroney herself puts it, this is what happens “when history and obsession collide.” All the characters are so well-rounded and fascinating it’s a joy to switch viewpoints. And the author does ‘Bad’ brilliantly. There are baddies in both time frames, deliciously wicked and creating havoc for the main protagonists.
The description is astonishingly good. You can smell the salt air of the wild Atlantic Ocean, near Bayonne, Gascony; taste the rabbit stew; recoil at the acrid tallow candles. Maroney writes so fluidly it frequently makes you pause at her eloquence. Yet it is a very user-friendly series, extremely easy to follow the plot as well as the finer details of art restoration. I learnt so much from it. A great deal of research has gone into her work and yet the novels wear it so lightly, using it to draw the reader in until the present world around them fades. The memory of the Miramonde Series will never fade and I urge everyone to pick up Book One. I envy you!
I loved this series and can’t bear to say goodbye to the characters, their world and their stories. I finished A Place in the World with a real sense of loss. If you love travel, good food and drink, the fascinating world of modern art restoration, academia and the true workings of auctions, then this is the series for you. That’s before we get to a total immersion in early sixteenth century France, Spain and the Basque country. I had the feeling that the author had been on her own pilgrimage to not only these two places but England and the Netherlands too, capturing every detail as if she were travelling the well-worn path of the Compostela de Santiago (also featured).
As soon as you pick up the wonderful first instalment: The Girl from Oto, you are entering two worlds, the modern and the medieval. As Maroney herself puts it, this is what happens “when history and obsession collide.” All the characters are so well-rounded and fascinating it’s a joy to switch viewpoints. And the author does ‘Bad’ brilliantly. There are baddies in both time frames, deliciously wicked and creating havoc for the main protagonists.
The description is astonishingly good. You can smell the salt air of the wild Atlantic Ocean, near Bayonne, Gascony; taste the rabbit stew; recoil at the acrid tallow candles. Maroney writes so fluidly it frequently makes you pause at her eloquence. Yet it is a very user-friendly series, extremely easy to follow the plot as well as the finer details of art restoration. I learnt so much from it. A great deal of research has gone into her work and yet the novels wear it so lightly, using it to draw the reader in until the present world around them fades. The memory of the Miramonde Series will never fade and I urge everyone to pick up Book One. I envy you!
September 20, 2020
The Mystery of History
I’ve not read Amy Maroney’s books prior to this, but just finished book 3 of The Miramonde series and am so happy to have found them.The author has an exceptional gift of writing a sprawling saga with a huge cast of characters and does so without getting the reader confused about who is who, over a 3 volume series. She tackles two stories - centuries apart - and seamlessly moves back and forth with no problems. She delves into the world of art in the days of “The Masters” and focuses on the few female artists that are acknowledged for that time - specifically one young, unknown women and her battle to be seen as an artist in the 16th century., when women were not even seen as capable individuals. You’ll love the knowledge of geography and history she uses, along with the art world that she uses to flesh out her story. Even though there is romance in the novel - it is not graphic and could be acceptable for young adult readers with no parental concerns. I would encourage you to try it...I don’t think you would be disappointed!
I’ve not read Amy Maroney’s books prior to this, but just finished book 3 of The Miramonde series and am so happy to have found them.The author has an exceptional gift of writing a sprawling saga with a huge cast of characters and does so without getting the reader confused about who is who, over a 3 volume series. She tackles two stories - centuries apart - and seamlessly moves back and forth with no problems. She delves into the world of art in the days of “The Masters” and focuses on the few female artists that are acknowledged for that time - specifically one young, unknown women and her battle to be seen as an artist in the 16th century., when women were not even seen as capable individuals. You’ll love the knowledge of geography and history she uses, along with the art world that she uses to flesh out her story. Even though there is romance in the novel - it is not graphic and could be acceptable for young adult readers with no parental concerns. I would encourage you to try it...I don’t think you would be disappointed!
April 1, 2021
I enjoyed following Mira and Zari (though less so), and all the other characters on their journey in the Miramonde series but it feels unfinished.
The ending doesn't really give us any real answers. There are some implied but never confirmed. Really, the third book didn't need to exist because it barely gives us anything more than the first two.
Zari goes digging into her past to learn more about her family and ancestors, but we never learn anything about them, other than a potential connection with the past. It would have been great to see that story fleshed out more than the Amadina one.
All in all a good series, but the third book left it on a bit of a low note.
The ending doesn't really give us any real answers. There are some implied but never confirmed. Really, the third book didn't need to exist because it barely gives us anything more than the first two.
Zari goes digging into her past to learn more about her family and ancestors, but we never learn anything about them, other than a potential connection with the past. It would have been great to see that story fleshed out more than the Amadina one.
All in all a good series, but the third book left it on a bit of a low note.
August 14, 2022
I was so sad to have this series end. What a mesmerizing, dual timeline saga that was exquisitely intertwined. I have my fingers crossed for a fourth book as I need to know more about these beautifully drawn characters. I loved how skillfully the villains were drawn and how I rooted for them to get what they deserved. You will have to read the book yourself to see if that happens. Be sure to read the trilogy in order to thoroughly enjoy the story, characters and scenery! The characters in these books will stay with me for a long time. Very highly recommended.
September 20, 2020
Fabulous Historical Trilogy
Join the journey of Zara, an art historians as she seeks to uncover the work of a forgotten 1500 female Master. While also traveling through the life of Mira, first abandoned and raised in an Abby where she develops her artist talent. It was a joy to accompany them on their exciting journeys, five hundred years apart which led to a deep lasting connection.
Join the journey of Zara, an art historians as she seeks to uncover the work of a forgotten 1500 female Master. While also traveling through the life of Mira, first abandoned and raised in an Abby where she develops her artist talent. It was a joy to accompany them on their exciting journeys, five hundred years apart which led to a deep lasting connection.
December 11, 2021
This, the third and final instalment of the Miramonde series, which continued to deliver what is a tremendous story about a young artist and her family in the 1500's and also told from the POV of an art historian, Zari, in her quest to uncover the truth about the past. Very well written, and clearly thoroughly researched. Excellent read, one I have no hesitation to recommend.
December 22, 2020
I loved all three of the books in this series. I’m so sad it’s over. The juxtaposition of the stories of the couples, the art history, and the geography form a perfect combination of adventure, intrigue, and history.
March 8, 2021
Excellent finale
A wonderful ending. I have enjoyed all the books and prequels in this series, and am very sad to have reached the end; I hope Ms. Maroney is working on something equally delightful!
A wonderful ending. I have enjoyed all the books and prequels in this series, and am very sad to have reached the end; I hope Ms. Maroney is working on something equally delightful!
March 15, 2020
A place in the world
The third and final book in the Mira series, well written ,good plot and vibrant characters. A delightful finale in this series.
The third and final book in the Mira series, well written ,good plot and vibrant characters. A delightful finale in this series.
April 22, 2020
Such a good story
I loved this series, hoping there’s a fourth book! Easy to read and a page turner you can’t put down!
I loved this series, hoping there’s a fourth book! Easy to read and a page turner you can’t put down!
April 29, 2020
As always with this author, the story really keeps you enthralled. The history and even the fictional additions are so interesting. A definite keeper.
September 12, 2020
Best series I've read in ages
The three books read as one . Well written and well researched. Hopefully there will be another to continue the story.
The three books read as one . Well written and well researched. Hopefully there will be another to continue the story.
September 19, 2020
Awesome series!
History slowly unveils truths over the years as technology advances. Lessons learned from it begin to reveal wonderful stories hidden within!
History slowly unveils truths over the years as technology advances. Lessons learned from it begin to reveal wonderful stories hidden within!
March 17, 2021
Good read, interesting characters, read this book !
May 18, 2021
Excellent historical fiction with a dual timeline. I enjoyed THE MIRAMONDE TRILOGY immensely. It was a bit long and drawn out and could have used editing. Nonetheless 4 solid stars.
July 16, 2021
Just started this 3rd book in Mira series. PERFECT BEACH Read.
bcp. Wildwood Beach, Jersey Shore.
bcp. Wildwood Beach, Jersey Shore.
January 31, 2025
Once a gain I have to say I truly loved this whole series. Best I’ve read I. Quite a while
Read
June 14, 2025while I wasn't a huge fan of the romance aspect of the "current time" storyline, the book was enjoyable and a fast, easy read.
January 2, 2026
great set of books
Read all 3 books to get the entire story. Worth every minute! It is a Fascinating story. I highly recommended.
Read all 3 books to get the entire story. Worth every minute! It is a Fascinating story. I highly recommended.
June 8, 2025
If you’ve read this series and you loved this series you’ll understand when I say, I’m sad it’s over and I miss Mira!!
Meg Price, narrator for the book on audible, is PHENOMENAL.
Meg Price, narrator for the book on audible, is PHENOMENAL.
September 14, 2019
"Have you learned anything new on the topic of Mira de Oto since I saw you in the spring?"
The year is 2016 and the closer art historian, Zari Durrell, gets to finding Renaissance artist, Mira de Oto, the more elusive she becomes. Unfortunately, in the eyes of the art experts, Mira is nothing more than a good story — there is no credibility to it, especially since Dottie Butterford-Swinton has disproved Zari's findings. But Zari is convinced that Mira was a skilled artist and she is determined to pull her from obscurity.
A new life, that is what Mira and her husband, Arnaud de Luz, had hoped when they reached Bayonne in the year 1505. But the long journey to Bayonne had taken its toll. Rose is dead and with a heart that is broken, Mira wonders if she will ever feel normal again for grief is eating up her soul, and the welfare for the baby she carries in her womb lies heavy on her mind. What if she lost this baby too? How would she survive?
As Mira and her family struggle to make a new life, an old enemy is plotting their demise. Will Mira and her family survive? Will Mira ever paint again? And back in 2016, will Zari ever discover the truth about Mira de Ot?
Elegant, powerful and shamelessly compelling are words I would use to describe A Place in the World (The Miramonde Series, Book 3) by Amy Maroney.
I have been waiting with eager anticipation for the final book in The Miramonde Series, and I am pleased to say it was more than I imagined it could be, and then some. Not only is the world, both modern and Renaissance, luxuriantly detailed, but the characters are rich and vibrant and wholly irresistible.
I embraced this series from Book 1, and I have enjoyed the journey this trilogy has taken me on. It seems strangely like a privilege as I watched Mira grow up within the pages of these books and become a woman in her own right. Maroney has masterfully portrayed how difficult it was for female artists in this era, not to only to be recognised alongside their male counterparts, but to be taken seriously at all. I could not help but admire Mira's tenacious refusal not to become disheartened and to keep doing what she cherished. This made Mira not only a woman to respect but one who was very inspirational — it is such a shame she is a fictional character, I so wanted her to be real!
As with the other books, this story is told from a contemporary point of view as well as a Renaissance one. To pull this mixed timeline off takes considerable skill. Many times a reader will find themselves drawn to one era of the book and flick through the pages of the other, but I found both Zari's hunt for Mira, and Mira's story equally fascinating. And because both timeframes run seamlessly along together, my attention never wavered. A Place in the World (The Miramonde Series, Book 3) is brilliantly executed and masterfully written.
This is a novel that is next to impossible to put down, and the short chapters make this long book seem so much shorter than what it actually is.
The richness of the history has to be commended. There is a depth to Maroney's narrative, a vibrant perspective that brought the Renaissance era back to life in all its sweeping glory. The attention to detail, and Maroney's knowledge of the Renaissance artists, is staggering. Maroney writes with passion and a familiarity for the era — she knows her history and her art very well. The same can be said for the contemporary parts of this novel.
Maroney has an intuitive understanding of how the art industry, with its system of coinciding subdivisions, operates. I was absolutely fascinated as Maroney delved deeper into the world of art. Saying that, however, you do not have to have an understanding or even like Renaissance art to fall in love with this series. The characters and the narrative are enough. The art is just a bonus!
If you are looking for your next great series, then please, look no further than The Miramonde Series. You won't be disappointed — I almost envy you, for I know what a fantastic journey you are about to go on. I love this series, and I think you will too.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.
June 20, 2023
I listened to all three of the books in this series. The narrator was excellent, and the story transported me for days. I was immersed in the early 1500's France and Spain (castles, monasteries, caste system, Pyrenees, the art world, the wool trade, and much more), and equally interested in the present-day story of the art researcher trying to unearth the 500 year old history. I'm in awe of the extensive research the author had to have done, and her skills in keeping the story moving and interesting. I'm actually quite sorry it's over! Definitely read these books in order.
July 24, 2022
Good book
September 29, 2019
The long-anticipated ending to a great historical fiction series. The author follows both a female master painter in the early 1500’s and the modern art historian who is chasing evidence of her life. It beautifully depicts the modern world of art academia, art research, preservation and restoration, as well as every level of society inhabiting the area of interest in the early 1500’s. Both stories hold your interest throughout the series.
Zari is an art historian who discovered a previously unknown female old master painter. Since that time, she has been practically obsessed with proving her historical validity and identifying more of her work.
When a colleague very publicly rebutted her claim, instead claiming Mira’s painting to be the work of a well-known male old master, Zari jumped at a reason to leave Europe to aid her mother after she’d had an accident. She kept Mira alive on social media, but now it was time to get back to her search.
Will Zari be able to gather enough proof to support her claims? Will her return to Europe rekindle her relationship with Will, who she met on her first trip to Amsterdam?
In 1505, Mira and her husband, Arnoud, are moving to Bayonne, where Arnaud has a position waiting with the Cabinet Makers Guild, a long and perilous journey, especially for the pregnant Mira.
Mira grew up hidden away in a convent. No girls born to her family had been allowed to live in the past hundred years. When her mother gave birth to twins, she kept her son and had Mira smuggled out and taken to the convent. Years later, when her father discovered her existence, he ordered her death.
At the start of their journey to Bayonne, Mira’s twin showed up searching for her. Fearing he was there to fulfill their father’s wishes, Arnaud led him away to protect Mira. As dangerous as is travel for a lone woman, Mira had no choice but to continue.
Mira is exhausted from her months of travel, and worried about Arnoud. Will this couple ever reach their journey’s end? When will they once again be united? Arnoud has assurance of employment in Bayonne, but will Mira be able to establish herself as a portrait painter with no recommendation of her own?
I was gifted a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Zari is an art historian who discovered a previously unknown female old master painter. Since that time, she has been practically obsessed with proving her historical validity and identifying more of her work.
When a colleague very publicly rebutted her claim, instead claiming Mira’s painting to be the work of a well-known male old master, Zari jumped at a reason to leave Europe to aid her mother after she’d had an accident. She kept Mira alive on social media, but now it was time to get back to her search.
Will Zari be able to gather enough proof to support her claims? Will her return to Europe rekindle her relationship with Will, who she met on her first trip to Amsterdam?
In 1505, Mira and her husband, Arnoud, are moving to Bayonne, where Arnaud has a position waiting with the Cabinet Makers Guild, a long and perilous journey, especially for the pregnant Mira.
Mira grew up hidden away in a convent. No girls born to her family had been allowed to live in the past hundred years. When her mother gave birth to twins, she kept her son and had Mira smuggled out and taken to the convent. Years later, when her father discovered her existence, he ordered her death.
At the start of their journey to Bayonne, Mira’s twin showed up searching for her. Fearing he was there to fulfill their father’s wishes, Arnaud led him away to protect Mira. As dangerous as is travel for a lone woman, Mira had no choice but to continue.
Mira is exhausted from her months of travel, and worried about Arnoud. Will this couple ever reach their journey’s end? When will they once again be united? Arnoud has assurance of employment in Bayonne, but will Mira be able to establish herself as a portrait painter with no recommendation of her own?
I was gifted a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews