This is a romance fiction novel, set in Italy at the time of the Borgia supremacy. The author, Rafael Sabatini explores the era, giving readers a perfect period piece, and a great amount of epic romance. Two main characters, Francesco, the Count of Aquila, and Valentina are star-crossed lovers. Francesco is a soldier, who rejects a proposition of the dukedom and is expelled from his land. Soon, he meets Valentina, a heroine who is the expected fiancée of his cousin. They have to overcome many obstacles to get away from the arranged marriage and political issues.

Rafael Sabatini (1875 – 1950) was an Italian-English writer of romance and adventure novels. He is best known for his worldwide bestsellers: The Sea Hawk, Scaramouche, or Captain Blood (a.k.a. The Odyssey of Captain Blood).