the year is 1648 and life in Venice is serene for Isabella Hawkins and her friends Willem, Al-Qasim and Signora Contarini. together they publish fine books like the controversial encyclopaedia, the Sum of All Knowledge. When a new Inquisitor declares war on free speech however, they are forced to flee across the seas to the wondrous capital of the Ottoman Empire, Constantinople, which is ruled by the infamous Sultanate of the Women. Old friends and new, including the boy Sultan and his sister, welcome them to the world's greatest city. But Isabella is soon entangled in poisonous palace intrigues, while her friends secretly play perilous games of their own. the fascinating and page-turning sequel to Act of Faith, which was shortlisted for the 2012 NSW Premier's Literary awards, the 2012 Gold Inky awards and highly commended in the 2012 Barbara Jefferis Awards. Praise for Act of Faith: the novel is expansive and impressive, and with Gardiners eloquent words and literary flair she acts as fictional tour-guide breathing life into these cobblestoned walkways and Ghetto communities... a divine story, dripping in history and delivering a wonderful message of freedom, loyalty and bravery. the Alpha Reader Highly recommended... It is fast paced and the intriguing and well researched detail of life on the Continent in the 17th Century will be enjoyed by readers.' ReadPlus
