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).