Stravaganza

Stravaganza is a series of novels written by children's author Mary Hoffman. The books are set alternatively between Islington, an area of London, England, and various cities in Talia, an alternate version of Renaissance Italy. The series originally consisted of a trilogy of books, individually subtitled City of Masks, City of Stars, City of Flowers, and the newly released City of Secrets.(Renaissance Padua). The story begins with Lucien Mulholla... more

Stravaganza is a series of novels written by children's author Mary Hoffman. The books are set alternatively between Islington, an area of London, England, and various cities in Talia, an alternate version of Renaissance Italy. The series originally consisted of a trilogy of books, individually subtitled City of Masks, City of Stars, City of Flowers, and the newly released City of Secrets.(Renaissance Padua). The story begins with Lucien Mulholland, a teenager recovering from chemotherapy. His father gives him a red and purple marbled notebook so that Lucien can write in it since Lucien's throat hurts. When he falls asleep holding the book, he wakes up in the enchanting Bellezza, a Renaissance Venice-like city in the country of Talia (which resembles Renaissance Italy), ruled by a beautiful and imperious Duchessa. Here he meets the adventurous Arianna Gasparini and the mysterious Rodolfo Rossi. Rodolfo is a Stravagante, a traveller of a secret order who can move between Lucien's world... less