The Silkworm Keeper
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Narrated by:
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Diana Croft
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By:
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Deborah Swift
About this listen
Rome 1638
"Old sins have long shadows." (Italian proverb)
Giulia Tofana never wanted to be a nun, but she is determined to atone for her past misdeeds by making her new monastery a success. When an unexpected disaster closes the convent, Giulia is forced to turn to her old friend, Fabio Pasello, for help. Giulia still has intense feelings for Fabio, and Fabio’s passion for her has never diminished.
But they are not the same people they were before. Giulia has taken her vows, and Fabio is apprenticed to Gianlorenzo Bernini, the famous sculptor, and has become one of Bernini’s rakish libertines. They could not be further apart.
To add to their problems, Giulia cannot escape her reputation as a poisoner, and is soon embroiled in a plot against Fabio’s patron, Pope Urban VIII. Faced with the idea of murder, will Giulia renounce her vows or embrace them?
Inspired by true stories, this is a novel of nuns and courtesans, artists and priests, in the shadow and splendor of the Eternal City.
©2021 Deborah Swift (P)2022 Deborah SwiftListeners also enjoyed...
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In the medieval kingdom of Goredd, women are expected to be ladies, men are their protectors, and dragons can be whomever they choose. Tess is none of these things. Tess is...different. She speaks out of turn, has wild ideas, and can't seem to keep out of trouble. Then Tess goes too far. Tess's family decide the only path for her is a nunnery. But on the day she is to join the nuns, Tess chooses a different path for herself. She cuts her hair, pulls on her boots, and sets out on a journey. She's not running away, she's running towards something.
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Beautiful and Boring, Both.
- By Ryan on 04-05-19
By: Rachel Hartman
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Luck in the Shadows
- Nightrunner, Book 1
- By: Lynn Flewelling
- Narrated by: Raymond Todd
- Length: 18 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Spy, rogue, thief, and noble, Seregil of Rhiminee is many things, none of them predictable. And when he offers to take on Alec as his apprentice, things may never be the same for either of them. Soon Alec is traveling roads he never knew existed, toward a war he never suspected was brewing. Before long he and Seregil are embroiled in a sinister plot that runs deeper than either can imagine and that may cost them far more than their lives if they fail. But fortune is as unpredictable as Alec's new mentor.
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Fantastic Series! Homophobes, shut up!
- By Ted on 09-23-11
By: Lynn Flewelling
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The School of Mirrors
- A Novel
- By: Eva Stachniak
- Narrated by: Ell Potter
- Length: 16 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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During the reign of Louis XV, impoverished but lovely teenage girls from all over France are sent to a discreet villa in the town of Versailles. Overseen by the King’s favorite mistress, Madame de Pompadour, they will be trained as potential courtesans for the King. When the time is right, each girl is smuggled into the palace of Versailles, with its legendary Hall of Mirrors.
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Fascinating but pedophilia nonetheless.
- By Barbara W. on 05-10-22
By: Eva Stachniak
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Empress
- Godspeaker, Book 1
- By: Karen Miller
- Narrated by: Josephine Bailey
- Length: 20 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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In a family torn apart by poverty and violence, Hekat is no more than an unwanted mouth to feed, worth only a few coins from a passing slave trader. But Hekat was not born to be a slave. For her, a different path has been chosen. It is a path that will take her from stinking back alleys to the house of her God, from blood-drenched battlefields to the glittering palaces of Mijak. This is the story of Hekat, slave to no man.
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depressing and left me feeling empty
- By Bonnie on 09-16-09
By: Karen Miller
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Instruments of Darkness
- A Novel
- By: Imogen Robertson
- Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
- Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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In the year 1780, Harriet Westerman, the willful mistress of a country manor in Sussex, finds a dead man on her grounds with a ring bearing the crest of Thornleigh Hall in his pocket. Not one to be bound by convention or to shy away from adventure, she recruits a reclusive local anatomist named Gabriel Crowther to help her find the murderer, and historical suspense's newest investigative duo is born.
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Not The Best, But Not Too Bad...
- By MJ on 01-13-13
By: Imogen Robertson
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The Spymaster's Lady
- By: Joanna Bourne
- Narrated by: Kirsten Potter
- Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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She's braved battlefields. She's stolen dispatches from under the noses of heads of state. She's played the worldly courtesan, the naive virgin, the refined British lady, even a Gypsy boy. But Annique Villiers, the elusive spy known as the Fox Cub, has finally met the one man she can't outwit... British spymaster Robert Grey must enter France and bring back the brilliant, beautiful - and dangerous - Fox Cub. His duty is to capture her and her secrets for England.
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Highly enjoyable; Audiobook is fantastic
- By Emily London on 12-28-10
By: Joanna Bourne
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The King's Corrodian
- Gil Cunningham Series, Book 10
- By: Pat McIntosh
- Narrated by: Andrew Watson
- Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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The tenth story in the popular Gil Cunningham series set in medieval Glasgow. 'The tale seems very improbable,' Gil Cunningham said. 'How should the Devil enter a religious house and carry off one of its members?' How indeed? But Arnold Fleming, the widely dislike pensioner, or corrodian, lodged in the Dominican's house in Perth, has vanished from a chamber, and a local knight and his mistress claim to have seen the Devil abroad that very same night.
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Excellent series
- By Cynthia R Erickson on 07-25-23
By: Pat McIntosh
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Rahab's Story
- By: Ann Burton
- Narrated by: Mia Barron
- Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Ann Burton, author of the critically acclaimed Abigail's Story, traces Rahab's incredible journey from harlot to heroine. Shorn of her hair, stripped of her clothes, and cast out of her father's house, Rahab now scavenges the streets. Desperate for food, she's soon welcomed by the sisterhood of the House of Palms, a bordello. But after encountering two Israelite spies, Rahab makes a risky, life-altering choice.
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great story. great narrator
- By Kristen on 06-02-15
By: Ann Burton
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The Fourth Crow
- Gil Cunningham Mysteries
- By: Pat McIntosh
- Narrated by: Andrew Watson
- Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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Tied to St Mungo's Cross by the cathedral to be cured of her madness overnight by the saint, the young woman is found in the morning beaten and strangled, still tied to the cross. But is she who she seems to be? And who would flout the saint's protection like this? Gil Cunningham must trace the dead woman and find her enemies, track down the thieves and murderers and identify the watchers in the shadows, particularly the elusive fourth person who holds the secret of what happened that night. Questioning cathedral staff and apprentice boys, pilgrims and tradesmen, he uncovers only more puzzles.
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Scots for real.
- By JBatte on 10-20-22
By: Pat McIntosh
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Crispin: The End of Time
- By: Avi
- Narrated by: Ron Keith
- Length: 5 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Newbery Medal-winning author Avi completes the Crispin saga with this third installment of the riveting trilogy. In 14th-century England, Crispin has embarked on one adventure after another since discovering that he, once known only as “Asta’s son,” has a much grander future than he ever could have imagined. Encountering such trustworthy souls as Bear during the course of his travels, Crispin teeters on the brink of fulfilling his destiny in this stunning tale of the Middle Ages.
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DO NOT READ THISSSSS
- By C. Smith on 02-25-20
By: Avi
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The Innocent Mage
- By: Karen Miller
- Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne
- Length: 20 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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"The Innocent Mage is come, and we stand at the beginning of the end of everything." Being a fisherman like his father isn't a bad life, but it's not the one that Asher wants. Despite his humble roots, Asher has grand dreams. And they call him to Dorana, home of princes, beggars, and the warrior mages who have protected the kingdom for generations. Little does Asher know, however, that his arrival in the city is being closely watched by members of the Circle, people dedicated to preserving an ancient magic.
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Heroic Fantasy well written
- By Bruce on 03-29-12
By: Karen Miller
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Grave Mercy
- His Fair Assassin, Book 1
- By: Robin LaFevers
- Narrated by: Rachel Frawley
- Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.
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Good premise, poorly executed
- By Vanessa on 06-28-23
By: Robin LaFevers
What listeners say about The Silkworm Keeper
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Kindle Customer
- 02-13-22
Facebook's are so good
I started reading them because Diana Croft is one of my favorite narrators and I never would have read this kind of a book they are so good and she's so good at Nair ready she puts her whole heart and soul into the books I cannot wait for another book thank you
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- Syd Young
- 03-24-22
Excellent Second Book in Fantastic Series
Sometimes second books in a series sizzles or feels like a bridge between book one and book three. Not this one! I was every bit as enthralled with this offering as with the first—very imaginative and just as thrilling. Giulia vows to be good—and Fabio tumbles into trouble—thank heavens their fate has much more in store for them than they think. This narration of this multi-character book is amazing, each character with quite a distinct voice. Now I can’t wait for the third!
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- candi hurst
- 11-22-22
I can hardly wait
This is amazing book; I can hardly wait for the next in the series. This woman is a personal hero of mine, because she stood up for others who are helpless.
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- Richard H.
- 06-12-22
Good Book
interesting Storyline. Enjoyed the novel in the historic setting.. Appreciated the historical research used as casis for this story.
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- Jane Perkins
- 06-03-22
Great series
Both this book and The Poison Keeper are excellent reads that are well researched. The stories move along at a good clip, not getting bogged down, and the narration makes them even more enjoyable.
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- Amazon Customer ks
- 06-03-23
Renaissance Women
A compelling tale of women in this period. The storytelling is compelling and lush with period details. The narration is like a rhapsody.
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- Julie Morales
- 07-11-22
highly recommended
wonderful story well told! historical details draw you in to the life of women in the 1600s. loved it
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- cato
- 09-09-23
Love historical fiction
You'll learn about the corruption of the Roman Catholic church, the way females are treated, ways to get rid of females, and the way females can get retribution. Plus learn a little about master artists.
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- Mira Pekic
- 03-04-23
Wonderful book
I really enjoyed both of Deborah Swift’s books and highly recommend. Diana Croft’s narrative is masterful.
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- AJP
- 05-20-24
Great story!
Cheered for the characters when things went their way! Enjoyed this book very much. Listen to the poison keeper first for background.
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