REVIEW: The Stars Dispose by Michaela Roessner

The Stars Dispose by Michaela Roessner

Paperback: 416 pages

Publisher: Tor Books (28 Dec 1998)

ISBN-10: 0812550145

ISBN-13: 978-0812550146

Copy: Bought secondhand

Reviewer: Cara

From the back of the book:

Here is the tale of young Tommaso de Befanini, whose family has practiced the secret magics of the kitchen and hearth through many generations of the Medici dynasty. Trained in the culinary arts, befriended by the great Michelangelo himself, Tommaso seems destined for a life as a master chef. But when war and intrigue threaten the city's future, Tommaso finds himself playing a crucial role in a grand and intricate mystical design.

The Stars Dispose is more than just an historical novel set in Florence in the early 16th century; it has at it's heart the magic of the strega, Italian witches. This, combined with alchemy, underpins the events detailed in the novel; the political machinations of the de Medici and their enemies, plague and the siege of the city. Michaela Roessner's research is impeccable, mixing fact with the lives of her characters and producing a novel that is, in my view compelling reading.

Tommaso de Befanini is the central character, son of the head chef of the Ruggiero family, he is already in training to follow in his father's footsteps. His mother's family have run the kitchens of the de Medici for generations and they are strega, hearth witches with considerable power. Thoughout the book, their attention is focussed on the safekeeping of young Caterina, the heir to the Medici family and Tommaso's mother, Piera, plays a leading role in ensuring the safety of the young girl. Tommaso plays a central role in the protection of Caterina and although only 11 at the start of the book, he shows a maturity beyond his years. Childhood is short in Renaissance Italy and Tommaso accepts his responsibilities with good grace. At times I forgot how young he was, given that he had considerable culinary skills which he put to good use when apprenticed to Il Tribolino, the sculptor. He was also the lover of Michelangelo, creator of the Cistine Chapel ceiling fresco in the Vatican and the statue of David, which to our modern day morality is abhorrent but was acceptable behaviour in Florence at that time. Certainly Tommaso was a willing participant in the affair and this subject is dealt with sensitively and without prejudice. Whatever we may think of this relationship, it was not unusual at that time and indeed, at no point is it portrayed as abusive or exploitative. 

Food too plays a significant role in The Stars Dispose, which, given that most of the central characters work in the kitchens of Florence's leading families, is appropriate. I have often wondered what Italian food was like before the introduction of the tomato from the Americas. Well, now I know! Meals are lovingly and skillfully prepared by Tommaso's family and Michaela Roessner even provides us with several recipes at the end of the  book.

The magic intrigued me from the outset. Piera is a highly adept witch and she uses her skills in the protection of the young Caterina de Medici. We see her perform blood magic rituals to ensure the young girl's safety during the dark times facing Florence. She is part of a network of witches within the city, all of whom co-operate behind the scenes. Piera also communicates with higher powers, using astral projection to converse with these mysterious magical beings. Her employer, Ruggiero is an alchemist and occultist; he casts horoscopes and scrys the future, using his own magical skills. The focus of all this magic is ensuring that Caterina, and indeed the city of Florence, is protected from the political machinations of the Pope in Rome. Dark shadows abound in Florence, most notably in the form of Alessandro, the illegimate son of the Pope and another member of the Medici family. When plague comes to the city, Tommaso sees dark spectres in the streets, instruments of a dark power intent on destroying Florence and the de Medici. He also sees them when the city is besieged by Charles, the Holy Roman Emperor and ally of the Pope. They are portents of what might be should the magic of Piera and her strega coven fail.

I enjoy historical fiction and The Stars Dispose is a particularly well written and researched novel. The addition of magic enhances the atmosphere and tension throughout the book and personally I was fascinated by it. Roessner's writing draws the reader into the world of Renaissance Italy, a place where the magic of the strega is part of the life of the city. The intrigue and politics are complex and dark, with both sides manipulating situations with magic and occult arts which go well beyond the bounds of superstition. It is the acceptance of magic as the norm that places this book firmly in the realm of speculative fiction. It also lifts this book from a good historical novel to an excellent one. 

The sequel, The Stars Compel continues with the entwined story of Tommaso and the young Caterina, now infamous in French history as Catherine de Medici.

Plot: 9

Characters: 9

Style: 9

Overall rating 9/10