For the citizens of Italy there is the monarch and their right hand leaders. These leaders are the head of foreign affairs and the head of domestic affairs. The currently ruling family has been in control for 3000 years but just because they are on top does not mean they will stay there. Being put in one of the main roles is not dictated by blood or familial ties. Instead anyone who wants to take on a role when it is becoming vacant have to take part in the fights. These are a mixture of physical and mental tests that are meant to show the candidates strengths and weaknesses.
The children and grandchildren of the current monarch are hidden so not to show any bias during the selection process. Susanna (Susy), her twin brother Alessandro (Ale) and their older brother Dario are the current king’s grandchildren and are kept hidden from people.
The novel follows Susy as she strives to win her fights for the leader of Foreign Affairs. Allumiere shows really well the mental and emotional stress that Susy goes under but also does not shy away from the dirtiest details of the physical fights.
I really enjoyed this as I enjoyed reading about Susy and all her family as well as the people she encounters over the course of the book. Despite the stress and strain that the characters face there are still fun moments of humour and tenderness between the characters.
