Review: Rocamora: Man of Masks by Donald Michael Platt
Book Description:
*2012 Finalist International Book Awards for Historical
Publication Date: September 26, 2011
Raven's Wing Books
Paperback; 408p
ISBN-10: 1618070150
ISBN-10: 1618070150
Rocamora, a novel of 17th century Spain, is based on the life of Vicente de Rocamora, who struggles to make his place in a Spain obsessed with limpieza de sangre, purity of blood untainted by Jew, Moor, or recent convert.
Poet, swordsman, and master of disguise, at the insistence of his family, Vicente enters the Dominican Order and is soon thrust into the scheming political and clerical hierarchies that at Court.
Vicente becomes Confessor and Spiritual Director for King Philip IV’s teenage sister, the beautiful Infanta Doña María, five years younger than he, protégé and possible successor of Inquisitor General Sotomayor, and an invaluable assistant to the King’s chief minister, the Count-Duke de Olivares.
Vicente needs all his skills and cunning to survive assassination by a growing list of ruthless foes in both Church and Court, solve a centuries-old riddle to quell rumors of his own impurity of blood, and above all suppress his love for the seemingly unattainable María.
Rocamora Book Trailer:
My Thoughts:
This book is a fictional account Vicente de Rocamora. He was a master of disguises, poet, Dominican Priest, among other things. The book opens with a bang and never lets go. Vincente's parents were both murdered and the starts off right away with him avenging their death, in disguise. It is 17th century Spain. At the age of 16 wants to be a solder but at the insistence of the remaining head of family, who vowed a oath of loyalty to, he becomes a Dominican priest.
Vincente move up the ranks rather quickly and becomes the confessor for the beautiful Infanta Doña María. The younger sister of King Phillip IV of Spain. Eventually it looks as if he will become the Inquisitor General.
Donald Michael Platt brings the time of the Spanish Inquisition to life. It is apparent he did a lot of research for this book. My only complaint, and it is a small one is I think there could have been tighter editing. Other than that, I loved this book and will certainly read the second book, House of Rocamora. Highly recommended!
4.5/5
I was given a copy of this book for my honest review.
About Donald Michael Platt:
Born and raised inside San Francisco, I graduated from Lowell High School and received my B.A. in History from the University of California at Berkeley and won a batch of literary cash awards while in graduate school at San Jose State.
When I moved to southern California, I began my professional writing career. I sold to the TV series, MR. NOVAK, ghosted YOUR HAIR AND YOUR DIET for health food guru, Dan Dale Alexander, and wrote for and with diverse producers, among them as Harry Joe Brown, Sig Schlager, Albert J. Cohen, and Al Ruddy as well as Paul Stader Sr., dean of Hollywood stuntman and stunt/2nd unit director. Also, options were taken on my unpublished WWII fighter ace novel and several treatments.
After living in Florianópolis, Brazil, setting of my horror novel A GATHERING OF VULTURES, Dark Hart 2007, Briona Glen 2012, I moved to Florida where I wrote as a with: VITAMIN ENRICHED, pub.1999, for Carl DeSantis, founder of Rexall Sundown Vitamins; and THE COUPLE’S DISEASE, Finding a Cure for Your Lost “Love” Life, pub. 2002, for Lawrence S. Hakim, MD, FACS, Head of Sexual Dysfunction Unit at the Cleveland Clinic.
Currently, I reside in Winter Haven, Florida. My magnum opus historical novel, ROCAMORA, set in 17th century Spain and Amsterdam during their Golden Ages, was released by RAVEN'S WING BOOKS at the end of December 2008. It has been republished by Briona Glen, September 2011. My completed sequel HOUSE OF ROCAMORA was published by Briona Glen November 2012, and I am polishing a completed novel set in the 9th century Carolingian Empire about another unusual historical character, Bodo, the Apostate.
When I moved to southern California, I began my professional writing career. I sold to the TV series, MR. NOVAK, ghosted YOUR HAIR AND YOUR DIET for health food guru, Dan Dale Alexander, and wrote for and with diverse producers, among them as Harry Joe Brown, Sig Schlager, Albert J. Cohen, and Al Ruddy as well as Paul Stader Sr., dean of Hollywood stuntman and stunt/2nd unit director. Also, options were taken on my unpublished WWII fighter ace novel and several treatments.
After living in Florianópolis, Brazil, setting of my horror novel A GATHERING OF VULTURES, Dark Hart 2007, Briona Glen 2012, I moved to Florida where I wrote as a with: VITAMIN ENRICHED, pub.1999, for Carl DeSantis, founder of Rexall Sundown Vitamins; and THE COUPLE’S DISEASE, Finding a Cure for Your Lost “Love” Life, pub. 2002, for Lawrence S. Hakim, MD, FACS, Head of Sexual Dysfunction Unit at the Cleveland Clinic.
Currently, I reside in Winter Haven, Florida. My magnum opus historical novel, ROCAMORA, set in 17th century Spain and Amsterdam during their Golden Ages, was released by RAVEN'S WING BOOKS at the end of December 2008. It has been republished by Briona Glen, September 2011. My completed sequel HOUSE OF ROCAMORA was published by Briona Glen November 2012, and I am polishing a completed novel set in the 9th century Carolingian Empire about another unusual historical character, Bodo, the Apostate.
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I've been seeing this book around different blogs. It does sound good! The Spanish Inquisition is a perfect subject for books it seems, with all the and horrific things that happened. I will need to add this one to me wishlist!
Colleen Turner said... April 16, 2013 at 12:15 PM
Great review Teddy! As always!
Unknown said... April 17, 2013 at 7:21 AM
I have a love for historicals, this one sounds right up my alley. I appreciate your view, it was very helpful:) I wish you well on your release!
Michelle Cornwell-Jordan said... April 17, 2013 at 8:56 AM
I have recently read the first of Captain Alatriste series, set in this century too, with some of the topics you commented (Pérez-Reverte is really good, by the way).
This novel sounds good too; the Spanish Catholic Church is a great issue to talk about, since they were terrifying.
Isi said... April 17, 2013 at 1:07 PM
This sounds like an interesting read.
Unknown said... April 17, 2013 at 6:53 PM
oh, going on my to-read list! Sounds great.
Unknown said... April 18, 2013 at 4:02 PM
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