Ruthless is the story of Agata, a fourteen-year-old girl from Verona who has been forced by her father to marry Nunzio. After a year of marriage with no child yet conceived, Agata's father-in-law, Alvino, decides to bed her himself. When he later is caught by Nunzio, Alvino defends himself by claiming that Agata is a witch. In order to avoid a witchcraft trial Agata flees to Venice where she is forced to become a prostitute in order to survive. In Venice Agata learns that in order to survive she must be ruthless in her dealings with men.
Agata's story was compelling but it did not resonate with me as much as other books that I have read by this author. Part of the novel was about the Lord of Verona and his politics. While Agata did have a relationship with him, she was never involved with the politics of Verona or Venice. The parts of the book concerning the Lord's political issues seemed out of place. When the story stayed on Agata's plight it was entertaining.
3 out of 5 stars.
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