Love never comes in the form you expect.

An enthralling debut novel set in the glittering intrigue of late 19th-century Venice. Francesa, a young woman, flees her violent family to join the Minerva Theater, dressed as a male puppeteer. Among the Minerva’s eccentric characters, she becomes who she was always meant to be: Franco.

 

But when Franco’s childhood friend Annella resurfaces, desire sparks and a dangerous plot embroils the theater. As their lives hang in the balance, Franco must discover who is pulling the strings before it’s too late. Rich in historic detail and sharp social commentary, Eight Strings is a gorgeous, spellbinding debut that celebrates love, life, and art’s many forms.