Dante placed Count Ugolino in the ice of the second ring, Heyer turned him into the most wicked uncle, a very cartoonish villain with a very high arched thin brow. The characters in this book are so delicious, they need to be savored. This book shows the high standard a storyteller had to keep the characters in her book very fresh. From the small innkeeper daughter to the pinkest on ton, each character keeps a very distinguished voice and presence, each adds a layer to her magnificent books. I am always in awe of how she keeps me engaged throughout her stories.