Shadow over Ragusa

Centuries ago on the Adriatic, the Republic of Ragusa survives through diplomacy, trade, and the vigilance of its walls. As Venetian pressure grows from the west, a quieter danger begins to move within the city itself. Inside Villa Marinowitch, Master of Keys Luka and the spirited and sharp minded Iva are drawn into a web of secrets after a clandestine trip to Lokrum Island reveals a hidden launch, a golden chain, and a body concealed beneath broken boards. What begins as a troubling discovery soon unravels into a deeper conspiracy, reaching from the ruined monastery to the very heart of the council chamber. Ragusa’s political life moves through ritual and ceremony. The Church speaks, the Admiralty counts ships and cannons, and the Council seeks balance under Duke Orlando. Yet beneath garden gatherings and lantern lit dinners, tensions begin to rise and loyalties quietly shift. Father Marko’s counsel carries hidden intent, messages from beyond the sea whisper of dangerous alliances, and rumors of red cloaked figures spread unease along the city walls. Luka’s patience and Iva’s fearless resolve lead them through markets, harbors, and shadowed paths as they uncover connections between clergy, foreign agents, and unseen forces moving through Lokrum’s darkness. Into this tightening storm sails Miho Lupina, a young officer whose sense of duty mirrors the city’s fragile strength. His presence brings both hope and risk, as growing affection binds private emotion to the fate of the Republic. As suspicion deepens and danger closes in, the paths of Luka, Iva, and Miho converge in a struggle where loyalty, truth, and love may determine the future of a city standing on the edge of uncertainty. Shadow over Ragusa blends mystery, romance, and political intrigue into the story of a small republic caught between empires, and of the people whose courage, both quiet and bold, may be the only force strong enough to preserve its freedom. This is the first title in an epic historical saga, to be continued in Republic in the Mist and Sunset of Liberty.