Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Slow to start and took me awhile to get into it, but then I enjoyed it.
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Maggie O’Farrel writes beautifully descriptive, but it was way too descriptive for me. I was invested in the first and last 100 pages. I had to drag myself trough the middle, it took a second try at this book but I kept reading because I was intrigued enough by the possible ending. But I found the ending a bit disappointing? I did love Lucrezia’s character (development).
informative
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
I will literally read anything Maggie writes.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed this book. It was well written and provided a vivid sense of place with great character development.
Re-tried a DNF but still just couldn’t get into the story.
Another great novel from Maggie O'Farrell which delves deeper into a mysterious female footnote from the annals of the past. The fictionalized story of Lucrezia de Medici, third daughter of Cosimo I De Medici, Duke of Florence. Set in the 1550s this sensitive young woman, age 14, is forced to marry the powerful, ruthless Duke of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio. She soon realizes her only function is to provide a heir for the Duke, who is probably barren. Intrigue and emotions abound as the novel goes back and forth between the events leading to the end in Ferrera and Lucrezia's girlhood in Florence.
It took two tries but this book was fantastic from start to end.
An engrossing imagining of what could have happened to the real-life Lucrezia de Medici. I loved the two alternating timelines and thought the author did a great job bringing them together at the climax of the novel.