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kassi_kennedy's review
2.0
More "Fiction" than Historical, I expected more from the book that was at the top of the list of "Best Books about the Borgias".
This book was entertaining and interesting, but only as a piece of fiction with a sprinkling of history.
This book was entertaining and interesting, but only as a piece of fiction with a sprinkling of history.
soph2962's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
theliterarialetter's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jmatkinson1's review
5.0
Rome in the late 15th Century and the Pope is dead, through various machinations an upstart Spaniard Roderigo Borgia is elected to the Papal office. Borgia takes the name Alexander but he is the head of a powerful and ambitious family of illegitimate children including his eldest son Cesare and his only daughter Lucrezia. The Borgias are keen to found a dynasty and after the death of second son Juan, Cesare renounces his priesthood to become a feared leader of the papal army. Lucrezia is a pawn in the marriage game but love is snatched from her by her family.
The legends of the Borgia family are legion, their infamy precedes them. However in this book Dunant tries to look beyond the obvious. Her writing is, as ever, lyrical and the plot runs along at a pace - it was ever going to be with this subject matter. I do like the way that Dunant is crystal-clear with events that are historical fact but is more ambiguous with those events that are never proven (who killed Juan Borgia, whether Lucrezia had an illegitimate child). Given the style of writing these ideas coalesce into a whole narrative which is both historically accurate and detailed yet has strong place in the pantheon of challenging historical fiction.
The legends of the Borgia family are legion, their infamy precedes them. However in this book Dunant tries to look beyond the obvious. Her writing is, as ever, lyrical and the plot runs along at a pace - it was ever going to be with this subject matter. I do like the way that Dunant is crystal-clear with events that are historical fact but is more ambiguous with those events that are never proven (who killed Juan Borgia, whether Lucrezia had an illegitimate child). Given the style of writing these ideas coalesce into a whole narrative which is both historically accurate and detailed yet has strong place in the pantheon of challenging historical fiction.
jess_rra's review against another edition
dark
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lysskv's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
maplessence's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
Unusually for me, I have had to read other reviews to try to help me put my finger on why I wasn't wholly engaged by this book.
For one thing it is (& feels) long! Dunant is intending to write a sequel. Maybe this book could have been finished earlier & Dunant could have written a trilogy instead.
It was a slow beginning for me, then the story picked up. I liked the way the characters don't waste time justifying their actions. & Lucretia's character gets stronger as the book progresses.
& I hope the way Caterina Sforza is portrayed is justified by history, those scenes with Cesare were distasteful.
My least favourite of the Dunants I have read so far.
Unusually for me, I have had to read other reviews to try to help me put my finger on why I wasn't wholly engaged by this book.
For one thing it is (& feels) long! Dunant is intending to write a sequel. Maybe this book could have been finished earlier & Dunant could have written a trilogy instead.
It was a slow beginning for me, then the story picked up. I liked the way the characters don't waste time justifying their actions. & Lucretia's character gets stronger as the book progresses.
& I hope the way Caterina Sforza is portrayed is justified by history, those scenes with Cesare were distasteful.
My least favourite of the Dunants I have read so far.
yourpalmal13's review
3.0
I personally felt like this was Borgias greatest hits I never felt any connection with the characters as the author jumped from one to the other broadly describing important events. It was like reading the UK television series.
ejwilf98's review
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book surprised me! It kept the intrigue of the Borgia family, but also subverted a lot of the most popular myths/rumors about them. It got a little redundant towards the middle, but I've already downloaded the sequel, so clearly it was good enough.