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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
I don't know how historically accurate this novel is, but I've enjoyed it all the same. It transports the reader to medical Italy, a society full of luxuries, schemes and treason. It's a nice read, if not too true to history
I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Vatican Princess by C.W. Gortner is an intriguing narrative of the Borgias. There is drama, backstabbing and poison all tied up in one neat package. I was immediately entranced.
I did listen to part of this on audio and really enjoyed Julia Whelan's interpretation of it. She is fast becoming a go-to narrator as she enhances the vibrant words being read.
This was my first book by C.W. Gortner and I know it won't be my last. He is so descriptive I could picture the very stones Lucrezia walked on. The author was also so meticulous in bringing these characters to life that they could only be compared to Pinocchio becoming a "real boy". The Borgias were vivid creatures and were as alluring and deceitful as the Tudors. Lucrezia's story is one I will not forget anytime soon.
This review was originally posted on First Impressions Reviews
First Impressions:
The Vatican Princess by C.W. Gortner is an intriguing narrative of the Borgias. There is drama, backstabbing and poison all tied up in one neat package. I was immediately entranced.
What I Liked:
- The pacing of the novel was fantastic. I was on the edge of my seat waiting upon the next conniving move to be made.
- Lucrezia Borgia was a very likable person despite the atmosphere she grew up in. I thought C.W. Gortner did a good job portraying her innocence and naivete. As she was only 13 when she wed her inexperience in all aspects of life was an interesting look and I enjoyed seeing her mature and using her instinct to manipulate situations.
- Despite her family being horrible I quite liked the interactions between them, no matter how dastardly. However, just when you thought blood was thicker than water I was proved wrong time and time again.
What I Didn't like:
- There were three sex scenes that I didn't care for. The first, while the act of cheating served a purpose and set wheels in motion, I didn't care for how it was done. I thought it was a little too explicit and I would have prefered an "end scene" route. The second, I knew was coming the minute Lucrezia married. Her husband forced himself on her. It just gave me a bad taste in my mouth and was glad it ended quickly. The last involved incest, it was a little too Princess Daisy for my taste and could have been skipped over.
Audio Impressions:
I did listen to part of this on audio and really enjoyed Julia Whelan's interpretation of it. She is fast becoming a go-to narrator as she enhances the vibrant words being read.
Final Impressions
This was my first book by C.W. Gortner and I know it won't be my last. He is so descriptive I could picture the very stones Lucrezia walked on. The author was also so meticulous in bringing these characters to life that they could only be compared to Pinocchio becoming a "real boy". The Borgias were vivid creatures and were as alluring and deceitful as the Tudors. Lucrezia's story is one I will not forget anytime soon.
This review was originally posted on First Impressions Reviews
I didn’t know anything about the Borgia Family before reading this. It was an interesting story and she’s some light on the corrupt Pope’s family.
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Rape, Murder
Moderate: Grief
The lives of the various Borgias will always provide fertile ground for fascinating stories and The Vatican Princess certainly delivers an interesting tale. I found myself wanting to read more as it ended.
dark
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Once again my love for reading Historical fiction is satisfied by a C.W. Gortner book! I highly recommend it if you are a fan of the genre but be aware of some trigger situations as violence and rape.
I just wished we wrote a book about Catarina Sforza as i love Italia and C.W. Gortner is such a wonderful "Powerfull woman" writer because he gets that showing the power that all the woman he portraits in his books have is showing their hardships and the fact that they weren't always in power but never gave up nonetheless. To sum up, I think the ideal that you can survive no matter what and that you are as powerfull as you let yourselve be is present in this book about Lucrezia Borgia.
I just wished we wrote a book about Catarina Sforza as i love Italia and C.W. Gortner is such a wonderful "Powerfull woman" writer because he gets that showing the power that all the woman he portraits in his books have is showing their hardships and the fact that they weren't always in power but never gave up nonetheless. To sum up, I think the ideal that you can survive no matter what and that you are as powerfull as you let yourselve be is present in this book about Lucrezia Borgia.
Once again, C. W. Gortner has managed to take what we think we know about a much-maligned woman and turn it on its head, painting a completely different picture of this infamous Borgia.
It has been remarked on before but it is wonderful how Gortner manages to understand the women he writes about; how their voices ring true and believable through his writing. the characters have such a depth to them and it's no different in The Vatican Princess - his version of Lucrezia is fallible, an adored child finding the world can be cruel and learning how to survive in it. She is not the witch she was made out to be. As with Sarah Dunant's "Blood and Beauty", Gortner has proposed a reasonable and believable version of Lucrezia and Cesare's relationship and how such rumours about them came about.
Every page was an absolute delight to read and I genuinely loved it. I don't think anyone can ever do absolute justice to the Borgias but The Vatican Princess definitely is a worthy offering.
It has been remarked on before but it is wonderful how Gortner manages to understand the women he writes about; how their voices ring true and believable through his writing. the characters have such a depth to them and it's no different in The Vatican Princess - his version of Lucrezia is fallible, an adored child finding the world can be cruel and learning how to survive in it. She is not the witch she was made out to be. As with Sarah Dunant's "Blood and Beauty", Gortner has proposed a reasonable and believable version of Lucrezia and Cesare's relationship and how such rumours about them came about.
Every page was an absolute delight to read and I genuinely loved it. I don't think anyone can ever do absolute justice to the Borgias but The Vatican Princess definitely is a worthy offering.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No