Reviews with content warning for Rape - The Marriage Portrait

Renaissance's re-telling are simply not my type of reading. Maybe I can work around Renaissance story if they are short or is an article simple and straight to the point.

Taking that in consideration, I didn't like this book, but I did enjoyed the reading. It's a slowed pace book that I would pick up for when I would need a break from really rushing books and I want to slow down in the genre or a book I will pick to keep myself busy while in an appointment or when I'm bored. I didn't found anything special about it. It was simple and dull. Also, it was predictable for me. I really loved Lucrezia's rebel inner self, but she was too passive and... she was just a child in adult's matters. It was heartbreaking that she could not understand what was going on around her and how she was left alone with herself and her maid (who was another child) and they had to "navigate" the adult world. Since they were child who would not know how to handle/navigate the adult world, it challenging to read through the book. I honestly consider this book more historical with a tiny little touch of fiction. And I believe that's what manage me to read it to the end.

Which was one of the best part in the book. I really like the twist fiction allowed the writer to gave us another conclusion to Lucrezia's story. Since Lucrezia was showing feelings for Jacopo I just... loved their platonic relationship. And for her by the end to decide to run away from Alfonso was a huge plot twist. I thought that she was dying in that fortezza that night, but she escaped! I would have loved to see a short story/novel about Lucrezia's and Jacopo's friendship (and possibly relationship) develop. Now, that was a story I would have definitely enjoyed. It was the innocence and their tenderness that moved me and I wish that Lucrezia could live the "love" story that her parents had, but Jacopo and her were born at the wrong period of time and in the wrong positions.

I believe the main reason this reading wasn't entertaining to me was because of the period the book was settle and that made it predictable and dull for me.

Content Warnings

heini's review against another edition

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dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

Content Warnings

oproy's review

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challenging inspiring reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

A very good but meandering story. Although I liked the book, there were long descriptive portions that I felt did not add to the entirety of the story. Overall, I would recommend the read. It definitely transports you to the era.

Content Warnings