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A review by dilchh
The Vatican Princess: A Novel of Lucrezia Borgia by C.W. Gortner
4.0
First off, let it be known that I really can’t remember what made me got interested in this book. I’m not sure I even have a mild interest in the Borgias. But, damn was I glad that I read this book. For awhile, I was so enthralled by Lucrezia’s voice that I totally forgot the writer was a man, but his narration as Lucrezia Borgia was so beautiful and touched me deeply, I developed a strong sense of empathy for Lucrezia.
I did a research on her family and the scandal that follows. My opinions of Lucrezia might have been bias after I read the book (and some pop culture interpretation of her throughout countless number of books, movies and series). I don’t think Lucrezia is as evil as how people made her out to be. We have to remember that she was around the age of 13 – 20 years old when all hell break loose in her life. I don’t think she was capable in doing the things that people thought she did. And one important aspect that I was glad brought up in the book was that, Lucrezia was a female. No matter my age we are in, remember that being female is a shitty place to be, especially during the olden times. Women are merely a pawn in a male’s game, and so was Lucrezia.
Whether or not Lucrezia was evil, one thing for sure, the author managed to humanised a lot of the characters in the book. Even the Pope was not made as corrupt as what history has proven him for, even when the author slowly peel the skin of Cesare from such a sweet loving boy, to a crazy power hungry and jealous man; it was such an interesting ride to have had read this book and become intimate with the characters.
But it sucks that the book has to end. I was wondering how the author was going to end the book, and I must say that it ended nicely, even though I’m still bummed that the book ends. Lucrezia definitely was an interesting historical figure to write and muse about. Her family’s intrigue left so much for people’s imagination to wander, and I can’t really blame different interpretation of her life and her personality.
I did a research on her family and the scandal that follows. My opinions of Lucrezia might have been bias after I read the book (and some pop culture interpretation of her throughout countless number of books, movies and series). I don’t think Lucrezia is as evil as how people made her out to be. We have to remember that she was around the age of 13 – 20 years old when all hell break loose in her life. I don’t think she was capable in doing the things that people thought she did. And one important aspect that I was glad brought up in the book was that, Lucrezia was a female. No matter my age we are in, remember that being female is a shitty place to be, especially during the olden times. Women are merely a pawn in a male’s game, and so was Lucrezia.
Whether or not Lucrezia was evil, one thing for sure, the author managed to humanised a lot of the characters in the book. Even the Pope was not made as corrupt as what history has proven him for, even when the author slowly peel the skin of Cesare from such a sweet loving boy, to a crazy power hungry and jealous man; it was such an interesting ride to have had read this book and become intimate with the characters.
But it sucks that the book has to end. I was wondering how the author was going to end the book, and I must say that it ended nicely, even though I’m still bummed that the book ends. Lucrezia definitely was an interesting historical figure to write and muse about. Her family’s intrigue left so much for people’s imagination to wander, and I can’t really blame different interpretation of her life and her personality.