A review by harveyhorse321
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell

dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I devoured this book. This was a welcome break from my typical fantasy plot-driven reads. I knew I would enjoy it because I love renaissance Italy, but this went above and beyond my expectations. O’Farrell really brings to life the little-known and short-lived Lucrezia de Medici. This is a brilliant and intense character study with a cheeky little twist at the end which I hoped for but genuinely didn’t expect.
I also couldn’t help thinking of The Bell Jar when reading this, just the way you’re so inside Lucrezia’s mind and I felt like how much of this can be put down to mental illness and how much is just simply her character?
Expand filter menu Content Warnings