A review by maplessence
Blood & Beauty by Sarah Dunant

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.