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

informative inspiring mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I've had a paperback copy of Hamnet on my shelf for almost a year. I've put off reading it so I can catch up on my NetGalley queue, but after reading this spectacular novel I'm going to dust it off and read it.

Maggie O'Farrell has an astonishing way of fleshing out the paltry, little-known details of the sad life of a medieval noble teenage girl. She gives Lucrezia de Medici so much depth and validates her terror in knowing, instinctively, that her husband Alfonso is going to murder her. This novel is part thriller, part history, part mystery with a touch of romantic imagination thrown in, and it's tremendously readable. Her characters are well-rounded, which, despite my rooting for Lucrezia, gave me pause. (Does Alfonso really want to kill his wife, or is he just another duplicitous noble?)

If you've read and loved Hamnet, you'll love this. If, like me, you haven't...well, you'll still love it. 
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