Tagged: renaissance italy
The Lion and the Rose by Kate Quinn
(Cover picture courtesy of Goodreads.)
As the cherished concubine of the Borgia Pope Alexander VI, Giulia Farnese has Rome at her feet. But after narrowly escaping a sinister captor, she realizes that the danger she faces is far from over—and now, it threatens from within. The Holy City of Rome is still under Alexander’s thrall, but enemies of the Borgias are starting to circle. In need of trusted allies, Giulia turns to her sharp-tongued bodyguard, Leonello, and her fiery cook and confidante, Carmelina.
Caught in the deadly world of the Renaissance’s most notorious family, Giulia, Leonello, and Carmelina must decide if they will flee the dangerous dream of power. But as the shadows of murder and corruption rise through the Vatican, they must learn who to trust when every face wears a mask . . .
I had my doubts about The Lion and the Rose but in the end it exceeded my expectations. Kate Quinn captures a time of change and uncertainty perfectly while having her beloved characters navigate through the vicious politics of Rome.
Kate Quinn’s characters are great. Giulia is finally a mature woman who starts to realize that maybe her beloved Pope isn’t all that he seems to be. His personality is changing and Giulia now has the maturity and insight to see and acknowledge some of his failings as a person. I don’t want to add in too many spoilers, but this new knowledge drastically changes their relationship as well as both parties involved. Leonello was the character that surprised me the most in this book, however. He’s finally trying to be just a little bit nicer to everyone but he still has that biting wit that makes me love him. Where his character goes toward the end of the book was a total shock but in hindsight I should have seen it coming. Carmelina also has quite the interesting character arc, but I was definitely more interested in Giulia’s and Leonello’s.
I can’t vouch for the historical accuracy of this novel because my knowledge of the era is woefully inadequate, but Kate Quinn included a nice historical note talking about the very few things she did change. She seamlessly wove history and invention together to tell a great story while remaining true to the tiny details and broader strokes of the period. For example, all of the recipes mentioned in the book are authentic as well as the religious unrest in Florence. This is how historical fiction should be written.
By most standards the plot is not fast-paced but this is more of a character driven novel. There are still some very surprising plot twists, particularly the ones involving Leonello, so you’ll never be bored. And of course Kate Quinn’s writing style is excellent, as always. Historical fiction doesn’t get much better than this.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
The Serpent and the Pearl by Kate Quinn
(Cover picture courtesy of Goodreads.)
Rome, 1492. The Holy City is drenched with blood and teeming with secrets. A pope lies dying and the throne of God is left vacant, a prize awarded only to the most virtuous–or the most ruthless. The Borgia family begins its legendary rise, chronicled by an innocent girl who finds herself drawn into their dangerous web…
Vivacious Giulia Farnese has floor-length golden hair and the world at her feet: beauty, wealth, and a handsome young husband. But she is stunned to discover that her glittering marriage is a sham, and she is to be given as a concubine to the ruthless, charismatic Cardinal Borgia: Spaniard, sensualist, candidate for Pope–and passionately in love with her.
Two trusted companions will follow her into the Pope’s shadowy harem: Leonello, a cynical bodyguard bent on bloody revenge against a mysterious killer, and Carmelina, a fiery cook with a past full of secrets. But as corruption thickens in the Vatican and the enemies begin to circle, Giulia and her friends will need all their wits to survive in the world of the Borgias.
This could have quite easily strayed into cliché territory the whole time. At times, it was a little cliché but nothing on the level I expected it to be. I’ll explain a little bit.
Leonello is sort of Kate Quinn’s answer to George R. R. Martin’s Tyrion. He’s quick-thinking, uses his wits to keep alive and gets quite a few women (considering the views of the time). He always seems to find himself in the centre of intrigue. For those of you that have read the series A Song of Ice and Fire you know full well this could be applied to Tyrion just the same as it could be applied to Leonello. There are a few differences between the characters but I was sort of disappointed in how similar the two were, even if they are both awesome in their own right.
The thing that I liked most about The Serpent and the Pearl is the characters. Carmelina has a fascinating backstory and makes her way into a world traditionally inhabited by men only—being the master chef to powerful men. She’s not your typical Feisty Female that seems to be the requirement in fiction these days so I actually quite enjoyed her point of view. The character that I liked most was, surprisingly, Giulia Farnese. She can be quite a vain, indolent sort of creature but there’s no denying that as the story goes on and she grows up a bit she becomes a force to be reckoned with in Rome. Unlike a lot of heroines she is capable of acting and lying but never really loses her temper with anyone. Considering how she grew up, this is far more believable than the ridiculous obvious Girl Power characters that historical fiction writers try to transform every woman into. Some women are not obviously girl power figures, but Giulia sort of becomes one in a quiet, unique kind of way that fits with her personality.
The plot dragged a little bit in a couple of places, but there weren’t any major slow downs. I did enjoy all of the little historical details Kate Quinn put into her novel, including all the recipes Carmelina used. Some historical figures were portrayed very differently than I was used to (Sancha of Aragon most notably) but others were pleasantly surprising, like Giulia and the Borgia Pope himself. I can’t speak to how historically accurate this novel is, but I definitely felt immersed in the world of Renaissance Italy and the intrigues of Rome.
If you like historical fiction that has a little bit of a different take on traditionally maligned characters, I’d have to recommend The Serpent and the Pearl. It certainly isn’t for everyone but I personally enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading The Lion and the Rose. Especially since Kate Quinn ended the book on such a horrible cliffhanger.
I give this book 4/5 stars.
Blood and Gold by Anne Rice
(Cover picture courtesy of Rankopedia.)
Once a proud Senator in Imperial Rome, Marius is kidnapped and forced into the dark realm of blood, where he is made a protector for the Queen and King of the vampires—in whom the core of the supernatural race resides. Through his eyes we see the fall of pagan Rome to the Emperor Constantine, the horrific sack of the Eternal City at the hands of the Visigoths, and the vile aftermath of the Black Death. Ultimately restored by the beauty of the Renaissance, Marius becomes a painter, living dangerously yet happily among mortals, and giving his heart to the great master Botticelli, to the bewitching courtesan Bianca, and to the mysterious young apprentice Armand. But it is in the present day, deep in the jungle, when Marius will meet his fate seeking justice from the oldest vampires in the world.
If not for Pandora, Blood and Gold would be my favourite novel by Anne Rice. The story of Marius, a logical Roman man, kidnapped and turned into a vampire against his will. But what stands out for me is the amazing amount of detail Anne Rice puts into her historical fiction. The splendor of ancient Rome, the horror of the Black Death, the energy and creativity surrounding the Italian Renaissance…all of the settings come alive and you feel like you’re really there along with Marius.
Marius himself is a very complex character. His traditional Roman upbringing and his naturally logical personality clash very well with Pandora’s free spirit and dreamy personality and it makes for a very interesting relationship. However, since Pandora mostly focused on their relationship, Anne Rice doesn’t spend nearly as much time on it. Instead, she focuses on the relationship between Marius and Armand, his student and the courtesan Bianca in Renaissance Italy. Blood and Gold certainly fills in a lot of the questions I had from reading The Vampire Armand. If nothing else, it paints Marius in a more sympathetic light!
Blood and Gold isn’t for everyone. If you get annoyed by long, detailed descriptions of historical events and daily life, you won’t enjoy Blood and Gold. But for someone like me, who loves it when a writer showcases their knowledge of the era, Blood and Gold is perfect.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
Duchessina by Carolyn Meyer
(Cover picture courtesy of Open Library.)
Life as the wealthiest and most envied girl in all of Italy should involve a magnificent palace, beautiful dresses, heaps of jewels, and many devoted servants. Instead, poor little Caterina de’Medici, or Duchessina as she’s called, finds herself imprisoned in a drafty convent with nuns who despise her and do everything they can to make her life a misery. She is utterly alone, desperately hungry, and scared.
Imagine Duchessina’s relief to learn that she will be released from this intolerable existence and will move to Rome, where she will live in the grand household of the pope. Finally the days ahead seem brighter—or do they? Little does the young duchess know that her future includes a painful separation from the boy she loves, and a marriage contract that is anything but appealing. But Duchessina is resourceful and determined. She will find a way to command what she deserves. She must—for the sake of her family and her own survival.
Catherine de’Medici has garnered quite a reputation and once again, Carolyn Meyer has stepped in to put things in perspective. We never really are told what it is she does that has given her a reputation, but for people who know about her reign, this tale of her unhappy childhood really does explain a lot. I think you’d turn out pretty ruthless too if you had the kind of childhood Catherine had.
In Duchessina, we learn about the truly horrible childhood she had and that most of her teen years were spent in nunneries hiding from her family’s enemies. Catherine had done nothing to offend them other than being born into the wrong family. Yet she suffers for it as the nuns in the first abbey do everything in their power to make her life absolutely miserable. The only good thing that happens is when she is eventually moved to another nunnery where the nuns are much kinder to her and she learns the things a wealthy young lady of the times was expected to learn: manners, proper conduct and what to wear.
In the beginning, the plot is a bit slow, but it is very fast-paced in the end. Catherine de’Medici’s early years are full of tragedy and judging by the way Duchessina ends, her adulthood is not much better. However, readers will be captivated by the strong narrator and will enjoy Catherine’s transformation from innocent child to cynical teen/adult.
I give this book 4/5 stars.