Title: The Borgia Bride

Author: Jeanne Kalogridis

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: St. Martins Griffins

Format: Paperback

Pages: 509

Rating: 4/5 stars

*Warning: mature content. Parents please be advised.*

Synopsis:

Vivacious Sancha of Aragon arrives in Rome newly wed to a member of the notorious Borgia dynasty. Surrounded by the city’s opulence and political corruption, she befriends her glamorous and deceitful sister-in-law, Lucrezia, whose jealousy is as legendary as her beauty. Some say Lucrezia has poisoned her rivals, particularly those to whom her handsome brother, Cesare, has given his heart. So when Sancha falls under Cesare’s irresistible spell, she must hide her secret or lose her life. Caught in the Borgias’ sinister web, she summons her courage and uses her cunning to outwit them at their own game. Vividly interweaving historical detail with fiction, The Borgia Bride is a richly compelling tale of conspiracy, sexual intrigue, loyalty, and drama.

Review:

This book is well written and does a good job of capturing your attention from the very beginning. From what most people know about the Borgia’s, it is known that the head of the family, Rodrigo, became pope, even though his family was considered to be corrupt. He himself had bastard children and mistresses, and his family is thought to be incestuous. But I really enjoyed reading about the family from the perspective of Sancha of Aragon, who married Jofre Borgia. The book portrayed her fear for being part of the family, as many were murdered because they knew too much about the family.
One aspect I liked about the book was the portrayal of Lucreczia. She was just a political pawn for the family, and she felt like she had no choice but go along with her crazy family. You almost feel pity for her, even though she did some unspeakable things.
This is a great book if you want to learn a bit about the time period, as well as the Borgia family. Remember, it is historical fiction, so not all events would be historically accurate. But this is a well portrayed piece of history!

Happy reading!