For fans of Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir, bestselling author C. W. Gortner effortlessly weaves history and drama in this captivating novel about one of the world’s most notorious families. Glamorous and predatory, the Borgias fascinated and terrorized fifteenth-century Renaissance Italy, and Lucrezia Borgia, beloved daughter of the pope, was at the center of the dynasty’s ambitions. Slandered as a heartless seductress who lured men to their doom, was she in fact the villainess of legend, or was she trapped in a familial web, forced to choose between loyalty and survival?
With the ascension of the Spaniard Rodrigo Borgia as Pope Alexander VI, a new era has dawned in Rome. Benefitting from their father’s elevation are the new pope’s illegitimate children—his rival sons, Cesare and Juan, and beautiful young daughter Lucrezia—each of whom assumes an exalted position in the papal court. Privileged and adored, Lucrezia yearns to escape her childhood and play a part in her family’s fortunes. But Rome is seductive and dangerous: Alliances shift at a moment’s notice as Italy’s ruling dynasties strive to keep rivals at bay. As Lucrezia’s father faces challenges from all sides, the threat of a French invasion forces him to marry her off to a powerful adversary. But when she discovers the brutal truth behind her alliance, Lucrezia is plunged into a perilous gambit that will require all her wits, cunning, and guile. Escaping her marriage offers the chance of happiness with a passionate prince of Naples, yet as scandalous accusations of murder and incest build against her, menacing those she loves, Lucrezia must risk everything to overcome the lethal fate imposed upon her by her Borgia blood.
Beautifully wrought, rich with fascinating historical detail, TheVatican Princess is the first novel to describe Lucrezia’s coming-of-age in her own voice. What results is a dramatic, vivid tale set in an era of savagery and unparalleled splendor, where enemies and allies can be one and the same, and where loyalty to family can ultimately be a curse.
(Summary from the back of the book)
Date Started: 1/23/24 – Date Finished: 1/23/24
4 out of 5 Stars
The Quick Review – who want a hurry up and tell me yes or no:
This book is about Lucrezia Borgia, daughter of Pope Alexander VI. She was an Italian noblewoman and due to rumors of the time regarding her and her family, she is often portrayed as a femme fatale, a poisoner and sometimes even stated that she was in an incestuous relationship with her brother Cesare. The book begins in her youth, on the cusp of her father being appointed Pope. It introduces her brothers, mother, “caretaker” and her supposed rival for her father’s affection, Giulia Farnese (a married woman! oh the scandal) The book describes her youth, her love of her father and the slow corruption of that love because of what the family is willing to do to remain in power. It also touched on the hatred of her two older brothers Juan and Cesare, and how its a kill or be killed relationship between the two. It does mention her younger brother, who is often overlooked because he caused so little trouble or scandal during the time. I would have loved if the book was longer, I want to read how she reacted to the death of her father, and the fall of her brother. I do like how the author wrote Lucrezia, she is not a femme fatale, just a regular woman in some irregular circumstances. I read this book so dang fast, I would read this again in a heartbeat!
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The Long Review – For people who like to have a lot of information and some spoilers.
The Borgias, a wonderfully famous family. Full of drama, murder and scandals. This book did not disappoint.
Lucrezia Borgia, was the apple of her father’s eye. She shouldn’t have existed though. When she was born her father was called Cardinal Rodrigo de Borgia. He would later become Pope Alexander VI. Throughout her whole life she was educated very much like a princess. She was educated in Humanities, fluent in Spanish, Catalan, Italian, and French, she was literate in Latin and Greek. She had a excellent ability in administration which was shown when she took care of Vatican City and the governance of Ferrara later in her life. Her education was dictated by a friend of her father’s Adriana Orsini de Milan, (who is mention in the book)
The book begins when her father is finally elected Pope, and the quick change of her life with the riches that came with the election as well as the people’s reaction. In the book we are introduced to her rocky relationship with her mother, her dependence on Adriana and her strained relationship with Giulia Farnese. Then we are quickly introduced to her brothers and their violent rivalry. This book did mention Cesare and Lucrezia’s relationship as a they love one another, and she feels a spark but she knows its wrong. Thankfully the book doesn’t describe them as fully committing to their love, by incest. Though it does describe Cesare’s desire to have and control Lucrezia for his own, and his jealousy.
The book also follows the rumor of her being pregnant during her marriage between Giovanni Sforza, and while her father and her brother worked to get the marriage annulled due to him being unable to perform the marital act. Her pregnancy was a result of rape of her brother Juan, a disgusting act in the story.
It does mention some of the turmoil that was going on during that time but most of the information that was presented was told in an off hand remark towards Lucrezia. In a way that seems like she should know what is going on in around her without someone having to hold her hand through it.
The last half of the book was a part where you thought finally she gets a happy period of time. Her second marriage to Alfonso d’Aragon, the half brother of her sister-in-law Sancha. She is pregnant and has a boy, all was wonderful. BUT then jealousy and evil plotting rears its ugly head and then BAM! Cut short. Her husband is now dead, she is a widow.
Here’s a quick session of learning via Horrible Histories (I adore that show) regarding the Borgia Family!
Now on to the Questions!
Why did she end the book there? Why didn’t she continue?
Why did she have to have her brother rape her? Was that really necessary, I mean sure she needed that betrayal moment but there were other ways.
Living the way that she did, why was it really a surprise that her father had a mistress?
Liz of a Thousand Books 
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