Book Review: Sins of the House of Borgia by Sarah Bower

Publish Date: March 2011

Format: Paperback pp

Synopsis (From the Publisher):

"Violante isn't supposed to be here, in one of the grandest courts of Renaissance Italy. She isn't supposed to be a lady-in-waiting to the beautiful Lucrezia Borgia. But the same secretive politics that pushed Lucrezia's father to the Vatican have landed Violante deep in a lavish landscape of passion and ambition. 

Violante discovers a Lucrezia unknown to those who see only a scheming harlot, and all the whispers about her brother, Cesare Borgia, never revealed the soul of the man who dances close with Violante. 

But those who enter the House of Borgia are never quite the same when they leave-if they leave at all. Violante's place in history will test her heart and leave her the guardian of dangerous secrets she must carry to the grave."

My Review:

Sent to Rome during the Spanish expulsion of the Jews, Violante suddenly finds herself amidst one of the most powerful families in Rome: the Borgia's. Sent to be a lady-in-waiting for Lucrezia Borgia, Violante soon learns that while one might be the family of the Pope, devastating secrets and manipulative actions are not forbidden.

As we follow Violante through the cities of Rome, a world full of sparkling palaces and exquisite settings unfolds before us. There is no confusion as to who's who, and the depth of each character is constantly changing. Knowing the Borgia's to be a family of corruption and complexity, I was thrilled to read Sins of the House of Borgia, especially since this would be my first venture into their world. While the story flowed at a steady pace and was written exceptionally well, I found myself wondering when the sinister plotting and shocking activity would begin.

Overall, Sins of the House of Borgia is a good read that will keep your interest from beginning to end. Definitely recommended for someone just beginning to learn about this corrupted family, but maybe lacking for someone who is privy to their scandals. I will be looking forward to seeing what Sarah Bower brings us next.

Interested in the Borgia's? Be sure to enter my giveaway to win a brand new copy of this novel:

Sins of the House of Borgia by Sarah Bower

FTC: I received this book from the publisher. As always, these are my own honest opinions.

Copyright © 2011 Svea Love. All Rights Reserved.