Publishers Weekly
10/14/2019
Palombo (The Violinist of Venice) returns to historical Italy in this vivacious tale of power and love set in 1492. When Rodrigo Borgia becomes Pope Alexander VI, he finds himself surrounded by enemies as he assumes control of the Catholic Church. To insulate himself, he places his adult children in influential positions throughout Europe, making his son Juan a powerful general and appointing his eldest son, Cesare, to be Archbishop of Valencia. While Cesare’s heart belongs to the battlefield, Cesare realizes his father wishes to begin a reign of the Borgia family in the Vatican and reluctantly does his bidding. Maddalena, a servant from the countryside unfamiliar with the culture of Rome, comes to serve in the Vatican and has her faith tested by the prurient nature of city life. When Maddalena and Cesare meet, they are immediately drawn to one another, and as Cesare, who spends most of his time in Rome, attempts to consolidate his power within the Vatican, Maddalena witnesses the consequences such political dealings have on the lower classes of Rome. Excavating the personal relationships and petty disagreements that fueled Pope Alexander VI’s controversial reign, Palombo’s enticing tale will please fans of Sharon Kay Penman. (Feb.)
From the Publisher
"[A] vivacious tale of power and love set in 1492... Excavating the personal relationships and petty disagreements that fueled Pope Alexander VI’s controversial reign, Palombo’s enticing tale will please fans of Sharon Kay Penman." - Publishers Weekly
"Readers looking for an immersive, light, romantic read will enjoy this book." - Booklist
"Under Palombo’s skillful hand, the entangled world of the Borgias comes vividly to life, exposing the dark facets of class structure and the all-consuming greed that comes with ambition—and love. I was utterly engrossed from page one. A colorful and suspenseful novel, The Borgia Confessions is packed with complex characters and political intrigue, and will leave readers hungry for more." - Heather Webb, internationally bestselling author of Last Christmas in Paris and Meet Me in Monaco
“Palombo has crafted a sweeping and surprisingly sympathetic portrait of Cesare Borgia, one of history’s most notorious "bad boys,” and the world surrounding him. [A] dark Renaissance parable about the intertwining of lust and power. If you’re as fascinated with all things Borgia as I am, you won’t want to miss this one!” - Kris Waldherr, author of The Lost History of Dreams and Bad Princess
"Handsome. Intriguing. Dangerous. Seductive. [This] is everything you want in a book—it's a romance, a page-turner, and a ride deep into the sumptuous and tumultuous time of Renaissance Italy." - Crystal King, author of The Chef's Secret
"Alyssa Palombo’s deft and delicate prose makes a gorgeous contrast against the visceral and cutthroat world of the Borgias. Dark and decadent, The Borgia Confessions is mesmerizing from start to finish." - Meghan Masterson, author of The Wardrobe Mistress
Library Journal
★ 02/01/2020
Much has been written about the notorious Borgia family and the power they held over the Italian peninsula during the 15th and 16th centuries, but probably the most vilified member of the family was Rodrigo Borgia, who rose to claim the papal throne after the death of Pope Innocent in 1492, even though Borgia had a longtime mistress and numerous illegitimate children. Once he attained the throne of St. Peter, Borgia used his children as pawns to solidify his authority, arranging an advantageous marriage for his daughter and elevating his sons to high positions both in the church and in the military, making himself and his offspring immensely powerful and wealthy. Told from the point of view of Maddalena Moretti, a serving girl in the pope's household and the mistress of Cesare, the oldest Borgia son and Archbishop of Valencia, this is a feast of deception, treachery, greed, and lust. VERDICT Palombo's (The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel) excellent tale of family infighting, jockeying for power, and exploiting the church to attain personal wealth and power will keep readers enthralled long into the night. Who needs sleep, anyway?—Jane Henriksen Baird, formerly at Anchorage Public Library, AK
