Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Book review and giveaway: Sara Poole's The Borgia Betrayal

Sara Poole's historical thriller The Borgia Betrayal begins with a poisoning, not an uncommon occurrence during the deadly power games of the Italian Renaissance, but two things set it apart.  First, the perpetrator is a woman, Pope Alexander VI's court poisoner Francesca Giordano, and she seems – almost to have compassion for the poor fellow who dies.  Keeping her boss safe is her mission, and she'll do what she has to.

For her newest assignment, Francesca must find a discreet way of killing off Cardinal della Rovere, the Borgia pope's main rival.  The story is hastened forward by several subplots that seem, at first, to be distractions from the main event. 

While Borgia fights to keep Spain as a firm ally against the unruly French, Spain pressures him to break off his daughter Lucrezia's betrothal to Giovanni Sforza of Milan and to banish the Jews from Rome.  He doesn't plan to do either. Rumors are spreading about the impending arrival of the fanatical monk from Florence, Savonarola. Amid the political tumult, Francesca refuses to abandon her personal quest: killing the mad priest, Bernando Morozzi, who masterminded her father's death.

Francesca fancies herself an outcast, an unnatural woman who enjoys her job a little too much and doesn't want the darkness inside her to touch anyone else.  Although it's true that most people around the Vatican fear her (for good reason), she has more friends than she thinks.  Among them are the handsome glassmaker she won't let herself get close to; her fellow members of the Lux, a secret society of free-thinkers; and her lover Cesare Borgia, the pope's son, whose lusts and dark leanings match her own. 

Poole's depiction of Cesare is refreshing and suitably complex.  Just seventeen in the year 1493, Cesare is more than just a power-hungry, immoral adolescent.  He truly cares for Francesca, and their developing relationship
as well as his with his father will be worth watching in future books.

Francesca's first-person voice has a sarcastic directness that comes as a nice change in an era where one's feelings are best kept hidden.  Despite the many tangled strands of the plot, the narrative speeds along smoothly, and the author displays an intimate familiarity with this dangerous time and place.  The Borgia Betrayal is second in a series after Poison.  It works well as a standalone, although there are enough intriguing references to events from the first book for newcomers to regret not having read it.

The Borgia Betrayal was published by St. Martin's Griffin in June at $14.99 ($16.99 in Canada) in trade paperback (389pp, plus bonus material including an author interview, historical essay, and timeline).

Interested in winning a copy for yourself?  I have one up for grabs.  To enter, leave a comment on this post.  Deadline Friday, September 9th.  This contest is open internationally.  Good luck!

21 comments:

  1. Please count me in and thank you for making it open to all. Much appreciated.

    mystica123athotmaildotcom

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  2. Sounds very intriguing. Thank you.
    kaiminani at gmail dot com

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  3. I have this one in the review pile (so no need to enter me in the contest). I enjoyed the first one and am looking forward to this one.

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  4. I've never read much about the Borgias. This novel sounds interesting. Thanks for the giveaway.
    lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

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  5. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Rachelhwallen@gmail.com

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  6. I would REALLY love to win this! I have the first book in the series and they both sound just wonderful! Thanks for the giveaway!
    candc320@gmail.com

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  7. I have been so interested in the books by this author. I haven't had the chance to read anything about the Borgias and really don't know much about them at all. Looking forward to reading this. Please enter me.

    dolleygurl[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  8. Thanks for the giveaway! I love anything to do with the Borgias.

    mishamary@gmail.com

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  9. Sounds intriguing, especially the way in which the author has chosen to portray the protaganist. Please count me in for the giveaway.

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  10. Anonymous9:05 AM

    This sounds interesting.
    Please enter me.

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  11. I've heard wonderful things about her books. Would love to win a copy to see for myself!

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  12. I have this on my wishlist and I've really wanted to read it. Haven't read that much about The Borgias.

    Thanks for the giveaway and for making it international!

    crimson_haze(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  13. I've just found your blog and I'm your newest follower. I'm looking forward to reading more of your reviews.

    Please count me in for the giveaway too.
    s.murray10@yahoo.co.uk

    http://tinylibrary.blogspot.com

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  14. Marie B.5:49 PM

    This sounds so interesting - thanks for the giveaway!

    marie1200 at gmail dot com

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  15. Sounds like an interest read, count me in! THanks

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  16. Ooh, lovely! Thanks for the giveaway!

    Gabi: teddycavygal at yahoo dot com

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  17. Ooo sounds interesting, thanks!

    Amanda
    libraryofmyown at gmail dot com

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  18. Please enter me! Really want to read this!

    taylor_ward11@yahoo.com

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  19. I'm interested in the giveaway, I love this era

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  20. I love, love, love reading about the Borgias!

    abookishaffair(at)gmail(dot)com

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  21. Please enter me in the contest. Thanks.

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