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The Borgia Chronicles #2
The Lion and the Rose
From the national bestselling author of The Serpent and the Pearl comes the continuing saga of the ruthless family that holds all of Rome in its grasp, and the three outsiders thrust into their twisted web of blood and deceit . . .
As the cherished concubine of the Borgia Pope Alexander VI, Giulia Farnese has Rome at her feet. But after narrowly escaping a sinister captor, she realizes that the danger she faces is far from over—and now, it threatens from within. The Holy City of Rome is still under Alexander’s thrall, but enemies of the Borgias are starting to circle. In need of trusted allies, Giulia turns to her sharp-tongued bodyguard, Leonello, and her fiery cook and confidante, Carmelina.
Caught in the deadly world of the Renaissance’s most notorious family, Giulia, Leonello, and Carmelina must decide if they will flee the dangerous dream of power. But as the shadows of murder and corruption rise through the Vatican, they must learn who to trust when every face wears a mask . . .
As the cherished concubine of the Borgia Pope Alexander VI, Giulia Farnese has Rome at her feet. But after narrowly escaping a sinister captor, she realizes that the danger she faces is far from over—and now, it threatens from within. The Holy City of Rome is still under Alexander’s thrall, but enemies of the Borgias are starting to circle. In need of trusted allies, Giulia turns to her sharp-tongued bodyguard, Leonello, and her fiery cook and confidante, Carmelina.
Caught in the deadly world of the Renaissance’s most notorious family, Giulia, Leonello, and Carmelina must decide if they will flee the dangerous dream of power. But as the shadows of murder and corruption rise through the Vatican, they must learn who to trust when every face wears a mask . . .
438 pages, Paperback
First published January 7, 2014
647 people are currently reading
6203 people want to read
About the author
Kate Quinn
30 books40.1k followers--I use Goodreads to track and rate my current reading. Most of my reads are 4 stars, meaning I enjoyed it hugely and would absolutely recommend. 5 stars is blew-my-socks-off; reserved for rare reads. 3 stars is "enjoyed it, but something fell a bit short." I very rarely rate lower because I DNF books I'm not enjoying, and don't rate books I don't finish.--
Kate Quinn is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. A native of southern California, she attended Boston University where she earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Classical Voice. She has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga, and two books in the Italian Renaissance, before turning to the 20th century with “The Alice Network”, “The Huntress,” "The Rose Code," "The Diamond Eye," and "The Briar Club." She is also a co-author in several collaborative novels including "The Phoenix Crown" with Janie Chang and "Ribbons of Scarlet" with Stephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie, Eliza Knight, Sophie Perinot, and Heather Webb. All have been translated into multiple languages. Kate and her husband now live in Maryland with their two rescue dogs.
Kate Quinn is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. A native of southern California, she attended Boston University where she earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Classical Voice. She has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga, and two books in the Italian Renaissance, before turning to the 20th century with “The Alice Network”, “The Huntress,” "The Rose Code," "The Diamond Eye," and "The Briar Club." She is also a co-author in several collaborative novels including "The Phoenix Crown" with Janie Chang and "Ribbons of Scarlet" with Stephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie, Eliza Knight, Sophie Perinot, and Heather Webb. All have been translated into multiple languages. Kate and her husband now live in Maryland with their two rescue dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 352 reviews
July 8, 2015
All the Borgia devils are here. The Lion and the Rose is a far darker and a more accomplished novel than The Serpent and the Pearl the first in Quinn's Borgia series. Pope Alexander VI, born Rodrigo Borgia, now holds court in a Vatican that is very much a center of worldly power.
Rome and Rodrigo face challenges from the French, from Fra Savonarola in Florence--and from the pope's ambitious, unscrupulous offspring.
Juan Borgia
Cesare Borgia
Lucretia Borgia (here looking saintly in fresco by Pinturicchio, in the Sala dei Santi, the Borgia apartments in the Vatican)
Giulia Farnese, the Pope's concubine, is older and wiser but she is increasingly isolated in the corrupt, murderous world of Renaissance Rome. Her only allies are her bodyguard, the deadly, knife-wielding dwarf, Leonello, and the chef at the seraglio, Carmelina--both fictional but inspired characters. The period details such as the scene featuring Savonarola's Bonfire of the Vanities are splendid; the historical research is impeccable; the many historical figures memorably drawn; and the story is breathtakingly suspenseful. I could not put this down and read into the wee hours of the night. Highly recommended.
Content rating strong PG warning for rape, murder and other dark thematic material.
Rome and Rodrigo face challenges from the French, from Fra Savonarola in Florence--and from the pope's ambitious, unscrupulous offspring.
Juan Borgia
Cesare Borgia
Lucretia Borgia (here looking saintly in fresco by Pinturicchio, in the Sala dei Santi, the Borgia apartments in the Vatican)
Giulia Farnese, the Pope's concubine, is older and wiser but she is increasingly isolated in the corrupt, murderous world of Renaissance Rome. Her only allies are her bodyguard, the deadly, knife-wielding dwarf, Leonello, and the chef at the seraglio, Carmelina--both fictional but inspired characters. The period details such as the scene featuring Savonarola's Bonfire of the Vanities are splendid; the historical research is impeccable; the many historical figures memorably drawn; and the story is breathtakingly suspenseful. I could not put this down and read into the wee hours of the night. Highly recommended.
Content rating strong PG warning for rape, murder and other dark thematic material.
May 16, 2014
OH, LEONELLO!!!!
Yes.
Yes.
July 7, 2017
Even better than the first book. I loved Leonello's development in this and his search for Ana's killer was much more convincing. Carmelina on the other hand even though a fabulous cook was a bit ditsy and easily manipulated by Bathelemeo. I'm sorry to see the end of this tale. I commented at the end of book 1 to my hubby that they made those pope's a bit different back in the day and he said that he didn't think anything had changed much. Well lo and behold, I see on the news yesterday that there was a drug induced orgy in one of the Vatican apartments hosted by a Cardinal. I wonder what Carmelina and Batholomeo would have served up for nibbles?
October 21, 2021
An absolute freaking ride of a book that made me giddy with its handle of storytelling, narrative and prose. This is a masterclass in excavating an ancient time period and blasting it to life with a winsome, hilarious, bawdy, irreverent and immediate narrative.
I loved the juxtaposition between religious irony and the slow crumble of power as the Borgia family becomes too big for their reign. Dangerous and bloody yet never without a wry remark from our wise-cracking bodyguard dwarf Leonello, the mysterious murders presented in book one are solved here with some truly nail-biting moments all amidst the twists and turns in the life paths of the wondrous central characters Carmelina, Leonello and Giulia.
So many sequences are framed like a Botticelli piece as Quinn clearly enjoys taking her word brush to a lush and hideous time period. Never without a quick wit or a chance for a double entendre, the humour coupled with luminous imagery is a clever technique reflecting each end of the excesses of the time period. I also enjoyed the clash of religious fervour as Florence, overtaken by Fra Savonarola's piety of sacrificed vanity is the polar opposite of the opulence of Pope Alexander VI's Rome.
I confess I had never been lured to this time period or the Borgia family before--- but with Carmelina, Leonello and Giulia as my tour guides, I fell into the universe of this beautously captured story. I mean if you want a masquerade, you will GET a masquerade.
Also, Bartolomeo is THE BEST
And I will feel the loss of these characters keenly for a long time to come.
I loved the juxtaposition between religious irony and the slow crumble of power as the Borgia family becomes too big for their reign. Dangerous and bloody yet never without a wry remark from our wise-cracking bodyguard dwarf Leonello, the mysterious murders presented in book one are solved here with some truly nail-biting moments all amidst the twists and turns in the life paths of the wondrous central characters Carmelina, Leonello and Giulia.
So many sequences are framed like a Botticelli piece as Quinn clearly enjoys taking her word brush to a lush and hideous time period. Never without a quick wit or a chance for a double entendre, the humour coupled with luminous imagery is a clever technique reflecting each end of the excesses of the time period. I also enjoyed the clash of religious fervour as Florence, overtaken by Fra Savonarola's piety of sacrificed vanity is the polar opposite of the opulence of Pope Alexander VI's Rome.
I confess I had never been lured to this time period or the Borgia family before--- but with Carmelina, Leonello and Giulia as my tour guides, I fell into the universe of this beautously captured story. I mean if you want a masquerade, you will GET a masquerade.
Also, Bartolomeo is THE BEST
And I will feel the loss of these characters keenly for a long time to come.
November 22, 2015
3.5 stars. Extremely easy-reading, but still accurate historical fiction. I really like the characters in this series, and felt quite sad that this was the last book in the series. Can't wait to read Kate Quinn's The Empress of Rome series. I will also be reading Blood and Beauty by Sarah Dunant to get a different point of view of the events of the Borgias.
March 10, 2019
The Lion and the Rose picks up in August of 1496, nine months after The Serpent and the Pearl ends, and concludes in June of 1498. Giulia Farnese is still Rodrigo Borgia's (aka Pope Alexander VI's) mistress. But the situation not only in Rome but in cities such as Venice and Florence, has become more violent and Rodrigo's enemies are closing in on him. Rodrigo's sons – Caesar, Juan, and Joffre – add to the violent mix through their jealousies of one another and their brutality and unsavory lusts. Lucrezia, who Giulia practically brought up, comes under the influence of Giulia's enemies. And, after being humiliated by Rodrigo, Giulia wonders if she should remain his mistress. She maneuvers behind his back to ensure the safety of herself and her young child. But can she successfully steer her way through this thicket of treachery and deceit to a new life so that they both come out alive? As if that’s not trouble enough, Giulia also harbors a secret love that she dare not divulge.
Carmelina Mangano flees from who someone wants to murder her only to find herself a virtual prisoner at the mercy of someone else who intends to murder her. She also repulses the advances of the one man who truly loves her. Is her lifespan destined to be a short, loveless one?
Leonello, Giulia's deadly dwarf bodyguard, discovers the identity of the man who killed his woman friend in the first novel and takes his revenge at the risk of incurring Caesar Borgia's wrath. He abandons Giulia for a frightening new master. And he earns a reputation as a man to be feared and loathed. Yet no one can loathe him more than he loathes himself.
Even though they don't realize it, these three are still bound together by ties that are difficult to break. The big question is: Can they work together to escape the wrath of the Borgias?
In this novel, Giulia, Carmelina, and Leonello have more dimensions than in the previous one – which is understandable because, just like people, they develop and mature over the eight years the two books encompass.
Quinn has done her research, and vividly describes social life in Renaissance Italy, the machinations in papal politics, and the low state of the Catholic Church that helped spark the Protestant Reformation. She also graphically describes the debauchery of Pope Alexander VI and his degenerate sons and daughter. She even gets things right by portraying Caesar Borgia as wearing a mask later in life to hide the hideous condition of his face caused by syphilis that he picked up from his womanizing.
Quinn includes historical notes about the characters, both real and imagined, and provides a helpful Cast of Characters at the back of the book. I still think having “Discussion Questions” at the end is a bit presumptuous.
All in all, The Lion and the Rose is a great read by one of my favorite authors.
Carmelina Mangano flees from who someone wants to murder her only to find herself a virtual prisoner at the mercy of someone else who intends to murder her. She also repulses the advances of the one man who truly loves her. Is her lifespan destined to be a short, loveless one?
Leonello, Giulia's deadly dwarf bodyguard, discovers the identity of the man who killed his woman friend in the first novel and takes his revenge at the risk of incurring Caesar Borgia's wrath. He abandons Giulia for a frightening new master. And he earns a reputation as a man to be feared and loathed. Yet no one can loathe him more than he loathes himself.
Even though they don't realize it, these three are still bound together by ties that are difficult to break. The big question is: Can they work together to escape the wrath of the Borgias?
In this novel, Giulia, Carmelina, and Leonello have more dimensions than in the previous one – which is understandable because, just like people, they develop and mature over the eight years the two books encompass.
Quinn has done her research, and vividly describes social life in Renaissance Italy, the machinations in papal politics, and the low state of the Catholic Church that helped spark the Protestant Reformation. She also graphically describes the debauchery of Pope Alexander VI and his degenerate sons and daughter. She even gets things right by portraying Caesar Borgia as wearing a mask later in life to hide the hideous condition of his face caused by syphilis that he picked up from his womanizing.
Quinn includes historical notes about the characters, both real and imagined, and provides a helpful Cast of Characters at the back of the book. I still think having “Discussion Questions” at the end is a bit presumptuous.
All in all, The Lion and the Rose is a great read by one of my favorite authors.
August 18, 2015
A very good friend of mine introduced me to this author by saying: You will like this Sonja, its easy sleazy historical fiction”. Clearly she knows me very well ☺
The murder mystery from book one continues and all the favourites (Carmelina, Leonelle and now also Bartholomeo) were present but this time around the story was noticeably darker than the first. The glamour of being the Pope’s mistress has tarnished for Giulia and more and more one can see the source of all those rumors branding the Borgias as incestuous, backstabbing, bloodthirsty and depraved.
For some reason I was under the impression this would be a trilogy and I was actually quite put out to discover that it was not the case. I also felt a tinge of pity for Rodrigo Borgia as his biggest downfall was his inability to see the corruption in his own children.
The author notes at the end of each book shows just how closely she followed the historical facts surrounding the Borgia family and the easy style in which historical facts are woven into gripping fiction makes for a wonderful reading experience.
I can happily recommend this author to anyone who loves historical fiction but who may find the likes of Hillary Mantel a bit heavy handed.
The murder mystery from book one continues and all the favourites (Carmelina, Leonelle and now also Bartholomeo) were present but this time around the story was noticeably darker than the first. The glamour of being the Pope’s mistress has tarnished for Giulia and more and more one can see the source of all those rumors branding the Borgias as incestuous, backstabbing, bloodthirsty and depraved.
For some reason I was under the impression this would be a trilogy and I was actually quite put out to discover that it was not the case. I also felt a tinge of pity for Rodrigo Borgia as his biggest downfall was his inability to see the corruption in his own children.
The author notes at the end of each book shows just how closely she followed the historical facts surrounding the Borgia family and the easy style in which historical facts are woven into gripping fiction makes for a wonderful reading experience.
I can happily recommend this author to anyone who loves historical fiction but who may find the likes of Hillary Mantel a bit heavy handed.
June 17, 2022
Won through Goodreads Giveaway
Whereas The Serpent and the Pearl fell just sort of perfection, Quinn redeemed her story with The Lion and the Rose. While Quinn intends to tell us the twisting tale of Giulia Farnese, her loyal bodyguard Leonello, and her mysterious cook Carmelina, she sneaks in it a gripping and rather scandalous account of the Borgias. A family both powerful and vindictive who burn everything in their path, even themselves. Quinn binds together the story of the Borgias with that of our protagonists and she does it with complete eloquence and humility as only Kate Quinn can.
Giulia: it is not secret that La Bella is my favorite. She is brave, cunning, and infinitely kind. She loves with her whole heart, even when that same love is one that can destroy her. Her love for Rodrigo, for Laura, and at one point, her love for her husband becomes her driving force and eventually threatens to be her downfall. Giulia is a character so thoroughly nuisanced that it is hopelessly easy to fall into her charm. I love her so much that she's right up their with my favorite warrior goddess Thea.
Leonello: man, oh man, what to say about our Little Lion Man. His personality can be as sharp as a knife but inside he's a big puddle of sensitivity - a juxtaposition that makes him unbelievably endearing. Every facet of his personality is perfect. I loved the ending he gets. From the very start, he is more then just a killer and his true colors are eventually revealed. A more perfect hero cannot be found.
Carmelina: This sassy chef is embroiled up to her ears in secrets & lies. Not much changes and nor does she. Carmelina remains ferocious even when things go horribly wrong. She is a woman who truly loves what she does and loses herself in her passion. I was amazed at her persistence and her bravery. Adored her too.
I've really tried to get across how wonderful this book, but it's hard for me to convert feelings into simple words that are inadequate. Like Homer, Kate Quinn is magic. Even if you don't read historical fiction, you are bound to lose yourself in this book. It is too good to pass up.
Whereas The Serpent and the Pearl fell just sort of perfection, Quinn redeemed her story with The Lion and the Rose. While Quinn intends to tell us the twisting tale of Giulia Farnese, her loyal bodyguard Leonello, and her mysterious cook Carmelina, she sneaks in it a gripping and rather scandalous account of the Borgias. A family both powerful and vindictive who burn everything in their path, even themselves. Quinn binds together the story of the Borgias with that of our protagonists and she does it with complete eloquence and humility as only Kate Quinn can.
Giulia: it is not secret that La Bella is my favorite. She is brave, cunning, and infinitely kind. She loves with her whole heart, even when that same love is one that can destroy her. Her love for Rodrigo, for Laura, and at one point, her love for her husband becomes her driving force and eventually threatens to be her downfall. Giulia is a character so thoroughly nuisanced that it is hopelessly easy to fall into her charm. I love her so much that she's right up their with my favorite warrior goddess Thea.
Leonello: man, oh man, what to say about our Little Lion Man. His personality can be as sharp as a knife but inside he's a big puddle of sensitivity - a juxtaposition that makes him unbelievably endearing. Every facet of his personality is perfect. I loved the ending he gets. From the very start, he is more then just a killer and his true colors are eventually revealed. A more perfect hero cannot be found.
Carmelina: This sassy chef is embroiled up to her ears in secrets & lies. Not much changes and nor does she. Carmelina remains ferocious even when things go horribly wrong. She is a woman who truly loves what she does and loses herself in her passion. I was amazed at her persistence and her bravery. Adored her too.
I've really tried to get across how wonderful this book, but it's hard for me to convert feelings into simple words that are inadequate. Like Homer, Kate Quinn is magic. Even if you don't read historical fiction, you are bound to lose yourself in this book. It is too good to pass up.
December 3, 2019
Saturday was the best kind of lazy day - football and reading, all day long. Amazing. Then a twelve-hour day at the theatre on Sunday and more reading on Monday to polish this off. #NoRegrets
One of the great joys of reading Kate Quinn is recognizing historical figures vs fictional ones. I had no idea was real until I saw one of the little chapter headings. I SQUEALED, I tell you. And Kate is fantastic at making exciting character-driven decisions when the backdrop of history gets a bit fuzzy.
After the first book, I'd jumped on Wikipedia to learn more about Giulia's life, so I knew how her life ended up, but it was fantastic to see how Kate intertwined Leonello and Carmelina and Bartolomeo too. And now that I'm done (save the anthology works she's been part of), I'm all caught up on my backlog of Kate books and can eagerly await The Rose Code.
Might finally watch the Borgias on Netflix now.
One of the great joys of reading Kate Quinn is recognizing historical figures vs fictional ones. I had no idea was real until I saw one of the little chapter headings. I SQUEALED, I tell you. And Kate is fantastic at making exciting character-driven decisions when the backdrop of history gets a bit fuzzy.
After the first book, I'd jumped on Wikipedia to learn more about Giulia's life, so I knew how her life ended up, but it was fantastic to see how Kate intertwined Leonello and Carmelina and Bartolomeo too. And now that I'm done (save the anthology works she's been part of), I'm all caught up on my backlog of Kate books and can eagerly await The Rose Code.
Might finally watch the Borgias on Netflix now.
January 17, 2014
Fans of Showtime’s “The Borgias” will eat up the second novel in Kate Quinn’s series about Italy’s most infamous family. In “The Lion and the Rose,” we pick up where the story ended in “The Serpent and the Pearl,” following the stories of Giulia Farnese, mistress to Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia); Leonello, her acid-tongued dwarf bodyguard; and Carmelina, her shrewd cook.
When the first book left off, the trio and the rest of their traveling party had been captured by a French army, and Leonello was gravely injured in the process of defending Giulia. As the group is returned safely back to Rome, Giulia finds out that life at the Vatican has changed in dangerous ways.
While Rodrigo was always overly lenient with his children, turning a blind eye to their escapades, he grows more and more obsessed with protecting his family, no matter how extreme the measures. Lucrezia goes from a cheerful young girl who wants to follow Giulia around to a vain, mean-spirited teenager who tries to out-do Giulia at every turn; Cesare’s schemes get even darker and Juan’s drinking and whoring results in a tragedy that no one expects. Soon Giulia realizes that she needs to get out of Rome or risk her life, and the life of her daughter.
Meanwhile, Carmelina’s secret that she’s an escaped nun is discovered by Leonello, and she’s constantly afraid that she’ll be discovered. Leonello, however, is facing his own demons, and must confront the darkness inside him when the series of murders he’s been chasing are finally solved.
The book alternates between the viewpoints of Giulia, Leonello and Carmelina, bringing a distinct voice to each character. Giulia’s character development is especially strong, and instead of following the Pope’s every command like usual, she starts to stand up to him and the rest of his family, especially when it comes to her daughter. With his bravery, determination and loyalty (mixed with a dark side) Leonello rises above the usual description of "dwarf sidekick" in historical fiction and stands taller than many heroes. Finally, an unexpected love story for Carmelina is one of the highlights of the story, and her food descriptions are enough to make anyone's mouth water.
Filled with romance, deceit, murder and a satisfying surprise twist at the end, “The Lion and the Rose” is an entertaining read that will satisfy new and old fans of Quinn.
*I received a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review
When the first book left off, the trio and the rest of their traveling party had been captured by a French army, and Leonello was gravely injured in the process of defending Giulia. As the group is returned safely back to Rome, Giulia finds out that life at the Vatican has changed in dangerous ways.
While Rodrigo was always overly lenient with his children, turning a blind eye to their escapades, he grows more and more obsessed with protecting his family, no matter how extreme the measures. Lucrezia goes from a cheerful young girl who wants to follow Giulia around to a vain, mean-spirited teenager who tries to out-do Giulia at every turn; Cesare’s schemes get even darker and Juan’s drinking and whoring results in a tragedy that no one expects. Soon Giulia realizes that she needs to get out of Rome or risk her life, and the life of her daughter.
Meanwhile, Carmelina’s secret that she’s an escaped nun is discovered by Leonello, and she’s constantly afraid that she’ll be discovered. Leonello, however, is facing his own demons, and must confront the darkness inside him when the series of murders he’s been chasing are finally solved.
The book alternates between the viewpoints of Giulia, Leonello and Carmelina, bringing a distinct voice to each character. Giulia’s character development is especially strong, and instead of following the Pope’s every command like usual, she starts to stand up to him and the rest of his family, especially when it comes to her daughter. With his bravery, determination and loyalty (mixed with a dark side) Leonello rises above the usual description of "dwarf sidekick" in historical fiction and stands taller than many heroes. Finally, an unexpected love story for Carmelina is one of the highlights of the story, and her food descriptions are enough to make anyone's mouth water.
Filled with romance, deceit, murder and a satisfying surprise twist at the end, “The Lion and the Rose” is an entertaining read that will satisfy new and old fans of Quinn.
*I received a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review
February 14, 2014
I picked this book up to read for a little while this morning. I just finished it.
I can think of no better way to express how captivating this book is. Yes, I ignored my children, chores, and anything else that vied for my attention in order to reach the conclusion of the characters that I had grown to love. Never did I think I would find myself saying these words, but I just adore Giulia Farnese.
Well, I adore Quinn's version of her at least. This installment in the Borgia drama is darker than the first. Giulia is no longer a starry-eyed teenager, but a clever woman who can stand firm when everyone else is afraid or be demure and submissive, depending on what the situation demands. She is caring, unselfish, and always anticipating the needs of others. If she was anywhere near this sweet of a woman in real life, I hope that she did get her own happy ending after escaping from the evil Borgia web.
The real hero of the story though has got to be Leonello. This character that I initially had written off as silly novelty, how I wanted to drag him away from his bad decisions, force him to admit his true feelings, and comfort his pain. Though he gives in to some demonic impulses, in the end the reader can not hate him but pray for his redemption.
The Borgias, who seemed harmlessly blasphemous and cheerfully irreverent in The Serpent and the Pearl become something more like evil incarnate in this novel. I found myself amazed by some of their actions (which the author's note points out the authenticity of). No longer just fun, tolerant, and alluring, each of the family members becomes selfish, cruel, and just plain scary. But how does one escape their grasp once they are within it?
This was a wonderfully written book that was impossible to put down. I am only sad that anything else that I next pick up will be bound to be a disappointment.
I can think of no better way to express how captivating this book is. Yes, I ignored my children, chores, and anything else that vied for my attention in order to reach the conclusion of the characters that I had grown to love. Never did I think I would find myself saying these words, but I just adore Giulia Farnese.
Well, I adore Quinn's version of her at least. This installment in the Borgia drama is darker than the first. Giulia is no longer a starry-eyed teenager, but a clever woman who can stand firm when everyone else is afraid or be demure and submissive, depending on what the situation demands. She is caring, unselfish, and always anticipating the needs of others. If she was anywhere near this sweet of a woman in real life, I hope that she did get her own happy ending after escaping from the evil Borgia web.
The real hero of the story though has got to be Leonello. This character that I initially had written off as silly novelty, how I wanted to drag him away from his bad decisions, force him to admit his true feelings, and comfort his pain. Though he gives in to some demonic impulses, in the end the reader can not hate him but pray for his redemption.
The Borgias, who seemed harmlessly blasphemous and cheerfully irreverent in The Serpent and the Pearl become something more like evil incarnate in this novel. I found myself amazed by some of their actions (which the author's note points out the authenticity of). No longer just fun, tolerant, and alluring, each of the family members becomes selfish, cruel, and just plain scary. But how does one escape their grasp once they are within it?
This was a wonderfully written book that was impossible to put down. I am only sad that anything else that I next pick up will be bound to be a disappointment.
November 21, 2024
Kate Quinn ALWAYS pulls it out. In 2023, I decided she would be my author of the year, and I would read all of her canon that I had not. I was left in 2024 with four books left over, this sequel to the Serpent and the Pearl leaving me with two, for this December, if I wan't to walk into 2025 with a new author to complete. I still have the Phoenix Crown and the Briar Club. But Kate Quinn is such a talented writer, that it is so easy to fall into her stories and her worlds. I enjoyed this far more than I thought I would. I completely loved how the whole thing turned out. I thought it was just great.
September 3, 2016
So – who’s obsessed with the Borgias on Showtime? The one where Jeremy Irons is the deviant Pope Alexander VI, father of one of the most notorious families in Italian history even though they are all Spanish? I am. And while the television show is modernized and prettied up for modern tastes, the chain of events set in motion as Rodrigo Lanzol de Borgia used his power, his family, his enemies and his papacy to amass power and riches is an interesting treat into the less ‘palatable’ history of the Catholic church.
In The Lion and the Rose, the second installment in Kate Quinn’s The Borgia Chronicles, the author brings us a story revolving around the pope’s infamous mistress Giulia Farnese. Those familiar will recognize the name as a long-standing association with the pope, married yet traded for favors by her less than loving husband, Giulia is not all sweetness and light. She is a keeper of secrets, with gentle and not so gentle manipulations to further her own position, and to make her indispensable to the pope. She, unfortunately, is discovering that her indispensability also make her a liability, and could even lead to her death.
Such a twisted and tangled plot with plenty of corruption, dubious religious morality, murder, war and danger are present in nearly every situation: as the Pope is seeking to condense his power base and rule over a rather unruly Rome. With nearly every character having at least one, if not more allegiances or grudges to fight for, the potential pitfalls to the grandiose plans for the Borgia dynasty are everywhere.
Kate Quinn manages to build characters that draw your attention and hold you in their power even as you may not appreciate their cunning and manipulation to gain their own ends. So many twists and turns, the story is laced with actual events and retelling of legends in new ways: endlessly dramatic and gripping. Although this is the first of this series that I have read, it stands alone comfortably, allowing the reader to approach these 4 years (1494 – 1498) as a point in time with relevant information to follow the story is provided neatly and without overwhelming the reader.
A lovely storytelling style highlights this curious mix on the fictional retelling of one of history’s most notorious and infamous dynasties in an era when war, money and the grasp for power and supremacy across the European continent were at their highest levels.
I received an eBook copy from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
In The Lion and the Rose, the second installment in Kate Quinn’s The Borgia Chronicles, the author brings us a story revolving around the pope’s infamous mistress Giulia Farnese. Those familiar will recognize the name as a long-standing association with the pope, married yet traded for favors by her less than loving husband, Giulia is not all sweetness and light. She is a keeper of secrets, with gentle and not so gentle manipulations to further her own position, and to make her indispensable to the pope. She, unfortunately, is discovering that her indispensability also make her a liability, and could even lead to her death.
Such a twisted and tangled plot with plenty of corruption, dubious religious morality, murder, war and danger are present in nearly every situation: as the Pope is seeking to condense his power base and rule over a rather unruly Rome. With nearly every character having at least one, if not more allegiances or grudges to fight for, the potential pitfalls to the grandiose plans for the Borgia dynasty are everywhere.
Kate Quinn manages to build characters that draw your attention and hold you in their power even as you may not appreciate their cunning and manipulation to gain their own ends. So many twists and turns, the story is laced with actual events and retelling of legends in new ways: endlessly dramatic and gripping. Although this is the first of this series that I have read, it stands alone comfortably, allowing the reader to approach these 4 years (1494 – 1498) as a point in time with relevant information to follow the story is provided neatly and without overwhelming the reader.
A lovely storytelling style highlights this curious mix on the fictional retelling of one of history’s most notorious and infamous dynasties in an era when war, money and the grasp for power and supremacy across the European continent were at their highest levels.
I received an eBook copy from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
September 25, 2014
I tend to read a lot of books at once. Seldom do I find anything so compelling that I can't set it aside for something else.
This book was one of the rare instances that I just couldn't put it down!
The story is built around the 15th century court of the Borgia Pope Alexander VI, a time and place both well documented and full of historical questions: Who killed the Pope's favorite son Juan? Who was the mother of the Infantus Romanus? And what became of Guilia Farnese once the pope set her aside? The author has some surprising and wonderful "takes" on what happened in these undocumented gaps.
There are three POV characters, all with distinct personalities and compelling stories: the papal mistress, the bodyguard dwarf, and the argumentative cook. All of their stories are balanced well, and the action has enough troughs, rises, and downright cliffhangers that I kept going page after page!
Recommended, for history buffs or just anyone who likes a page -turner!
This book was one of the rare instances that I just couldn't put it down!
The story is built around the 15th century court of the Borgia Pope Alexander VI, a time and place both well documented and full of historical questions: Who killed the Pope's favorite son Juan? Who was the mother of the Infantus Romanus? And what became of Guilia Farnese once the pope set her aside? The author has some surprising and wonderful "takes" on what happened in these undocumented gaps.
There are three POV characters, all with distinct personalities and compelling stories: the papal mistress, the bodyguard dwarf, and the argumentative cook. All of their stories are balanced well, and the action has enough troughs, rises, and downright cliffhangers that I kept going page after page!
Recommended, for history buffs or just anyone who likes a page -turner!
January 12, 2014
SO excited I won this through goodreads first reads! Can't wait to get it and start reading!!
Finished this in the wee hours of the morning... So so good! I really liked it's predecessor, but this one is even better. Lots of drama & action to keep your heart racing about what's going to happen next. It was an exciting read.
All of our "friends" from the first book are back and the story picks up right where it left off. We get to see "the rest of the story" involving the Borgias and also how very wicked the leaders of the Catholic church had gotten. So hard to believe! I really appreciated the author's note in the back separating fact from fiction on each character. That was wonderful. Read this book to find out what happens to Giulia, Rodrigo, Carmelina and the whole bunch.
Definitely recommend to fans of historical fiction, the Borgias, or Kate Quinn!
Finished this in the wee hours of the morning... So so good! I really liked it's predecessor, but this one is even better. Lots of drama & action to keep your heart racing about what's going to happen next. It was an exciting read.
All of our "friends" from the first book are back and the story picks up right where it left off. We get to see "the rest of the story" involving the Borgias and also how very wicked the leaders of the Catholic church had gotten. So hard to believe! I really appreciated the author's note in the back separating fact from fiction on each character. That was wonderful. Read this book to find out what happens to Giulia, Rodrigo, Carmelina and the whole bunch.
Definitely recommend to fans of historical fiction, the Borgias, or Kate Quinn!
January 29, 2021
Невероятно, но тази втора част е още по-глупава от първата. Борджиите все така са в периферията на сюжета, а Джулия Фарнезе говори единствено с готвачката и бодигарда си. Краят е нелеп. Целият сюжет е в логически пробойни.
Мързелива работа, Куин наистина не си е дала труда да изгради герои.
Сериалът с Джеръми Айрънс и книгата на Марио Пузо са къде повече за предпочитане.
Мързелива работа, Куин наистина не си е дала труда да изгради герои.
Сериалът с Джеръми Айрънс и книгата на Марио Пузо са къде повече за предпочитане.
May 4, 2014
I'm not sure how it's possible, but I enjoyed Kate Quinn's The Lion and the Rose even more than the prequel, The Serpent and the Pearl. It's often all too easy to guess the twists and turns of a story: how a novel is going to finish and which characters will saunter off together, but this is not that book! Part of the genius of Quinn's novel is its amazing cast of characters; feisty nun-turned-cook Carmelina (who keeps a mummified saint's hand in her skirt), sarcastic Leonello (the dwarf bodyguard with a pocket full of knives), or the deceptive Bride of Christ Giulia Farnese (who plays the whore, but has a heart of gold and a quick mind hidden under all her blond hair). Just when you think you know each of them, each is plunged into further Borgia drama and left to scrabble on their own to survive. And, as always, Quinn delivers a stunning backdrop to the reader, eliciting the heavenly smells of a Renaissance kitchen all the way to the foul stench of the meanest alleyways in Rome.
This is the Renaissance at its best (and really, the Borgias at their worst), but be warned: The Lion and the Rose will keep you flipping pages long into the night!
This is the Renaissance at its best (and really, the Borgias at their worst), but be warned: The Lion and the Rose will keep you flipping pages long into the night!
August 5, 2016
I didn't care for this book, but there were still things to like about it. I liked the different POVs and how it shifted from each of them. They each had a different outlook to offer. Two of the three were very likable (Carmelina and Leonello).
For being historical fiction, this was light on the historical side. It was more about people. I've read this author before and she tends to have a very contemporary feel in her books even though her books are set in the very distant past. In this book, that didn't work for me. I just read her Mistress of Rome and didn't mind that feel at all in that book.
For being historical fiction, this was light on the historical side. It was more about people. I've read this author before and she tends to have a very contemporary feel in her books even though her books are set in the very distant past. In this book, that didn't work for me. I just read her Mistress of Rome and didn't mind that feel at all in that book.
June 3, 2023
Quite a complex religious read but interesting history not her best out of all her books but glad I’ve read them all can’t wait for the next book
May 3, 2022
I have not read the 1st book. However, I felt that this read well as a stand alone. I enjoyed the fact that the narrators were the Pope’s mistress, her bodyguard (a dwarf), her Master cook & the cook’s apprentice. They were believable characters who wove a well developed story portraying the times & culture of the Borgias.
May 8, 2014
I was gripped from the first page and carried swiftly through the novel by a turbulent current of twisting plot threads, conniving and deeply likable characters, and one dangerous pope (Rodrigo Borgia) who makes no qualms about abusing his power. Renaissance Italy has never appeared richer or more alive. Perhaps my favorite piece is the unexpected romance that arises (I won’t say who in the hopes you will read to find out), and the way it balances the darker points in the novel as Rome becomes more and more entrenched in its blasphemous undertakings. Toss in a few dozen mouthwatering dishes cooked up in Carmelina’s (the escaped nun) kitchen which constantly made me want to eat, and I simply couldn’t put this novel down. An exquisite read, I can’t recommend it highly enough.
December 21, 2016
Second half of a pair dealing with the mysteries around the Borgia family. I read the first happily and the second was even better. The happy ending was a bit twee but actually I was in the mood for that. I found Quinn's tale of power corrupting and absolute power corrupting absolutely an engaging read. She threw out the majority of the salacious gossip about incest etc as being the gossip it was. She kept the Infante Romagne but had him
All in all, the usual invigorating and irreligious Quinn romp
All in all, the usual invigorating and irreligious Quinn romp
October 2, 2024
Re-Read May 2016. After recently re-reading The Serpent and the Pearl naturally I had to read its follow up to continue the rest of the story. The Lion and the Rose was also just as good as I remembered it - amazing story, great characters, and lots of juicy historical details.
I will read anything this author writes, she is just that good.
I will read anything this author writes, she is just that good.
December 10, 2019
This was an amazing, amazing book! Just as good as the first one. I did not want to put it down, but I had to go do things like... work... and sleep... and take care of farm chores.
I cannot say enough good things about this book, and I loved how every once in a while the author would throw out a secret or surprise or twist in my direction. Loved it, loved it, loved it... I want to re-read these and read her other books!!
I cannot say enough good things about this book, and I loved how every once in a while the author would throw out a secret or surprise or twist in my direction. Loved it, loved it, loved it... I want to re-read these and read her other books!!
May 8, 2017
Oh but I love Kate Quinn! Her books always conjure up the world they describe in such detail you begin living in it.
I was very lucky to have postponed reading her Borgia books so far. After binge-watching the Showtime series I was desperate to remain a while longer in the glorious/vicious world of the Borgias and voila! Perfect timing.
In summary - if you are looking for quality historical fiction, or something as entertaining as 'The Borgias', or both - this is it!
I was very lucky to have postponed reading her Borgia books so far. After binge-watching the Showtime series I was desperate to remain a while longer in the glorious/vicious world of the Borgias and voila! Perfect timing.
In summary - if you are looking for quality historical fiction, or something as entertaining as 'The Borgias', or both - this is it!
June 16, 2015
Another great read for this series. I didn't really care for the ending, but the rest was delightful. Filled to the brim with scandals and corrupted individuals. Yum!
October 2, 2023
3.5ish stars
I struggled a bit with this one. Not sure if that was partly because it had been some years since I read the first one but it took me awhile to get into the story. As always I love the historical accuracy of Kate Quinn's books and her historical notes at the end.
There are still the 3 POV, that of the whore, the dwarf and the cook. They are all so much more than that though. Giulia is becoming disillusioned with her Pope and his inability to see his children as anything but perfect even when they are being monsters. She finds herself more and more alone in the world as those she cares for move on to other places or are forced out. Leonello continues his hunt for a murderer and in that finds more than he bargained for. He has to take a step back and figure out who or what he really is. Carmelina is the one I cannot say much about without spoilers, but she is shrewd and sees more than she should and understands more than is safe.
We get to see the lengths the Borgia family went to for one another and the destruction it caused to many. How the excess they allowed led to dissenters of their version of the faith and such an outcry as the one that occurred in Florence. The power the family held brought out their worst traits in this book, their capacity for cruelty, and selfishness in particular.
I am now completely caught up on all of Quinn's works and have to impatiently wait for the next to come out. I still recommend this series, as well as everything else this author has written, it just wasn't as engrossing as I expected.
I struggled a bit with this one. Not sure if that was partly because it had been some years since I read the first one but it took me awhile to get into the story. As always I love the historical accuracy of Kate Quinn's books and her historical notes at the end.
There are still the 3 POV, that of the whore, the dwarf and the cook. They are all so much more than that though. Giulia is becoming disillusioned with her Pope and his inability to see his children as anything but perfect even when they are being monsters. She finds herself more and more alone in the world as those she cares for move on to other places or are forced out. Leonello continues his hunt for a murderer and in that finds more than he bargained for. He has to take a step back and figure out who or what he really is. Carmelina is the one I cannot say much about without spoilers, but she is shrewd and sees more than she should and understands more than is safe.
We get to see the lengths the Borgia family went to for one another and the destruction it caused to many. How the excess they allowed led to dissenters of their version of the faith and such an outcry as the one that occurred in Florence. The power the family held brought out their worst traits in this book, their capacity for cruelty, and selfishness in particular.
I am now completely caught up on all of Quinn's works and have to impatiently wait for the next to come out. I still recommend this series, as well as everything else this author has written, it just wasn't as engrossing as I expected.
January 26, 2014
Well...Kate Quinn always writes well. It seems to be an inevitable thing with her, so this book was as much of a page-turner as the last one. I had some issues with pacing this time round, especially in the beginning, but it wasn't so bad. I think Ms. Quinn did an excellent job of depicting the downward spiral and descent into ruin of a powerful family (though Lucrezia's faults seemed a little forced).
Maybe I should just go through the things I liked and didn't, character-wise:
Giulia - Damn, I love this woman. Can female empowerment in the Renaissance get any better than her? (No, I didn't think so either.) I think Carmelina summed it up when she said that Giulia could set cold water to boiling just by walking past it - but I prefer to think about it as a description of her personality too. She is smart, loving, humorous, doesn't become angsty over her life and has great fashion sense. We are BFFs already. (Really, I have her email address.) I can't find a single thing wrong with her.
Leonello - Ah, Leo. A man who writes poetry and mocks it. Just my type of guy. (There is an apt term in Japanese for you, Leo, its called tsundere. Manga fans know what I mean.) I was wondering if Leo live out the rest of his life as the only unhappy character in the novel, but it seems Ms.Quinn is a softie at heart. I mean, she left a lot of people alive this time round. Anyway, I'm really happy for him and I think he is the character with the most original personality.
Carmelina - God this woman annoyed me. First, the cooking comparisons. There were so similes involving food, I thought Santa Marta herself would rise up, give Carmelina a sound whack and tell her to get her brain out of the frying pan. (See what it's doing to me?) Why does this person torture herself so much? And why does she have to skewer me with her? (Again with the food imagery. Aaargh, Carmelina what have you done?)
Then Bartolomeo. If I had a handsome guy like that chasing me, I'd drop everything, ladle and all, and jump straight into his arms. (See why its annoying?) If you are going to commit a crime, you might as well do it right. Look at Bart. He kept his conscience and his girl, without stir frying anyone's feelings in the process. (This is last one, I promise.) I mean look at this gem:
"Oh, how it squeezed my heart to open a letter [from Bartolomeo] and read:For a tenderloin in the Roman style, ... quarter the leanest part of the meat into chunks and space onto a spit with bacon and sage leaves...".
Umm, what? I get that some people aren't romantic, but what the hell? I loved you in the first book, but...
The Borgias - I must say, with the exception of Cesare, I don't like any of them. Probably because he looks like this in my imagination:
I say they deserved everything they got.
In conclusion, I don't seem to be able to write a decent review. (Still working on my commentary writing...) But I'll sum up the best I can. The Lion and the Rose is funny,engaging, richly detailed,decadent and celebrates life as it is. Maybe not one of Kate Quinn's best works (because of a slightly dragging plot and cliched situations) but definitely one of the better ones.
Maybe I should just go through the things I liked and didn't, character-wise:
Giulia - Damn, I love this woman. Can female empowerment in the Renaissance get any better than her? (No, I didn't think so either.) I think Carmelina summed it up when she said that Giulia could set cold water to boiling just by walking past it - but I prefer to think about it as a description of her personality too. She is smart, loving, humorous, doesn't become angsty over her life and has great fashion sense. We are BFFs already. (Really, I have her email address.) I can't find a single thing wrong with her.
Leonello - Ah, Leo. A man who writes poetry and mocks it. Just my type of guy. (There is an apt term in Japanese for you, Leo, its called tsundere. Manga fans know what I mean.) I was wondering if Leo live out the rest of his life as the only unhappy character in the novel, but it seems Ms.Quinn is a softie at heart. I mean, she left a lot of people alive this time round. Anyway, I'm really happy for him and I think he is the character with the most original personality.
Carmelina - God this woman annoyed me. First, the cooking comparisons. There were so similes involving food, I thought Santa Marta herself would rise up, give Carmelina a sound whack and tell her to get her brain out of the frying pan. (See what it's doing to me?) Why does this person torture herself so much? And why does she have to skewer me with her? (Again with the food imagery. Aaargh, Carmelina what have you done?)
Then Bartolomeo. If I had a handsome guy like that chasing me, I'd drop everything, ladle and all, and jump straight into his arms. (See why its annoying?) If you are going to commit a crime, you might as well do it right. Look at Bart. He kept his conscience and his girl, without stir frying anyone's feelings in the process. (This is last one, I promise.) I mean look at this gem:
"Oh, how it squeezed my heart to open a letter [from Bartolomeo] and read:For a tenderloin in the Roman style, ... quarter the leanest part of the meat into chunks and space onto a spit with bacon and sage leaves...".
Umm, what? I get that some people aren't romantic, but what the hell? I loved you in the first book, but...
The Borgias - I must say, with the exception of Cesare, I don't like any of them. Probably because he looks like this in my imagination:
I say they deserved everything they got.
In conclusion, I don't seem to be able to write a decent review. (Still working on my commentary writing...) But I'll sum up the best I can. The Lion and the Rose is funny,engaging, richly detailed,decadent and celebrates life as it is. Maybe not one of Kate Quinn's best works (because of a slightly dragging plot and cliched situations) but definitely one of the better ones.
December 7, 2014
I have a new goal for the summer. I am going to read all of Kate Quinn's books. If her books about ancient Rome are anything like her books about the Borgia's, I am going to have a wonderful summer.
I was a little worried when I first started this book. It didn't draw me in quite like The Serpent and the Pearl. I wasn't until Leonello jumped into the ring to fight a bull with Cesare that I found myself truly hooked. .
I loved Kate Quinn's ability to flip the switch on her characters. In the first novel, everyone is just kind of moving forward with their lives wearing rose colored glasses in the world of the Vatican City. Life is full of amazing food (seriously, I gained 20 pounds reading these Borgia novels), sitting out in the sun, and the occasional romp in the bed (As a complete side note, I love that Kate Quinn treats the reader like a grown up and assumes we all know what sex is. Thank you for not spending pages describing the various ways in which a penis and a vagina work. Excuse me if that analogy seems crude but those are the "scientific" terms.) Suddenly the Borgia world is turned on it's head and I see the darkest parts of characters I have grown to love. The change I saw in Leonello was, in my opinion, nothing short of epic. From the point when he is first introduced in the previous novel, there's a hint of darkness but you are lead to believe Leonello spends a great deal of energy concealing that part of himself. If Kate Quinn wanted to veer off and write an entire series of books about Leonello, I would stand in line to buy them on their release date. Anyway, the "monster" Leonello becomes after is haunting.
I could easily go on for days about the various things I loved about this book but I do have to point out one thing that bothered me. The ending bothered me. I am familiar with the history of Rome after the Borgias. It had however completely slipped my mind that Giulia's brother Sandro goes on to become the man some might consider Henry VIII's greatest nemisis, Pope Paul III. I know how Rodrigo and Cesare die. I know that Lucrezia did marry a third time and produce children eventually. I also know that Giulia Farnese outlives all of them.
I was a little worried when I first started this book. It didn't draw me in quite like The Serpent and the Pearl. I wasn't until Leonello jumped into the ring to fight a bull with Cesare that I found myself truly hooked. .
I loved Kate Quinn's ability to flip the switch on her characters. In the first novel, everyone is just kind of moving forward with their lives wearing rose colored glasses in the world of the Vatican City. Life is full of amazing food (seriously, I gained 20 pounds reading these Borgia novels), sitting out in the sun, and the occasional romp in the bed (As a complete side note, I love that Kate Quinn treats the reader like a grown up and assumes we all know what sex is. Thank you for not spending pages describing the various ways in which a penis and a vagina work. Excuse me if that analogy seems crude but those are the "scientific" terms.) Suddenly the Borgia world is turned on it's head and I see the darkest parts of characters I have grown to love. The change I saw in Leonello was, in my opinion, nothing short of epic. From the point when he is first introduced in the previous novel, there's a hint of darkness but you are lead to believe Leonello spends a great deal of energy concealing that part of himself. If Kate Quinn wanted to veer off and write an entire series of books about Leonello, I would stand in line to buy them on their release date. Anyway, the "monster" Leonello becomes after is haunting.
I could easily go on for days about the various things I loved about this book but I do have to point out one thing that bothered me. The ending bothered me. I am familiar with the history of Rome after the Borgias. It had however completely slipped my mind that Giulia's brother Sandro goes on to become the man some might consider Henry VIII's greatest nemisis, Pope Paul III. I know how Rodrigo and Cesare die. I know that Lucrezia did marry a third time and produce children eventually. I also know that Giulia Farnese outlives all of them.
January 24, 2014
Pope Alexander VI, Rodrigo Borgia, can hardly be compared to twenty-first century popes. The father of several adult and younger children, and with the reputation as a lover of beautiful women, he is also known to Romans as well as his enemies as a ruthless, brutal man. But to his latest concubine, Giulia Farnese, he is a devoted, loving protector. After her capture by the French, and rescue, Giulia is back in Rome, aware that her pope’s political reach makes him, his family, and those around him targets. She confides in her cook, Carmelina, and trusts explicitly her body-guard, Leonello, but there are few others who are faithful to her.
Carmelina hides a deep, dark secret. She escaped from a convent, a punishable act. Since then she has been Giulia’s cook in the pope’s household. So far only her cousin, who actually runs the kitchens, knows, but now Carmelina is aware that another may know, the dwarf body-guard, Leonello. After being held with Giulia’s entourage for six months in France, Carmelina knows that she must be even more careful to hide her past upon their return to Rome. How much can Leonello be trusted?
Loath to play the typical role of juggler or clown that most dwarves are forced into, Leonello has made himself into a lethal, knife-throwing, and coldblooded killer who now finds himself as the confidante of the lovely Giulia. His knowledge of the deadly Borgias is also a much-needed asset. Leonello is also looking for the killer of a barmaid five years ago, and he’s fairly certain that it’s someone in the very household where he works.
Obviously Rome in the fifteenth century can be a very dangerous place to live unless you know the right people. And even then, a wrong word or action and someone can end up being a body floating in the river. Being married to a Borgia doesn’t guarantee anything either. The fact that Giulia is married to a handsome young man made no difference to Rodrigo when he claimed her for himself. Now, four years later, and a three year old daughter, Giulia is the darling of the Vatican, trusted by her lover, and respected by many in the household. But even she is noticing the changes in their lives. Well aware of how Rodrigo adores all of his children, Giulia also knows how cutthroat the family can be, and how jealous of one another the sons are.
THE LION AND THE ROSE tells the story of real people who lived during dangerous times. Although Leonello and Carmelina are fictional characters, their parts are realistic and fitting within the historical detail. It is obvious that painstaking research went into this excellent tale. Each of the main characters, Giulia, Carmelina, and Leonello tell their part of the story throughout the book. The novel includes historical notes, a description of each character whether fictional or non-fictional, and a readers’ discussion area – all very helpful.
Beautifully written and a topic that will open some eyes about the Borgias, THE LION AND THE ROSE was easily read alone, but I recommend starting with the first novel of the Borgias, THE SERPENT AND THE PEARL.
Carmelina hides a deep, dark secret. She escaped from a convent, a punishable act. Since then she has been Giulia’s cook in the pope’s household. So far only her cousin, who actually runs the kitchens, knows, but now Carmelina is aware that another may know, the dwarf body-guard, Leonello. After being held with Giulia’s entourage for six months in France, Carmelina knows that she must be even more careful to hide her past upon their return to Rome. How much can Leonello be trusted?
Loath to play the typical role of juggler or clown that most dwarves are forced into, Leonello has made himself into a lethal, knife-throwing, and coldblooded killer who now finds himself as the confidante of the lovely Giulia. His knowledge of the deadly Borgias is also a much-needed asset. Leonello is also looking for the killer of a barmaid five years ago, and he’s fairly certain that it’s someone in the very household where he works.
Obviously Rome in the fifteenth century can be a very dangerous place to live unless you know the right people. And even then, a wrong word or action and someone can end up being a body floating in the river. Being married to a Borgia doesn’t guarantee anything either. The fact that Giulia is married to a handsome young man made no difference to Rodrigo when he claimed her for himself. Now, four years later, and a three year old daughter, Giulia is the darling of the Vatican, trusted by her lover, and respected by many in the household. But even she is noticing the changes in their lives. Well aware of how Rodrigo adores all of his children, Giulia also knows how cutthroat the family can be, and how jealous of one another the sons are.
THE LION AND THE ROSE tells the story of real people who lived during dangerous times. Although Leonello and Carmelina are fictional characters, their parts are realistic and fitting within the historical detail. It is obvious that painstaking research went into this excellent tale. Each of the main characters, Giulia, Carmelina, and Leonello tell their part of the story throughout the book. The novel includes historical notes, a description of each character whether fictional or non-fictional, and a readers’ discussion area – all very helpful.
Beautifully written and a topic that will open some eyes about the Borgias, THE LION AND THE ROSE was easily read alone, but I recommend starting with the first novel of the Borgias, THE SERPENT AND THE PEARL.
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