Intrigas, deslealtades, pasiones ilícitas y asesinatos en las alcobas de los Borgia, vistos por una noble española.
Cuando Sancha de Aragón, la hija de Alfonso II, contrae segundas nupcias con Jofre Borgia, el hijo menor del papa Alejandro VI, esta joven española se convierte en testigo de la ambición, los celos, la sed de sangre y las relaciones incestuosas de una de las familias más poderosas del Renacimiento. Los conflictos y los intereses serán el telón de fondo del drama doméstico, un escenario repleto de violencia, asesinatos y embarazos no deseados.

Fine del XV secolo. Al centro di tutto c’è la famiglia Borgia: Rodrigo, salito al soglio pontificio con il nome di Alessandro VI, Cesare, cardinale con ambizioni politiche, e Lucrezia, ambigua seduttrice. Sancia d’Aragona, erede del regno di Napoli, viene data in sposa a Goffredo Borgia, uno dei figli illegittimi del papa. Un matrimonio politico, che proietterà una giovane d’animo gentile, alla ricerca dell’amore, in un mondo di invidie e lussuria. Sancia dovrà scoprire a sue spese di aver ereditato dal nonno Ferrante un carattere combattivo. Per potersi sottrarre alla trama di inganni e tradimenti, Sancia non può fare affidamento su nessuno se non sul suo stiletto e sulla cantarella, il mitico veleno dei Borgia...

This book got me so into the Italian Renaissance and its politics that after finishing, I started watching the new Medici series on Netflix and from that I went into the Borgias. Let's just say, that watching that series after finishing this book was a real eye-opener and fun watch. LOL. This book was my first introduction to the author, and it was a beautiful one. The book draws you in with a lush setting and characters that never fall neatly into evil or good. I loved every aspect of it.

I don't read many works from the Italian Renaissance era; I think I need to rectify that ASAP after reading this one. I felt like I experienced every moment with the characters. From the sun-dappled shores of southern Italy to the hustle and bustle of massive Rome to the deadly intrigues of both, this book draws the reader into the past like a great historical fiction should. The author pays attention to the little detail along with the grand historical events.

I love Sacha! She's such a strong character with a great capacity to love and hate in equal measure. She'll go to incredible lengths to protect the ones she loves and revenge those betrayed. I love that she's as capable of murder as she is comfort; it's not often that we see one character with the capacity for both in equal measure. Her quick intelligence, bright political acumen, and survival instinct round out her brilliant personality.

All the other characters that round out this gang of misfits also shine bright. Cesare is one of those characters that you love to hate. He's just as likely to stab you in the back as he is to be devoted to you. In the end, he's only looking out for numero uno. All the other background characters are as three dimensional as Cesare and Sancha, giving us a cast of strong personalities to carry off this intrigue filled story.

While this is my first foray into the author’s works, it won't be my last. She has won me over with her lush historical setting and phenomenal characters. She knows how to tell a suspenseful story while giving character development as strong a footing. I would highly recommend this book to any lover of historical fiction, especially lovers of the Italian Renaissance. It got me more interested into the source material, and I can't find any better complement to a historical fiction than that. ( )

I had to read this book as it is set in what would eventually become Italy, one of my most favourite places in the world and when you throw in one of history's most disfunctional families what you get is a really good and for me gripping read. ( )

It was an interesting story but I think it would be upsetting to a Catholic.