Just finished this book. I like a good political intrigue, and that’s what I got.
Summer, 1492, and a whole buncha s*** is about to hit the fan in Rome. The brutal murder of an alchemist sets off a quest for vengeance and the uncovering of a dastardly plot. The dead alchemist’s daughter, Francesca Giordano, learned the arts of alchemy and poisons from him and thus becomes the poisoner for the Borgia family. As if all that wasn’t enough, the Pope is gravely ill, and the political battles and maneuvering begin to prepare for the next Pope.
First person POV, and Francesca directly addresses the reader in an intriguing intimacy that brings the reader directly into the story. Nicely done. Fast-paced, well-crafted, great characterization and descriptions of 15th-century Rome. So if you have some time and you like historical fiction, you might want to pick this one up.
Andi Marquette 