The Borgias are a famous Italian family that continue to provide plenty of fodder for books more than 500 years later. How can a family so involved in the church be so corrupt? Never ceases to amaze me. This book is well-researched and well-written. I always wonder how much of the lore and stories surrounding this family are real and how much is embellished over the centuries. The family as a whole is unlikable but always interesting and entertaining.

Alyssa Palombo’s The Borgia Confessions invites readers to explore the halls of the Vatican Palace, peek behind its decadent curtains, and glimpse its most exclusive chambers to understand the rise of notorious Borgia scion, Cesare.

Written as a sort of bad boy origins story, The Borgia Confessions illustrates Cesare’s world as well as the politics and personalities that shaped him into Machiavelli’s quintessential Prince. Palombo understands the complex legacy of her protagonist and the story she presents is a brilliantly imagined chronicle of his individual evolution and the sins he felt forced to commit in the name of both familial and personal ambition.

Politically, I loved how this novel captured the ruthless and manipulative nature of power during this period and the dangerous games played by those at its pinnacle. Palombo’s characters aren’t likable, but they aren’t supposed to be. They are a complicated collection of immoral schemers, deceivers, hypocrites, and rogues. Their lack of scruples and less than holy lifestyles deliberately provoke the reader and in so doing create a boldly memorable novel of conflict, controversy, and corruption.

The only aspect of the story that didn’t work for me was Maddalena. Her relationship with Cesare felt one-sided and her role, while fun to read, didn’t feel intrinsic to the telling. She didn’t detract from the novel by any means, but she felt like something of a late addition to the narrative, a character shoehorned into place to appease industry standards requiring romantic subplots. I love what Maddalena represents and feel she boasts an admirable degree of brass, but at the end of the day I didn’t feel her at all necessary to Cesare’s journey.

This was terrific! Those who are well versed in the Borgias and the period in history might quibble here or there but I know virtually nothing about them and wow- I learned a lot. I also very much enjoyed this highly readable novel that uses young Maddalena, a young woman with no background in the politics until she found herself in the middle of them, to illuminate how Cesare Borgia rose to power and how his influence still lingers today. It's obviously well researched but never goes too far into the weeds. It also doesn't assume that the reader knows who's who. I admit to some side googling of various characters- which is always the mark, in my view, of a good historical novel. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. One to sink into!

"During the sweltering Roman summer of 1492, Rodrigo Borgia has risen to power as pope. Rodrigo’s eldest son Cesare, forced to follow his father into the church and newly made the Archbishop of Valencia, chafes at his ecclesiastical role and fumes with jealousy and resentment at the way that his foolish brother has been chosen for the military greatness he desired.

Maddalena Moretti comes from the countryside, where she has seen how the whims of powerful men wreak havoc on the lives of ordinary people. But now, employed as a servant in the Vatican Palace, she cannot help but be entranced by Cesare Borgia’s handsome face and manner and finds her faith and conviction crumbling in her want of him.

As war rages and shifting alliances challenge the pope’s authority, Maddalena and Cesare's lives grow inexplicably entwined. Maddalena becomes a keeper of dangerous Borgia secrets, and must decide if she is willing to be a pawn in the power games of the man she loves. And as jealousy and betrayal threaten to tear apart the Borgia family from within, Cesare is forced to reckon with his seemingly limitless ambition.

Alyssa Palombo's captivating new novel, The Borgia Confessions, is a story of passion, politics, and class, set against the rise and fall of one of Italy's most infamous families - the Borgias."

I am one of those people who feel like I always need to know more about the Borgias.

2.5 stars
Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin for the free review copy. All opinions are my own.

Before starting this book, I had no idea who the Borgia family was or what their significance was for. So while reading I found myself doing a lot of my own research into this family to help give me more context of what was going on during their reign and time period of this book. I also am not familiar with late 1400s history of Italy, so I found myself lost and confused throughout a lot of the novel. I think that there was so much historical context and events thrown into the story that it fell super flat for me. The book almost read like a history book instead of a fictionalized account of Cesare Borgia's life as a Cardinal in the Catholic Church. There was a lot of focus on the events instead of the characters. I wanted more depth with the two main characters. They both dealt with a lot of issues, and I think had the issues been fleshed out more with emotion instead of basic historical facts, I could've become more involved in the story.

I did not like the main character's story, either. I felt like she didn't add much to the story and felt like there would be more involvement with the main characters before two-thirds of the way through the book. I also am not a steamy romance reader, so I found myself skimming large parts of the book due to this. I did learn some things while reading this, so that was a plus. I did appreciate the author's note at the end, which helped clarify and added some depth to plot points in the book.

3.5 Stars. I really loved the premise of this book and I am fascinated by this time in Italian history, but the story overall felt a bit segmented to me. Obviously Cesare is a bit insufferable, but often times I just felt like the story from his point of view was a bit stunted. I really enjoyed Maddalena's side of the story. It is always interesting to see the perspective of someone who was on the sidelines and overheard a lot of secrets. I felt that the ending was kind of abrupt and the story just didn't feel over, even though the book as a whole was pretty long. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

The Borgia Confessions tells the parallel stories of Cesare Borgia and Madellena, a maid working in the Papal household of Cesare's father. It was really detailed and the historical aspects of it were great. That being said, the characterization left something to be desired. Overall it was a fine book, but one I probably won't remember.

I loved learning about the family of the Borgia in this new story. I really thought it was interesting that although I didn't care for a lot of the characters I loved the story. The romance in this one was done so well and I will have to check out another one of this authors stories. I loved some of the characters but not all and that isn't to say they were not fully formed because they were. My dislike was from their actions etc. The historical sections of this one were done well if you ask me. I didn't know anything about these characters or lives before I read this one but I am kind of invested in learning more.

If you love historical stories about intrigue and love then check this one out.

I was quite excited to see The Borgia Confessions by Alyssa Palombo. I love reading historical fiction and this is an era that interests me. I must admit that when reading this novel I found myself picturing the actors from their roles in the Showtime series, The Borgias.

I am sorry to say that overall while enjoyed much of the writing, it took a definite downturn for me about halfway through and by two-thirds of the way, my interest had waned. The reason is the somewhat explicit details of intimacy. It isn't my cup of tea at all. I feel both embarrassed and bored by it. One thought that always runs unbidden through my mind is did the author's parents read this? I know it will seem silly to many, but thats just who I am. I don't want to stop others from reading it or writing it, it just isn't for me.

The writing, other than the intimate details, was interesting. This is a subject that the author clearly relishes; it comes through and it is appreciated. I would check out other books by Ms. Palombo. I also will look into the books she used for reference. I especially liked the alternating chapters between Maddalena and Cesare as it provided a contrast between their stations in life as both servant and master, man and woman, laic and clergy, someone longing for power and parental recognition and someone longing to lead "good" life in the eyes of God despite her mother's predictions of a sinful life.

If you enjoy historical fiction with a heavy dose of romance, you will love this book.

Though the Borgia family is one of the most notorious political families in European history, the reality is they were no more or no less corrupt than any other powerful political family of their time. They suffered from the simple fact that they were a wealthy and powerful family of Spanish descent living in Italy at the end of the fifteenth century. Rodrigo Borgia was elected Pope in 1492, taking the regnal name of Alexander VI. He elevated his eldest son Cesare to the rank of Cardinal and placed his second son Giovanni (often referred to by his Spanish name, Juan) into the papal army as Gonfalonier and Captain-General of the Church. His daughter, Lucrezia, was married off to a succession of powerful men of various Italian states for political gain.

Rumors regarding the Borgia family’s dark deeds have abounded for 500 years, and while allegations of an incestuous affair between Cesare and Lucrezia are almost certainly false, those regarding the rivalry between Cesare and Juan are true. Cesare long desired to be a military leader and not a leader of the church. Juan was granted all the titles Cesare desired but had none of the skills to pull it off, leading to a series of humiliating defeats for the papal army. When Cesare finally divested himself of his position in the church, he showed he had a rare talent for military strategy and the ruthlessness that would earn him immortality in Niccolo Macchiavelli’s The Prince. If not for his early death in 1507, Cesare might have united the fractious city-states, kingdoms, and republics of the Italian peninsula 400 years earlier than it actually did.

“God’s teeth, how sick I was of our family name resting solely on Juan’s incompetent shoulders. And in that one awful moment of rage and envy and spite, deep down, I wished Juan would never return. That he would fall on the battlefield. For surely that was what would be best for the reputation of the house of Borgia.”

In her fourth novel, Alyssa Palombo tells the story of Alexander VI’s first years as pope as seen through the eyes of the very real Cesare Borgia along with a fictional counterpoint in Maddalena, a young woman who moved to Rome from the countryside and found a job as a servant in the Vatican. A chance meeting brings Maddalena to Cesare’s attention and into his sister Lucrezia’s service. Maddalena quickly becomes enthralled by the darkly handsome young cardinal, and soon Maddalena finds herself in the role of secret-keeper for the Borgias, for the siblings speak freely to each other whether their servants are in the room or not.

While Maddalena’s life seems idyllic for a while, the arrival of the beautiful Sancha of Aragon deepens the rivalry between the Borgia brothers, while the arrival of the French army threatens to destroy everything the Borgias have built– and everything Maddalena holds dear. And when events come to a head, Maddalena must choose between love or salvation, while Cesare must come to terms with his limitless ambitions.

The Borgias have been the subject of endless fascination since they dominated Italian politics in the 1490s, spawning endless rumors, books, films, and television shows that portray the family with varying degrees of truth. Palombo sticks with historically accurate accounts, going so far as to list her sources at the end. Maddalena and the other lower-class characters are the fictional ones, though they are believable in the parameters of the story. Their emotions– especially Maddalena’s– are just as real as Cesare’s. What separates them are their ambitions: Maddalena wants to marry a kind man who loves her. Another servant wants to keep his job in the city and not be forced to return to his family’s vineyard. While earlier historians overlooked the lives of the commoners in favor of the Great Man, authors of historical fiction often take great joy in imagining what the lives of seamstresses, servants, farmboys, and shopkeepers might have been like. The successful novelist makes these simpler lives as compelling and dramatic as those of kings and queens. Despite her country upbringing and early naivete, Maddalena is just such a character. She feels like she could have been a real person.

Palombo succeeds with her portrayal of the Borgia family, too, taking these notorious figures off their pedestals and turning them into characters– not caricatures– as subject to envy, desire, and happiness as the common folk below them. She even addresses the scurrilous rumors that have plagued Lucrezia’s reputation for 500 years.

Where The Borgia Confessions stumbles is in the pacing. The story flits back and forth between Cesare and Maddalena’s perspective. The chapters are short, leading to a feeling that the characters are rushing through their lives. Fewer, longer chapters would have served the story better, allowing the reader to sink into the dual stories Palombo is telling.

Overall, though, The Borgia Confessions tells a more truthful story of a fearsome figure from history, bringing him down to human levels while lifting up the everyday lives of the common men and women of Renaissance Rome.

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Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free egalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion in any way.

I admit that I must have fallen asleep during history class at one point, because when I picked up this historical fiction for review, I was not prepared. I was not prepared to learn of Papal history in Rome during 1492. I was not prepared to discover that priests, Cardinals and even the Pope had wives and mistresses. I was not prepared for the lot of it. But I could not put it down - and read it from cover to cover - a fact that has already been disputed despite its length. But I digress.

The most incredible discovery I had was the Author's Note and the Acknowledgement at the end of the book. I won't detail those, but needless to say, my eyes were opened even wider than while reading this incredible book.

So, it gets Five Stars. Not because I like the Borgia family. In fact, I did not. They were selfish and immoral - something I was unprepared to accept in reading of a holy royal family. I have to rate this book high because it is incredibly well-written and more than captivating.

We meet the Borgia family early on when the patriarch of the family, Rodrigo Borgia becomes Pope. He insists that his eldest son Cesare follow his footsteps and instals him as Archbishop of Valencia. From a child, Cesare fought his father on this matter. He wanted an entirely different life. A life, in fact, that his father gave his brother.

Another big player in this book is Maddalena Moreti, who is working in the Vatican Palace. Both Borgia brothers notice her undeniable beauty, and Cesare becomes her protector - if at a distances. Through the years, Cesare and siblings grow into young adulthood and they all seek their own desires, especially the older siblings. This continues the long-held jealousy the family dealt with leading with devastating consequences.

During these years history and its battles affected the Borgia family on every level, threatening the safe bubble they once lived in. Will this family survive battles that hit them hard from within and outer sources?

While written as a fictional novel, it is largely based on historical fact and makes me rather curious to crack open some of the sources that are provided as references at the back of the book. There is literary license in this book in order to make it flow as a story. Perhaps this is what made this a book that caught me from the very beginning. I am not sure my brain can take much more of so much history when I adore fiction, but this was a great foray into something completely different.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

If you like historical fiction set in 15th century Italy you probably know about the Borgias. Alyssa Palombo delves into this illustrious family that ruled the Vatican and provided fodder for Roman citizens who enjoyed gossiping about the rich and famous.

The novel is filled with the politics of the day, intrigue, and outrageous family dynamics fueled by the self-serving ambitions of the Borgia siblings and their father. The Borgias believed the ends justified the means and they did whatever it took to get what they wanted. Told from the perspectives of Maddalena, a pretty maid in the household of Lucrezia Borgia, and Cesare Borgia, the oldest son of Pope Alexander VI. Ultimately, The Borgia Confessions is a tale of ambition and betrayal and the cost to all involved.

Palombo’s informative author’s note at the end explains the fictional and actual events of the novel.

I received an ARC of this for review on NetGalley

Another great historical from Palombo. I recommend this to anyone interested in the Borgias and the greed and boundless ambition that helped them rise to power as well as the strain it had on their family.

Rodrigo Borgia finally sits on the throne after years of scheming. He is willing to do anything to keep his family in power and his children are pawns in his game of politics and ambition. Maid Maddalena finds herself following for Cesare, who envies the military greatness his father gave his brother, something he always wanted for himself instead of following in his father's footsteps in the church. Maddalena's love for him could turn her into another pawn.

Maddalena's character helps give some outside perspective on the Borgia family while Cesare's perspective gives us a more intimate view of the family. The book does a great job of setting up the historical facts and political landscape, making it easy to follow for those who already know the history as well as those who have no prior knowledge of the Borgia family.

“What is in your heart is of no use to me, nor to this family”..”It is what is in your mind that will serve us, and what I intend to make us of..”
I don’t seek out novels set in the Renaissance era so this was an unusual read for me. I wanted to go out of my comfort reading zone and am very glad that I took a chance on The Borgia Confessions. A wonderful read about the rise of power of the Borgia family and how the ambition and lust for power affected the family. Cesare is the center point character as we see his rise through the church ranks though his desire is to be a soldier. The historical events in this novel really happened as well as most of the characters mentioned are real. One exception being Maddalena who is a servant girl in the Vatican Palace who finds herself woven into Borgia family. Her point of view, along with Cesare’s make an intriguing read. I was entertained, I learned some history I wasn’t aware of, and I now will seek additional info on the Borgia family, especially Cesare. Fantastic writing, engaging characters, with history brought to life in a fascinating and engaging way to captivate the reader. A novel which has stuck with me after I have read it – that is what makes a 5 star read for me. I am not quite ready to let it go yet! Excellent read.

Reviewed by Comfy Chair Books/Lisa Reigel (January 23, 2020)
ARC provided by publisher

Maddalena Moretti, a young widow from the country, works as a servant in the Vatican Palace. Following a near assault at the hands of Juan Borgia, she is given a position in Lucrezia Borgia's household by her handsome rescuer Cesare Borgia. This book was very well written bringing the time and people alive with incredible descriptions, historical figures and events. Although I loved learning more about this notorious family, as they destroyed countless lives around them due to politics, greed and passion, I was truly disgusted by them. The saving grace of this book for me was the extensive research Alyssa Palombo did and Maddalena's character as she made her way through the hazardous web of deceit the Borgias created. Excellent historical fiction!

This is not the first Borgia novel I have read but it certainly put a different spin on the family. It was hard to dislike the characters and yet love the book. A strange mix. Kudos to the author for making the people. — both real and invented — come to life. I appreciate the research that clearly went into this book. The other I read followed Lucrezia to the time of her death. I hope the author will consider a second book. The rest of the story is well worth telling. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc. All opinions are my own.

I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I was going to. I loved learning about the Borgia family when I was younger but now they just don't entertain me enough.

I was particularly excited for this book. I took a medieval/Renaissance literature class during my undergrad, which taught me a lot about the Borgias and how the Catholic Church functioned in this time. (I also played an excessive amount of Assassin's Creed a few years back, which is obviously a 100% accurate historical record.) I haven't read a contemporary novel set in that era, so I was interested to see where this would go. The story follows Cesare Borgia, the illegitimate son of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, and the fictional character Maddalena, who is a servant for the pope.

We're thrown into the middle of political intrigue with alliances and betrayals being formed from the prologue. While this immediately creates an interesting read, I don't think enough context was always given. There were a lot of names and titles, and I felt myself easily getting confused. I know the political alliances were complex and always shifting at this time, and I'm not sure if enough work was done to make them coherent and clear to the reader. There wasn't a lot of exposition, in my opinion, but the story might have actually benefitted from a bit.

I did DNF this, but I think it's mostly because I couldn't deal with the discussions of child marriages. Cesare's sister, Lucrezia, is given over to a widowed man more than twice her age at the age of thirteen. I know it was normal for that era but some discussions of having sex with such a young child were...ick. (Not to mention grown men lusting over a 13 year old and policing her virginity for political reasons. It's a no from me.) Beyond that, I found Maddalena's POV a bit boring--it didn't have the intrigue and political venom I wanted and expected in a novel about the Borgias.

I think it's an interesting premise and I would love to find more books set in this time, but this will be a pass.

I'm not going to lie, I was pretty excited to see another book about the Borgia's is coming out. I love reading about this dramatic, scandalous family! So many dark secrets and sins to uncover, and depending on the author, you can easily get pulled into a novel about this family, even though you've read 10 other books about them, and 99% of the information is not new to you. Alyssa Palombo did a great job of getting the reader's attention and keeping it. I definitely found myself sitting down to read a chapter before bed, and then an hour or more later finally forcing myself to put the book down to go to sleep. She did a great job at bringing this notorious family to life. I didn't feel like I was reading a history novel at any time. It felt like I was reading about living, breathing people. She does well at not just writing down the story of this family, but of engaging the reader to keep delving into the Borgia's lives even after you've finished the novel.
I definitely recommend this one to historical fiction lovers, like myself. I don't know if modern fiction fans would enjoy it as much as I have, but I say it's worth a try for any reader to pick up.

In a huge lover of historical fiction especially this time period. I enjoyed reading this book though I wish it was a little longer with more detail but I would recommend it.