I loved this book, it was brilliantly written and the storyline drew me in completely. I finished reading it in one sitting. I can’t wait for the authors next book.

This story is set at a time when Popes had families and a time when the Borgia family dominated both political and religious culture in the 15th century. Filled with passion, and ruthless behavior made this novel more than just an interesting read, but one that kept the reader glued to the story. Yes, it is a well known fact that the Borgia family was indeed scandalous as well as evil in their effort to control and be all powerful. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting story of the Borgia family in the late 15th century in Italy. The father is Pope and has plans for his 2 sons and 1 daughter, even if they do not agree they must comply or risk his wrath. A lot is going on at the time and Italy is divided and France is moving in. Strategic arrangements must be made to fight France...

The Borgias are my favorite historical subject to read about, so of course I jumped right in when I saw THE BORGIA CONFESSIONS.

Palombo’s vision of the Borgia family is intriguing and felt realistic. She brought the world to the reader through such vivid storytelling and historically accurate details.

I was captivated from the first page, and continued to read until I could no longer, so rich and addictive it was.

I’ll be recommending to everyone - thanks for letting me review.

the Borgia Confessions is a fabulous historical fiction on the Borgia family. It is well written and well researched. This is a enjoyable must read.

This book is told from the alternating viewpoints of Cesare Borgia, eldest son of Rodrigo Borgia, and Maddalena Moretti who is a servant at the Vatican. As Rodrigo Borgia rises to power to become Pope, he forces Cesare to become the Archbishop of Valencia. Cesare is resentful of his younger brother Juan who lives the life he wishes he had. When he meets Maddalena, there was an instant attraction. Maddalena must reconcile her desire to remain a pure devout Catholic with her illicit love for Cesare and unwavering devotion to the Borgia family.
This book was fascinating. Maddalena was a fictional character, but it helped give depth to the story and to Cesare's character. This story kept me captivated from beginning to end. I did think the end was a little abrupt. I guess I just wanted a litte more closure for the Maddalena & Cesare. This book is definitely a must-read for all historical fiction fans.

I love reading about the Borgia family! It is always so intriguing. However, Alyssa Palombo's story felt a little flat for me. It was very slow to start.

I received a copy of this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was an interesting take on the notorious Borgia clan. We get a glimpse as to the personal turmoil that potentially plagued both Rodrigo and Cesare. Ambition and greed dictate nearly every aspect of their lives as they both strove for family dominance in not only the religious, but also the secular sphere. This interpretation of Cesare shows a man confidant in his abilities and jealous to a fault. Palombo deftly allows us a glimpse of Cesare's demons and how those influenced his choices. One may be surprised by the actual confessions that are revealed. The ending could have been tied up a little neater but will certainly leave you wanting more.

I love a good Borgia novel, and unlike many others this author is less scandal and sex and more suspense and drama and family dynamics. Well crafted and intense, this read is a cut above the rest.

The Borgia Confessions has it all: politics, religion, money, power, sex....Alyssa Palombo takes us on a rollicking romp during the Borgia papacy. Rodrigo Borgia has become pope and he immediately sets to making the most of it for himself and his family. His son Cesare is made Archbishop (but what he really wants is to lead the papal army); his elder son is given the army despite a complete lack of experience and an inability to understand anything about the military; daughter Lucrezia is a pawn to gain the loyalty of this family and that by marriage; and aren't popes supposed to be celibate? Rodrigo's luscious young mistress Giulia joins the Borgia family.

The characters are richly developed, and Alyssa Palombo has largely avoided the villainization and titillating rumors (generally unfounded) so common in novels about the Borgias, particularly Cesare and Lucrezia, who are portrayed as pawns in their father's game, with the same human foibles as the rest of us. A talented but under-appreciated son; the incompetent but favored elder son; the treasured daughter, are all part of this elegant tapestry of history, where politics, treachery and family loyalty rule the day.

This is my favorite type of historical fiction. The players are real and the facts are real. Palombo has taken the players and the facts and woven them together with what could have happened and created a book I couldn't put down.

Rome, in 1492, Rodrigo Borgia has been named Pope Alexander. Never mind how he got the job when he had multiple illegitimate children and a mistress living next door. The Borgia family was known for being greedy, ambitious to a fault, and eliminating the competition as this mockery of a pope is intent on one thing. Making sure his children, as well as himself, are all-powerful and wealthy is the goal.

There have been many attempts to explain the Borgias. And while Lucretia is in reality not such an awful person, she has been painted with an ugly brush as a lover of both her brother and her father. Although I nor the author saw any evidence of that.

There was not one redeeming character in this story. They were all equally easy to hate.

Even so, the writing was superb and the story, while not pretty, was fair and informative.

I loved it and would have no problem recommending it.



NetGalley/February 11th, 2020 by St. Martin's Griffin

The Borgia fascination has kept historians in libraries for decades. Here we are treated to a supposed first hand account of court intrigue and family preservation that has long been the fault of the Borgia’s, or so we believed. This account in Borgia confessions gives credence to the belief that the children were pawns in a master scheme . The problem with master schemes is the introduction of chaos into the mix, through live list and not found,in lives predetermined in love sought from afar. I confess I found Lucrezia a master manipulator from a very early age and having a wisdom unknown and yet necessary for survival. As with women of this time her sex afforded her to remain scheming in plain sight. Hilarious. Happy reading

I've read a lot of books about the Borgias - fiction and non-fiction. I was excited about this one but honestly, this was one of the most boring. Following Cesare and Maddelana as they passively but anxiously sit around waiting to be called or to find out more information, pondering all the bad things and all the things they could be doing did not, in my mind, reflect the excitement and the passion of the time and people. Cesare was flat and uninteresting, something I could never say about him, even at his worst. This might have been a good story if it wasn't about people so well known from the time period.

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s press for the early copy.

The Borgia Confession follows the rise of the Borgia family after Pope Alexander takes the papal throne. Told in alternating voices of Cesare, and Maddalena Moretti, a maid to Lucrezia. Together their voices weave a story that includes historical events with accuracy, as well as the lives of the Borgia family. I enjoyed this book, as well as Palombo's previous books. Thanks for the review copy.

This book was received as an ARC from St. Martin's Press - St. Martin's Griffin in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was intensely focused on this book because it involved a conspiracy I am passionate about knowing a family member that was a victim. Seeing a movie such as Spotlight and reading many stories in the paper and memoirs relating to this, I had to preview this book. The Borgia Confessions tells the story of Cesare the oldest son of Rodrigo Borgia, the pope of Rome. Knowing he has to continue the family tradition and follow in his father's footsteps, Cesare is faced with a risen war to dethrone the authority of the pope and choose between Maddalena the newly appointed servant at the Vatican that has fallen in love with Cesare or to stop this war and bring Rome to peace by reconciling his power and the family value. This book had so much Historical value in conjunction with a lot of Romance and Drama that is sure to make a lot of readers very excited.

We will consider adding this title to our Historical Fiction collection at the library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

A well written, well researched book! The book alternated chapters and I found each storyline interesting. I enjoyed the book and liked the characters even tho I didn’t agree with the things they did. Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s press for the early copy.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Griffin for this ARC in return for my unbiased review and opinion.

I have read so many books about the Borgia's, both fiction and non fiction so maybe I am just done with the topic, but I didn't find anything new or interesting in this book. The author did a wonderful job of capturing the characters and historical setting and I enjoyed the writing. I found some of the dialogue to be just unbelievable even as historical fiction. To think that Cesare Borgia would confess to a maid the things he did, or did not do, with regards to Juan just did not seem possible. And even to believe that he felt emotions such as guilt over his actions with Maddalena or Sancia don't seem to be line with how he has been portrayed in other books. But with that said, it is fiction so the author took liberty to make him a little more human. I definitely felt compelled to keep reading even though I knew what happened to the main characters.

Ms. Palumbo is very talented and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Griffin for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

A captivating historical fiction story about the notorious Borgia family, who ruled Christendom in the late 1400s A masterly written story of passion, politics, and class deferences.

In the summer of 1492, the infamous, Rodrigo Borgia has risen to power as pope. Rodrigo's eldest son Cesare, is now forced to follow in his fathers footsteps and into the church. Against his wanting, he has been newly taken the position of the Archbishop of Valencia. Jealous chafes at his ecclesiastical role he fumes resentment at the way toward his foolish brother
His father chosen his brother for has been the military greatness. Something that Rodrigo Borgia has secretly desired for himself.

Maddalena Moretti comes from the countryside, and now she is employed as a servant in the Vatican Palace, she cannot help but be entranced by uCesare Borgia's handsome face and manner and finds her faith and conviction crumbling in her want of him..

The book is intriguing alternating chapters between two main protagonist and their individual perspectives, the author definitely keeps you invested in this powerful portrayal the of The Borgia Family. The Borgia Confessions by Alyssa Palombo is a thrilling, intricate, and entertaining historical fiction novel of greed, and lust for power, when ambition contrasted greatly from hope, loss, and love.

First line: The day I learned of my father’s plans for me, I was but nine years old.

Summary: In the summer of 1492 in Rome Cesare Borgia sees his father rise to the become the newest pope. Cesare has been forced to follow his father into the church but he knows that he is destined for something more. He has a strong military mind and passion to rule. However, his father is blinded by his ambitions to consider what Cesare wants.

Maddalena Moretti has come from the country to work in the Vatican. As a servant she sees into the world of powerful men who rule Europe. When she catches the eye of the handsome cardinal, Cesare Borgia, their lives become entwined as Rome and the rest of Italy fight the changes that are coming for them all.

My Thoughts: I love Alyssa Palombo. She is such a talented writer. She brings her stories to life and makes the characters believable. Even though many of the characters in this story are not likeable she does a fantastic job of getting the reader to at least understand them. I have been fascinated by the Borgia’s since picking up The Borgia Bride by Jeanne Kalogridis. I was very excited when I saw that Alyssa Palombo’s newest book would be centered on this notorious family.

I love the intrigue and drama of the Borgia family. They were people who schemed for everything they got but were at the center of religious power in Europe. I am very familiar with their story so there was not much that surprised me in the narrative but I loved the naughty bits which were more prominent in this novel compared to her other ones. I liked seeing the world from the eyes of a servant. At the end the author discussed how she wanted to look at the events from someone of power and someone without power. I agree it makes it much more interesting to see both sides.

FYI: Perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir.

Terrific read sweep us into the world of the Borgias the history the time and place .The characters come alive I was drawn right in to their world .Historical fiction at its best. #netgalley#st.martinspress