This history of the original crime family, the Borgias, was riveting! Some historical books are dry, but this one was full of drama, scandal, murder...everything you would want in a show or novel. But fact sometimes is stranger than fiction, and this most definitely is!

Lots of research made this an interesting book to read even if I did have trouble remember who was who.

I liked, but didn’t love this novel of the Borgias in Renaissance Italy. Cesare, Lucrezia and Alexander are fascinating historical characters but their evilness and self-absorption were somewhat flatly portrayed. Even Machiavelli, who should be a fascinating character, was just not as compelling as I expected. The history is interesting and the plot is detailed and well researched.

"The author of Blood and Beauty returns with another captivating novel about Renaissance Italy and one of history’s most notorious families. Before the Corleones, before the Lannisters, there were the Borgias.

Bestselling novelist Sarah Dunant has long been drawn to the high drama of Renaissance Italy: power, passion, beauty, brutality, and the ties of blood. With In the Name of the Family, she offers a thrilling exploration of the House of Borgia’s final years, in the company of a young diplomat named Niccolò Machiavelli."

Ever since The Birth of Venus if Sarah Dunant writes it I read it.

Few family names reverberate through history like that of the Borgias of Italy. The head of the family is Rodrigo Borgia, a Spanish Cardinal who comes to Rome and rises to become Pope Alexander VI. He delights in the machinations of the Church and in his illegitimate children whom he disdains to hide. Instead they are given prominent places in society. His first son, Juan, is assassinated, a crime that marks Rodrigo's life ever after. Cesare is a former Cardinal who turns instead to military matters, conquering city after city in the Borgia's quest to extend their power. His daughter, Lucrezia, is used to solidify the family's power and influence through marriage. She is married three times by the time she is twenty-two.

This novel follows the family in the last year of their power, 1502. Lucrezia has just become the Duchess of Urbino, her husband Alfonso much the same kind of man as her brother Cesare. Cesare becomes increasingly erratic as he pursues a campaign of conquest, perhaps as the aftermath of what is known as the French pox. There is no alliance he won't make or break as it suits him, and both he and Pope make sure their enemies come to a bloody end. Pope Alexander is at the end of his life and concerned about his legacy. Finally, an outsider is also part of the story. Niccolo Machiavelli is a diplomat from Florence who is sent to the court in Rome to discover what he can of the Borgia plans and how his city can best position itself. He is fascinated by the Borgias, later basing his most famous book, The Prince, on Cesare.

Yet Dunant is interested in not just wars and betrayals but the life of women. Lucrezia is maligned throughout Italy as a courtesan and faithless wanton woman, but the reality is closer to that of a woman used as most women were in titled families, as a pawn to consolidate power. Her life in a forced marriage is explored as is the relationships within the family she married into, and her struggles to produce an heir. She loves her father and brother but fate moves her far away from them where she rarely gets to see them and must carve out a life for herself.

Sarah Dunant is considered one of the finest names working in historical fiction today. She is fascinated with Renaissance Italy and the powerful families that battle for supremacy. Yet she also takes time to examine everyday life. The influence of sickness, the fevers that annually take scores of lives and the new disease of syphilis, or French pox, is explored. The interplay between the powerful families and the Church is discussed. She skillfully dissects the connections between families and the alliances and betrayals that made the Borgia family name infamous. This book is recommended for readers of historical fiction.

Dunant's second novel about the Borgias, a sequel to Blood & Beauty.

Well, at least I liked this book better than the first one. It benefits from several structural choices, the most important of which is that it only covers about two years compared to Blood & Beauty's decade-plus timeline. It's still hard to give a description of the plot, since like much of actual history, it's a bit random and episodic, without the nice arc of fiction. The Borgias continue to gather power in Renaissance Italy, before finally meeting their downfall.

Lucrezia once more is the closest thing the book has to a protagonist, and she is served well both by the fact that she's primarily seen from her own viewpoint and that she's dealing with a comparatively small-scale plot: the relationship with her new husband, her third, and finding her place within his court. Cesare, in contrast, is conquering half of Italy (including numerous city-states whose names I did not even attempt to keep track of), outmaneuvering a rebellion among his followers (in which at least one particular city-state switches hands at least four times), ingratiating himself to the French king before switching sides to ally with the Spanish, and fighting with his father; it's so much plot that the cumulative effect is deafening. Cesare doesn't get his own POV in this novel, but is seen only through outsiders: primarily one of his generals, his doctor, and the Florentine ambassador, Niccolo Machiavelli. (Machiavelli actually gets an oddly large amount of page time in this novel given his relatively small overlap with the Borgias, but I understand Dunant's impulse to include him. Who wouldn't want to include Machiavelli?) All of these outside POVs only succeed in distancing the reader from Cesare, but on the other hand, he spends at least half the book going insane from late-stage syphilis, so I'm not sure his own POV would have been an improvement. Rodrigo Borgia aka Alexander VI is relegated to the role of a side character, appearing only to react to Cesare or Lucrezia's actions. Nonetheless the book ends abruptly with his death; this is fairly historically accurate – the Borgia family pretty much crashed and burned immediately without his assistance – but it reads like Dunant forgot to finish the story.

As a minor note, I found the descriptions of Catrinella, Lucrezia's servant (or slave? I wasn't entirely clear on what category she'd fit into, though to be fair in the 1490s there probably wasn't a well-defined distinction between the two) off-putting. She's the only black character in the novel, and there are a lot of words spent dwelling on how dark her skin is and how bright her teeth are against it. On the other hand, at least Catrinella is slightly more three-dimensional than most of the hundreds of background characters, so it could be worse.

Overall the two books remain not terrible, but not nearly as wonderful as they could have been. I'd recommend Dunant's other historical fiction instead.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2011995290

She's such a genius, and every installment is more involving and intense than the last, and no one is more talented with period detail.

I've enjoyed reading nonfiction books about the Borgias but I just couldn't get into this historical fiction. The present tense narration (a pet peeve of mine) switched back and forth among Lucrezia, Cesare, Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia) and Niccolo Machiavelli. They are certainly all intriguing characters, but by the time I abandoned the book about a third of the way in there still didn't seem to be an overriding plot making full use of these historical figures. I haven't read anything else by this author, and now I'm kind of reluctant to try. I received a free copy of the e-book from the publisher, however I wound up listening to the audiobook borrowed from the library.

While I enjoyed this novel, I don't think I enjoyed it as much as the previous one. Borgias are always a fascinating subject, no matter how many times their stories have been told (at least to me) but I felt that this 2nd novel in the series was a bit flat and reminded me more of a biography than a historical fiction novel in a number of places. I also found it harder to take the present tense writing (I'm not a big fan of it to begin with, but especially with historical fiction). Having said that, I would definitely still pick up the next book.

Reviewed on GoodReads.

Life in the Middle Ages in what is now Italy was no picnic. Brutal leaders vied for power, warring constantly, jostling for even more power, and running over the common people in the process. Diseases were rampant. Something called "the pox" that often left people severely scarred and disfigured was so common and feared that in some cities during the summers, those who could left town to avoid it. STDs were also abundant, leaving painful physical symptoms as well as mental illness. Members of the nobility regularly poisoned one another, even close relatives, to further their quest for power. Anyone who got in the way was tortured or killed.

The Borgia family, one of the most infamous and brutal of these leaders, amassed a tremendous amount of power during the 14th and 15th centuries through all sorts of knavery. The patriarch of the family was the pope at the time, Alexander VI. He and his illegitimate children schemed tirelessly to take over more and more territory by any means necessary. They were infamous for deviously poisoning relatives, supposed friends and neighbors, as well as enemies. Reportedly, they created this poison using arsenic mixed with the contents of pig entrails and then aged for good measure.
Although this was a world in some ways very different from our own, it was uncannily similar. The insane grasping for material wealth and power by those who are already rich and powerful beyond imagining is surprisingly familiar. The lack of concern for others in this madness is also prevalent. The damage that a narcissistic leader can inflict is appalling. The mixing of religious and political power is as bad an idea today as it was then. Nepotism is still a problem. As I read this book, I kept seeing parallels in today's world. Many of the tactics of the Borgia are evident in current world events.

Not only was I entertained by this fascinating picture of medieval life, but I felt enriched with new insights into human nature and politics today. I keep talking to friends about it. I highly recommend In the Name of the Family for an entertaining and informative read. It would be a great pick for book clubs.

Note: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

In the Name of the Family is the follow-up to Sarah Dunant’s Blood & Beauty, about the Borgia family. It picks up in 1502, with Lucrezia’s marriage to Alfonso d’Este, the son of the Duke of Urbino. This marriage is political. Her beloved second husband was murdered by her brother Cesare, because an alliance with his family was no longer expedient.

Like the previous novel, In the Name of the Family is mainly concerned with Lucrezia and Cesare. This novel also brings in Niccolò Machiavelli as a secondary character in his role as envoy from Florence. This role for Machiavelli is familiar to me from Michael Ennis’s The Malice of Fortune, although that novel was a mystery. Machiavelli was famously inspired to write The Prince by his fascination with Cesare Borgia.

One of Dunant’s aims in writing these novels was to redeem the characters of the Borgias, particularly Lucrezia. Of course, the Borgia men were ruthless and greedy, but it seems that all the other powerful families in Italy at the time were the same. Lucrezia apparently was an intelligent and charming young woman who won over most of the people she met, even the hostile court of Urbino.

Cesare begins as a brilliant strategist but begins to deteriorate mentally from syphilis.

I gave high marks to Blood & Beauty, but In the Name of the Family seemed to drag a little for me. I am not sure why. It could be because I read it in ebook form, and I have a much more difficult time concentrating on electronic books. However, that has not stopped me enjoying other novels in ebook form. Certainly, Lucrezia’s part of the story was not as important, and that was what I was most interested in. Also, I’m not sure how effective it was to occasionally introduce Machiavelli’s viewpoint.

This is for you if you like historical fiction- really fact based historical fiction. Dunant has worked her magic on the era and the Borgias once again, although this time the story did flag in parts (but really, isn't that life?) She's made these real people come alive on the page. You'll learn something about Renaissance Italy, which is a bonus, while reading what might sometimes seem like a soap opera. This is a big fat book but it's got a good plot (well, really) and complex characters so try it if you'd like to sink your teeth into something. THanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

In the Name of the Family is Dunant’s follow up to her novel Blood and Beauty, published in 2013. Both books explore the Borgia family dynasty, headed by Rodrigo Borgia who became Pope Alexander VI – a corrupt womanizer who used papal funds and influence to advance the positions of his children in Rome. The prologue of this novel also introduces us to the character of Niccolo Machiavelli, who was at the time a Florentine diplomat at an uncertain period in history. The Medici family has fallen, and Savonarola has been publicly burned. In 1502, Machiavelli is attempting to work with Cesare Borgia and his mercenary army to end the madness that has taken over the Italian city-states.

The Borgia family is brutal and passionate, but they are also in decline – Pope Alexander is aging, and his powerful son Cesare is struggling with illness due to the pox. Daughter Lucrezia is sent to an arranged marriage in distant Ferrara, meant to strengthen political ties with another powerful family, the Estes. At age twenty-two, it will be Lucrezia’s third marriage, and she is just now starting to understand her own power – facing off against the Estes family, she is finally standing on her own, outside of her father’s shadow.

Back in Rome, Cesare has lost the fear and respect he had for his father – the Pope is aging rapidly and his power is weakening. Cesare begins to act on his own, although still in his father’s name. Most Italian city-states are frightened of Cesare and his renegade army – his moves against other members of the nobility are clever and unpredictable. He must travel undercover, but that doesn’t prevent him from making his way in disguise to Lucrezia’s bedside when she falls ill, leading to some of the rumors about their inappropriate relationship.

Cesare Borgia became a model for Machiavelli’s The Prince – a guidebook for ruling the people which includes the famous line, “It is better to be feared than loved.” Cesare and his family are great examples of the dark side of politics and power, although Lucrezia is the most real and engaging character here. Instead of disappearing into the shadows of womanhood, she uses her intelligence and sexuality to control her surroundings in dramatic ways.

Dunant does an incredible job of humanizing these historical figures, showing all the dark sides of love, grief and familial bonds. This novel is backed up by an incredible amount of research, but it never feels weighed down by facts. The dialogue is accessible and modern, with firsthand sources such as letters woven into the text. The story of the Borgias is so bizarre that it often seems stranger than fiction, and Dunant brings these intriguing characters brilliantly to life.

I received this book from Virago Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read and loved Dunant's The Birth of Venus so was looking forward to the same experience. Not so much.

A well-researched and well-written piece of historical fiction that centers on the Borgias, also with Niccolo Machiavelli, this novel had all the ingredients for a page turner. Except it really wasn't.

What kept me going? Lucrezia Borgia--the most finely drawn, interesting, and lifelike character. Palace[s] and military intrigue.

Other than Lucrezia, my favorite character was Sister Bonaventura, a nun in the dispensary of Corpus Domini, who figures little in the book, but caught my fancy.

Lucrezia's father, Pope Alexander VI, her brother, Cesare, and her [soon-to-be, then] husband Alfonso d'Este, are all well drawn; their descriptions vivid--particularly her husband--not at all a handsome, but rather grotesque, man.

Wonderful descirptions throughout. Examples that struck me: "The profiles of husband and wife stare coldly out at each other from a divided frame: her face as ordinary as countless wother women of her age, his a study in hideousness..." And: "Noblewomen are early connoisseurs in the art of the courtly kiss, and over these last weeks Lucrezia has been gobbled and pecked, dribbled on and stubble-scraped, has even felt the nibble of teeth and odd teasing flash of a tongue." And so on.

The first third of the book moved along at quite a clip. But then I thought it bogged down. So, while there is much to commend this book, I felt it somewhat wanting.

(Thank you Netgalley for an early reader copy, which in no way biased my review)

"In The Name of The Family" follows Lucrezia Borgia, Cesare Borgia and Pope Alexander (the Borgia Pope) in Pope Alexander's later years, with some appearances by Nicolo Machiavelli. I had expected the book to be more about Machiavelli than it actually was; he is featured giving advice and thinking his way through the political complexities of the time, but we don't learn a lot about him personally. The story focuses more on Lucrezia; she's an interesting character. A good wife, a loving daughter, and good to the people on her husband's lands. Cesare is pretty much evil, but why? Could it be the pox? Or is he just crazy? And the pope? Well, the title pretty much sums it up; he's interested in what's good for the family as his number one priority. Getting even for slights, making more money, amassing more power, all in the name of the family.

Overall In The Name of The Family is a good story. The writing style is sort of rambly, stream of consciousness, which is not my fave, but it is easy to read, and an interesting tale.

Like all of Sarah Dunant's, this became involving from the first page. She has a wondreful ability to make the past, and it particular, the renaissance come alive and her characters real. She is one of my go to writers when a customer wants a book for a trip to Italy.

While Rodrigo Borgia founded a dynasty drenched in corruption, womanizing and excess, it is his children that tell the full story. Lucrezia, twice married, is reeling from the loss of her second husband. She is quickly married to Ferrara's Duke Elect. Her infamous brother is suffering from the scourge of the pox, but is determined to bring all of Italy under his heel. The Florentine ambassador Niccolo Machiavelli watches Cesare's reign of terror with fascination and admiration. But all things must end.

Dunant's books are amazing. Instantly, you are transported to the calm and serene Corpus Domini nunnery or the boisterous inner chamber of Pope Alexander VI. The scenes are studded with realism, both in scenery and actions. The characters, even the minor ones are thoroughly explored. I am surprised at how I connected with Machiavelli and even Micholetto. I loved this book, but that's no surprise as one of her early books, The Birth of Venus, made me fall in love with reading again. Dunant doesn't let the readers down. A phenomenal read.

Apparently, all roads do lead to Rome—at least in my March historical fiction reading so far! On Monday, I reviewed The Confessions of Young Nero and today I’m jumping forward 1,400 years with Sarah Dunant’s new novel about the Borgia family. In the Name of the Family opens with the scandal soaked Borgias firmly ensconced in power. After much maneuvering and exorbitant bribes father Rodrigo is Pope Alexander. Son Cesare (yes, a pope with children—illegitimate children even!) was originally made a cardinal, but found the church to be a less interesting vocation than war and seizing power. He now has his own army of mercenaries, funded by the Church, and is wreaking havoc throughout northern Italy. Lovely daughter Lucrezia already has two dead two husbands by the age of twenty-one and has now been married off again for political gain.

When this is where a novel opens it’s hard to imagine where it can go, except when it comes to the wily Borgias. This is a family whose shameless self-promotion and lack of scruples in plundering the very institution they were sworn to protect makes the Trumps look like amateurs. Or maybe not. If you’re a fan of Italian history than there’s not much new to be found in In the Name of the Family but if you’ve not learned anything about the Borgias then Dunant does a good job at balancing the rumors about the family against known facts. She does this, in part, by including Niccolo Machiavelli in the novel. He was used by the leaders of Venice to keep an eye on Cesare and his intentions towards that city state. Much of what Machiavelli sees and learns about Cesare becomes the basis for his most well-known treatise, The Prince.

The rest of this review will be available at the link below on 3/15/17.

This turned out to be the right book at the right time for me . I was craving a little historical fiction as well as a reprieve from the hangover I had from some grief filled books that I recently read. This gave me both. I give it 3.5 stars, and I can't round up to 4 stars because at times it felt somewhat dragged out. The other criticism I have is that some of the dialogue felt more modern than I would have thought.

An unscrupulous man juggling the power of the papacy and the politics of Rome and the royal courts of the country, his ruthless illegitimate son with ambitions set on acquiring more land and riches, his beautiful illegitimate daughter, a diplomat in a sense and playing a role in making alliances by her marriages to help her father, certainly make for an intriguing story . These are the Borgias - Alexander VI, Cesare and Lucrezia, the ruling family of church and state in Rome and other cities, in the early 1500's. I didn't really like any of them but I definitely enjoyed the intrigue, the history of this time and place. There are many other characters to keep tract of, but the main narratives move between the multiple points of view of Alexander, Cesare, Lucrezia, and also Nicolo Machiavelli. I found Machiavelli to be one of the most interesting characters and have read that his inspiration for The Prince was Cesare Borgia.

"In Rome, revenge is the fashion of the season." While this quote comes fairly late in the book, it reflects a lot of what happens here.

"...perhaps the Pope is growing frightened of his own son." There are power shifts within the Borgia family as Cesare moves without consulting his father let alone seeking his approval, already wondering about who the conclave of cardinals will choose to replace his father , even before his father is dead.

How accurate is the history? I didn't have any real knowledge to speak of about the Borgias , but the list of sources reflect that Dunant has done significant research. I would recommend this to those who enjoy historical fiction.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Random House through NetGalley.