Costanza

by Rachel Blackmore

Rome, 1636. History calls her a Muse. Temptress. Fallen woman. This is her story.

In the scorched city of Rome, the cobbled streets hum with gossip and sin. Costanza Piccolomini is a respectable young wife - until she meets Gianlorenzo Bernini, the famed sculptor and star of Roman society, whose jet-black gaze matches his dark temper. From the second they set eyes upon each other, a fatal attraction is born.

Their secret love burns with a passion that consumes them. But with every stolen kiss and illicit tryst, Costanza's reputation is at stake. Meanwhile, Bernini has a dangerous desire: he wants to make Costanza immortal. He vows to possess her not just in body and soul, but also in marble.

When Bernini unveils his sculpture of Costanza, she is exposed as his lover, marking the undoing of their affair - and the beginning of a scandal which will rock Roman society. For Bernini would rather destroy Costanza than let her go.

Betrayed. Abandoned. Banished. This was meant to be the end of Costanza's story. But Costanza is no ordinary woman: from the ashes, she will rise...

Based on a true story, Costanza is a dizzying and sensual historical novel that brings to life a feminist icon who has been written out of history. This utterly addictive tale of desire and betrayal is perfect for fans of The Marriage Portrait and The Miniaturist.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Italy, Mythology, Art, Feminism

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2024

Reviews

[Margo Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to win a proof copy of this in a giveaway. It's set in 17th century Rome and I think would appeal to fans of Jessie Burton and Sarah Dunant. It also has an echo of Madeleine Miller's Pygmalion story 'Galatea' - with a male sculptor using the art in a creepy/controlling way.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely brilliant book. I felt it started off fairly slow, but it kept gathering pace until I couldn't put it down. Costanza was a brilliant character and the injustices she and the other women suffered in this book were heartbreaking. But the tale of surviving and of friendship and loyalty were inspiring. This book felt atmospheric and very well researched. A truly fantastic debut!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

[Amelia Toften · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one so much!!! At times the story felt very slow paced, which is why I took off a star, but the writing was done so well. It is apparent Rachel Blackmore did extremely in depth research into the life of Costanza Piccolomini and the time period (1630s Rome). The story was rich in description, I felt like I was totally transported to that time period. Costanza's story was also fantastic - her suffering and abuse at the hands of the Bernini brothers is just another tale on a long list of the plight of women since the dawn of time. I loved the themes of sisterhood in this story, and women lifting other women up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this wonderful ARC!

[Clair Atkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Undeniably, the beautiful cover was the first thing that drew me to Costanza. I knew nothing of this time period or the Bernini brothers so I found this fascinating.
When the celebrated sculptor Lorenzo Bernini notices Costanza, wife of fellow sculptor Matteo, he knows he must have her. He offers to teach her about art, before they begin a torrid love affair which culminates in a sculpture of Costanza by Bernini which makes their affair obvious. When Luigi Bernini, Lorenzo's brother turns his attention to Costanza, her fate is sealed.
I absolutely loved this story. Costanza wants a better life for herself which is how she finds herself drawn to Bernini. His jealousy means he does his very best to destroy Costanza. But she is strong - she finds herself in some terrible situations and survives. Costanza’s story is one of love, obsession, heartbreak and betrayal.
A stunning debut, Blackmore’s research and imaginings really shine through. A brilliant piece of historical fiction.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contanza was a historical fiction based on true story of Contanza Piccolomini and take set at Rome 1636. She was an Italian nobelwoman and art dealer who become mistress of the famous sculptor and architect Lorenzo Bernini. Her beauty features also immortalized as a "breathtaking bust marble potrait".
Her story mostly describe as passion, betrayal and violence from a tragic love and brothers rivalry. But this book make me understand that her struggles from trauma are a symbol of women strength to overcome traumas after abuses under gender inequality.

I really appreciate author's effort to introduce and doing alot research to gave Contanza's story for us. Her rise and fallen is well written with tender POV1. The pace is slow but still enjoyable. I found author's note is very helpful to understand deeper into the society issues at those era.

Thank you Netgalley and Renegade Books for Young Reader from Dialogue Books for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Expecting release date : 1 August 2024

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5-5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Renegade Books for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

Total "judging a book by its cover" with this one! Look how gorgeous she is! I have been so excited about this book.

This is a story I knew nothing about. Part of me feels I must have heard about Matteo Bonuccelli and Gianlorenzo Bernini, and in turn, Costanza, at some point, especially as I used to really be into art, but nope, nothing. Which meant I could come into this with a blank slate, with no knowledge or expectation.

Rachel immediately takes us into this world. I've been to Rome once, many years ago, and I don't remember much of it, other than the fact it rained nearly every day and I wasn't a huge fan of the city, but the way she has described it means I can picture 1636 Rome far easier than the early noughties Rome.

You can see the hours of research Rachel must have put into this book. I'm still in the research stage o my own book and I've often thought whether it's actually worth it all, but this proves it. You really get a feeling for the time and place and people, you can really get the idea that Rachel is an expert in her area and that then makes the story beautiful.

It is a bit slow to begin with, but I'm not sure that's a negative. For me anyway, it really helped lead me into the story, gave me time to get invested in the lead characters and their situation, so that when the s*** hits the fan later on, you really care for the characters and the outcome. There are some slower moments later on in the novel. Not a deal breaker, not a huge issues, and I still really, really, really liked it, but there were just a few occasions I wanted to get to the crux of things a bit quicker, but it didn't affect the enjoyment of the book.

It angers me all this talk in books about how women were treated. I know this is set in the 1600s and the power balance between sexes is completely different, but it doesn't make for easy reading, and whilst Rachel hasn't made it too OTT, she hasn't hidden away from it either.

I love the strong women Rachel has created. It's tough for them, but Costanza especially definitely seems ahead of her time, speaking out, back-chatting to me, being overly familiar with men, walking unaccompanied. It all sounds normal now, but for that time it was very provocative. But she's not shy about it. And in her strength lies the strength of others, building them up and helping them when they fall back down.

I believe this is Rachel's debut historical novel and it really is promising. I've read a lot - A LOT - of historical novels recently. Set in the 1600s-1800s, strong women in difficult situations, love affairs etc. and actually, quite a lot set in Italy come to think of it. And I'm sure that eventually I will get bored of them, or authors will run out of stories to tell, but this is just different enough to be original and enjoyable, unlike anything else I've read before.

Rachel is clearly a born storyteller, she's passionate about her creation, about these characters, about doing them justice; she's aware these are real people with real lives and they deserve to have their stories told, and you can feel that love in the writing.

I really, really enjoyed it. And whilst it was all good to read, the last third of it was my favourite. It's not always nice or easy to read, it gets uncomfortable, but it's so raw and brutal and honest and passionate that it was impossible not to be moved by it - by the plot but also Rachel's way of writing it.

Taking everything into account, this is a fabulous historical debut, with great characters (even if they're not always comfortable to read about), vivid locations, expert storytelling, with the odd pacing issues, but I could barely face putting it down, so keen was I to see how it ended.

[LindyLouMac · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always delighted to discover a new historical fiction writer and Rachel Blackmore with her debut novel 'Costanza' has made it straight on to the list of authors I follow. I have learnt that Costanza Piccolomini was living, at the time of her marriage in Viterbo, Italy a town I lived in for some years and know well!

'Costanza' is the story of a young woman who was persecuted and disfigured in an attack of violence, after a controlling love affair with the famous sculptor Bernini goes wrong. Lorenzo Bernini's son Domenico described his father's affair with Constanza as 'fieramente inamorato' - wildly in love. Costanza was a strong woman in a society where attitudes towards women were particularly unpleasant.

The author has taken a true story and woven it into a compelling novel. If you are a fan of historical novels who likes to also learn along the way then I hope you will love this as much as I did. Highly recommended to all historical fiction fans. It is with thanks to Renegade Books and NetGalley that this title was made available for me to read and review.

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[Dee Hancocks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Costanza is beautifully written. The story is about the hardships of women and giving women in history a voice, and I absolutely love that. At times it is difficult content but the prose is lyrical and balances this out. The ending is very much about rising up and this was needed after the heavier elements. The complexity of relationships is explored and portrayed as true to life fully immersing you into Costanza’s life. The characters are vivid and engaging, some infuriating. I always love a book that makes me mad. The setting is another beautiful element that needs mentioning. The pacing is on the slower side but this did not deter me from Costanza’s story. A great piece of historical fiction and I will definitely be checking out this authors future work. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was going to give it a three, but I think it has a strong ending - and the afterword detailing how Costanza lived out the rest of her life was lovely to read.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh god, this book is incredible. I was in such a reading slump after finishing Onyx Storm and this pulled me back up, kicking and screaming the entire way. The writing is beautiful, and there’s something so masterful in the way these characters are written. The dark undertones capture the life of Constanza and other women labouring under a patriarchal society, but it is all balanced by the focus on female connections and friendships. Honestly this book is on par with Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait for me - absolutely stunning historical fiction that I’ll be thinking about for days.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

UNA TRAGEDIA ATTUALE

Sto leggendo così tanti libri sul femminismo in questo periodo che ne ho perso il conto; ma, per quanto li abbia adorati tutti, nessuno è stato come "Costanza". Merito dell'eccellente ricostruzione storica, unita ad elementi di finzione che imprimono una svolta decisiva agli eventi (l'aborto di Bluma, la morte di Lisbetta, il tradimento di Caterina).
Soprattutto, mi ha sconvolto la precisione con cui l'autrice descrive la violenza e la ferocia incarnata dagli uomini di questa storia (Lorenzo Bernini, suo fratello Luigi e il suo servitore Stefano): scene quali l'inseguimento di Luigi da parte di Lorenzo, che quasi lo uccide in chiesa, oppure lo sfiguramento che Stefano provoca a Costanza mi hanno lasciato con il fiato sospeso, specialmente per la loro attualità. Quante donne, ancora oggi, sono vittime della vendetta dei propri compagni, che le "puniscono" con violenze fisiche e psicologiche, deturpandone il volto con l'acido e addirittura uccidendole? È una constatazione che fa tanta rabbia, oltre a spezzare il cuore.
La tragedia di Costanza, in particolare, mette in luce anche un altro aspetto, ovvero il modo subdolo con cui questi uomini incantano e manipolano le donne che dicono di amare e venerare, ottenendo su di loro un potere che finisce per soggiogarle completamente.

"È in questo modo che gli uomini giustificano la loro supremazia su noi donne. Ci dicono che siamo fragili e deboli, che abbiamo bisogno di essere controllate. E quindi noi ci sottomettiamo. Ci rendiamo prigioniere. Queste mura? Questa pena? Non è questo a tenerci in catene, Costanza. È sottomettendoci agli uomini che ci creiamo una prigione con le nostre stesse mani."

Una vicenda di cui non sapevo assolutamente nulla, narrata in un romanzo lodevole che rientra sicuramente tra le migliori letture di quest'estate.

[Gayle (OutsmartYourShelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rome in 1636, & Costanza Piccolomini is married to Matteo, a sculptor who works in the studio of Papal favourite, Gianlorenzo Bernini. When Costanza meets Bernini for the first time there is an instant attraction. Their affair becomes all-consuming even at the risk of Costanza's reputation which is doomed the moment Bernini unveils his marble bust of Costanza. Waiting in the wings is Bernini's violent brother & one lie brings about Costanza's downfall - but this is not the end. Costanza refuses to be punished whilst the men carry on with their lives, & she will return.

Based on a true story, this historical fiction brings to life 17th century Rome. It starts off quite slowly but before you realise it, you're engrossed in the story. It neatly showcases how women were constrained throughout history as only wives & mothers & anyone trying to break out of that was viewed critically. It also deals with the double standard of how the men's' behaviour is handwaved, whilst the women are punished & the author also brings this into the modern day in the Author's Note at the end.

TWs: infidelity, scenes of a sexual nature, sexual assault, misogyny, strong language.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Dialogue Books/Renegade Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

[Consacre Kapongo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book that highlights how strong, powerful, resilient and determined women are. Rachel Blackmore did some intensive research and wrote a powerful historical fiction novel that displays how women were treated, in the 17th century. Women are powerful creatures, we as a society need to value them more, we need to protect them from the evil and powerful men that our out there. We need to understand and care, Costanza's development of character and growth in becoming an exceptional sculptress and business women. Despite everything she goes through, the pain, heartbreak, shame, and loss. Is a testament to how strong women became when they are United and gather together with other fellow women. What a beautiful story written by Rachel Blackmore, I highly recommend reading.

"I have learned a great many things , but above all, never to be confined by the tales other people tell of you. Always seek out your own story. This is míne. " - Costanza Piccolomini

[Clodagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Costanza” is a fascinating novelisation of the life of Costanza Piccolomini, set in 17th century Rome. We don’t often get to see the world in this time period through the perspective of women, but Rachel Blackmore really succeeds in bringing Costanza to life.

Costanza’s marriage is comfortable, but not entirely happy. As her husband’s career as a sculptor progresses, she is drawn into the world of the famous Lorenzo Bernini, with no idea of the impact this connection will have on her life. As her story plays out, we see how this society’s attitudes towards women will shape the lives of Costanza and those around her.

The author does an excellent job of describing 17th century Rome, and showing the differences between classes and societies at various points of Costanza’s life, and of how different her experiences were depending on how she was perceived by others. The depictions of how she and other women were treated in the story made this a difficult read at times, but an important one - many of the attitudes shown still prevailed through the 20th century and even today.

Women’s stories are often reduced to a footnote in history but this book portrays Costanza as a fully-fleshed-out person with her own hopes and dreams, separate to those of the men in her life. It’s a fitting tribute to a woman we know little about, drawing on historical sources that root it firmly in the real world, and building on them to create a novel well worth reading.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[cherryyemilyy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4☆

Overall it was a truly tragic tale that is so familiar to women now and throughout history. I thought the setting was interesting and sometimes well executed, I just felt like at times either the dialogue or the description was like ancient and then weirdly modern feeling. In general the language and writing wasn’t my favourite; at times it was poetic and other times it was too repetitive (so many triplets of descriptive language!!).

I think the blurb really undersold the kind of story it was. This is totally my own misinterpretation but I expected a love story and instead got a honesty tale of how women have been treated. I am a sucker for women’s history!!

[Annelies - In Another Era · Rating 4 out of 5]

Costanza Piccolomini’s husband Matteo works as a sculptor for Lorenzo Bernini, Rome’s most famous artist who receives commissions from the Pope himself. When Costanza meets him, they fall in love and the two start an affair. But Lorenzo’s brother Luigi wants Costanza for himself. At the meantime, Costanza tries to protect her reputation in Rome from bad rumours .

Blackmore’s debut novel is about Costanza, the woman who will be treated very badly by the Bernini brothers and who would almost cost Lorenzo his career. The entire first half of the book is about how they get to know each other and their affair, and it all builds up rather slowly. Blackmore’s writing style didn’t quite suit me at the beginning.

Mainly because we don’t get much of an insight into Lorenzo Bernini. Since we know a lot of his work but have little to no biographical material about his life, it’s a difficult character to portray. We know of his bad temper and this assumes that he was probably not a pleasant man for those around him and his work force. He seemed to be very demanding and a control freak. His brother Luigi was convicted for sexual abuse, but also got away a few times with the help of his family. So the Bernini brothers do not really come out of this story positively. And that made it for me difficult to understand why Costanza felt attracted to him.

Once the incident with Costanza is there, the story really takes off. And you begin to sense a kind of feminist undertone that points out the unfairness of what happens to her. She joins another group of women who have been a victim of the men in their lives. I found the second part of the book much better developed .

At the end, Blackmore describes that the brutal murder of Sarah Everard in London (the woman plucked off the street, raped and then murdered in full lockdown period) and the many femicides in the world were the reason for bringing out this book. For centuries, women have had to endure violence from men and even lose their lives. More than half of the cases involve a man known to the victim (husband, ex-partner, family, friend…).

This makes me appreciate more the story that Blackmore wants to tell: Costanza and the many other women in the book symbolize how hard a woman sometimes has to fight back from the terrible things done to her.

Costanza is just a footnote in the story of the genius Lorenzo Bernini. But she was, above all, his greatest victim and she deserves a voice. So don’t expect a story about art – that’s just an afterthought in this book. I look forward to seeing what else Rachel Blackmore will write.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

Dutch review:
Costanza Piccolomini's echtgenoot Matteo werkt voor Lorenzo Bernini, de beroemdste kunstenaar van Rome die werkt voor de Paus. Wanneer ze elkaar ontmoeten gaat de vonk over en de twee starten een affaire. Maar Lorenzo's broer Luigi is jaloers en ook Lorenzo zelf wil Costanza controleren. En dan is er nog haar reputatie die ze in ere moet proberen houden.

Blackmore's debuutroman gaat over Costanza, de vrouw die door de Bernini's broers heel slecht zal worden behandeld en die bijna Lorenzo's carrière zou kosten. De volledige eerste helft van het boek gaat over hoe ze elkaar leren kennen en hun affaire en dat alles wordt nogal traag opgebouwd. De schrijfstijl van Blackmore lag me niet helemaal.

Vooral omdat we weinig een klik krijgen met Lorenzo, hij is nogal ongrijpbaar in het boek. Net zoals in het echt waarschijnlijk, aangezien we heel wat werken van hem kennen, maar weinig tot geen biografisch materiaal over zijn leven hebben. We weten dat hij snel kwaad werd en dat hij waarschijnlijk geen aangename man was voor zijn omgeving en zijn werkkrachten. Heel veeleisend met veel controledrang. Zijn broer Luigi was een seksueel delinquent die telkens met hulp van zijn familie onder een sterke straf uitkwam. De Bernini broers komen dus niet echt positief uit dit verhaal.

Eens het incident daar is, komt het verhaal pas echt op gang. En begin je een soort feministische ondertoon te voelen die de oneerlijkheid van wat er Costanza overkomt uit de doeken doet. Ze komt terecht bij een andere groep van vrouwen die slachtoffer zijn geworden van de mannen in hun leven. Ik vond het tweede deel daardoor veel beter uitgewerkt.

Op het einde beschrijft Blackmore dat de brutal moord op Sarah Everard in Londen (de vrouw die van straat is geplukt, verkracht en dan vermoord in volle lockdownperiode) en de veel femicides in de wereld de aanleiding zijn geweest om dit boek te brengen. Al eeuwenlang moeten vrouwen geweld verduren van mannen en bekomen ze dat vaak met hun leven. In meer dan de helft van de gevallen gaat het om een man die gekend is bij het slachtoffer (echtgenoot, ex partner, familie, vriend...).

Dat zorgt ervoor dat ik de inhoud van dit boek - waarbij Costanza en de vele andere vrouwen uit het boek symbool staan voor hoe hard een vrouw soms moet terugvechten vanuit de verschrikkelijke dingen die haar worden aangedaan - meer apprecieer.

Costanza is slechts een voetnoot in het verhaal van het genie Lorenzo Bernini. Maar ze was vooral zijn grootste slachtoffer en ze verdient een stem. Verwacht je dus niet aan een verhaal over kunst, dat is slechts bijzaak in dit boek.

Ik ben benieuwd wat Rachel Blackmore nog meer zal schrijven.

Bedankt aan Netgalley en de uitgever voor een exemplaar van dit boek in ruil voor mijn eerlijke mening.

[Karis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and author for the e-ARC of Costanza. I had been keen to get my hands on this one as soon as I learnt of it!!

Based on a true story, this is a delightful historical fiction read filled with love, betrayal, revenge, friendship, feminism and community. This was so easy to read, an obvious recommendation to make for anyone who enjoys historian fiction and feminist retellings.

We follow Costanza through her marriage where she finds herself restless, childless and lacking passion from her husband, as she navigates new relationships and love in 17th century society. I’ll leave it there to avoid any spoilers, expect many ups and many downs! A truly inspiring woman and portrayed so beautifully.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lorenzo Bernini was a talented and famous sculptor in 17th century Italy. When he makes a statue of his lover Costanza, the wife of one of his artists, this brings her to the notice of the censors. This is a novel based on a true story and gives a voice to the young woman. Fascinating episode from history brought alive by Blackmore's writing.

[Lisa Nugent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, eloquently written and a truly interesting story. I feel so grateful to Blackmore for giving Costanza a voice and in doing so, changing her legacy.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book 10 stars I would. I was captivated from beginning to end and the feminine rage I felt for the last 200 pages was intense. Even more so because she was a real person who got done over by men and their stupid egos. I love that she got out and made a life for herself with someone who was kind. It just goes to show that there can always be hope.

[BookswithLydscl | · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a true story, this beautifully written, character driven debut is a fictionalised deep dive into the life of Costanza Piccolomini and how it is shaped by her relationships with, and the abuses of, the men around her, particularly the famed sculptor Gianlorenzo Bernini.

I found the character of Costanza and the city of Rome were brought vividly to life, and the story and writing felt authentic and well researched. It was a little slow to start and I struggled a little to become invested in her relationship with Bernini as he was clearly a 'bad guy'. Despite that I truly enjoyed getting the female perspective of society during this time and many story elements felt current and relevant, especially the male on female violence, its impact and effects. History keeps repeating itself it seems and the consequences of the affair for Costanza echo down through history and are still experienced by women today.

Lorenzo and Luigi Bernini are classic villains made of pure ego and selfishness under the guise of artistry and passion and of no surprise to any reader both men essentially end up with the equivalent of a slap on the wrist for their actions - it's infuriating and all too realistic.

Despite that frustration, for me, these elements are what made this book really work. It's historical fiction but its accessible and paints a picture that could fit into a 21st century setting. Costanza is at once a traditional female character for that era, having little agency and could easily have been very one dimensional in lesser hands, but she is also complex and current, drawing power from the women around her and her own inner strength and will to survive.

I found the author's note to be particularly effective at adding context and additional insight into the writing and highly recommend reading it, potentially even first, depending on your feelings about spoilers, as it could enhance your overall reading experience with that knowledge in mind.

This is a story of love, lust and betrayal. It's epic and intimate and comes highly recommended especially for fans of historical fiction.

4.5*

Thank you to NetGalley and Dialogue Books | Renegade Books for a digital review copy of "Costanza" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

[Jennifer Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

Transport yourself to 17th century Rome with this stunning historical fiction debut novel by @rachelblackmorewriter

This is a story inspired by a real woman called Costanza. Little is known about this woman in history books but the author has breathed life into her extraordinary character through her storytelling. Costanza is a fascinating character who is not only beautiful but vivacious, smart and bold, defying her limitations as a woman during these times. She is a happily married woman to an artist until she sets her eyes upon the famous sculptor Lorenzo Bernini who is the star of Rome. A passionate and illicit love affair ensues. When Bernini decides to immortalise Costanza by making a marble sculpture of Costanza, rumours alight and a scandal rocks Roman society. And so begins Costanza’s downfall…or is it?

Costanza is a story that hooks you from the get go. The story is rich in detail showcasing the beauty of Baroque Rome steeped in tradition, religion, love of the arts. The beautiful writing is so transportive that it provides a cinematic quality to this read making it impossible to put down. The character of Costanza shines with her defiance, boldness and humour, making her immediately likeable and you’ll be invested in her story throughout.

There is love and fiery passion, platonic love and friendships but there is also obsession and shocking betrayals, highlighting the control and violence that’s directed at women. I really felt for Costanza as she goes through so many ups but falls from a great height. What happens to her is shocking and oh so cruel and heartbreaking 💔 I am however warmed by Costanza’s resilience and ability to rise up and keep moving forward, her husband’s love and the sisterhood she builds in the convent.

I absolutely adored this book and I was lucky to read some of it while in Rome. This is the book at the stunning trevi fountain - swipe to see it in its full glory as well as some other pics.

If you love historical fiction, do not miss this exquisite read 🫶🫶

[Tilly Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hadn’t heard of Costanza Piccolomini before reading this exquisite novel, but I certainly won’t forget her in a hurry! Whilst this is obviously a fictional reimagining of her life, I have no doubt much of this story will probably be truer to life than we could guess, given the history of women’s treatment by men…

First of all, I have to say how brilliant the audio narration was - the story was brought vividly to life and I really enjoyed it. But the exquisite storytelling and writing is all Rachel’s, and I really can’t believe this is a debut! The descriptions of Rome and the art mentioned in the novel took me right back to being in the city, wandering around museums and taking in the history and atmosphere of one of my favourite places.

The story itself is one which enraged me, as yet again women pay for men’s weaknesses. Thankfully Costanza was a brilliant character who stood up for herself and others, and I especially adored her relationship with Matteo, who had his own interesting side story. Whilst I felt a lot of anger and sadness whilst reading the earlier parts of the story, knowing the inevitable way it was heading, I was surprised by how much joy I felt during her time in the monastery with the other “fallen” women. The lightness, support and hope they provided each other meant that the story ended on a high note for me, and the ending was especially satisfying! Would absolutely recommend for any historical fiction fans - it’s stunning.

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly, this book was not for me. My biggest pet peeve was the atrocious use of commas where full stops should have been (a seemingly small thing, but it happened so much it made the story difficult to parse). I also wanted more of Costanza's life in the nunnery and after, and less of her 'love affair' with Lorenzo. I felt like Lorenzo was treated way too kindly as a character.

[Samira Homerang · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this! The premise was so fascinating but I didn’t like the writing, it was too slow and I didn’t particularly feel anything for the characters.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fictional retelling is set in Rome and based on the real life history of Costanza Piccolomini, mistress and muse of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Italian Baroque sculptor and architect. I was surprised to discover just how much of this story was based on recorded facts and the history itself is rife with intrigue, passion, jealous plots and bouts of both planned and spontaneous violence.

Bernini chiseled Costanza’s likeness into marble and this bust can be seen today in the Bargello museum in Florence, a museum that I visited during a book group trip to the city in 2023. It was considered risqué at the time of its creation, as the sculptor portrays his muse with her lips parted, her hair tousled and her dress unbuttoned. It would have been extremely clear when the bust was first exhibited that Costanza and Bernini were lovers. As a married woman, this would have cast shame on Costanza who would then have been considered a woman of loose morals and risked being ostracised by everyone.

Bernini? Well, he was not married and wielded much power as he was commissioned by the Pope. He had a team of disciples who worked with him in his workshop, one of whom was Matteo Bonarelli (Costanza’s husband). Bernini also had an errant younger brother, Luigi, working alongside him in the studio.

The story essentially consists of four parts: the first where Costanza and Bernini first meet; the second where they begin their affair; the third where they are discovered and shame befalls Costanza and the fourth where she is banished.

Stylistically, I found this book reminiscent of another recent read, The Maiden by Kate Foster. Both books have at their heart a feminist heroine from history who was undone by a controlling man in a position of power.

The story has a propulsive plot and I found it a decent page turner in which I was rooting for Costanza and wanted to know what would happen to her. There were a couple of instances where I saw plot contrivances and was able to predict what might unfold. This didn’t detract too much though from my enjoyment of the narrative. The setting and characters were, I felt, well drawn and seemed authentic to the time and place.

A solid four star read from me. I look forward to seeing what Rachel Blackmore writes next. It looks like her second novel will be released later this year.

[Laetabunag · Rating 3 out of 5]

A historical fiction exploring the life of Costanza Piccolomini and the abuse she faced at the hands of the Bernini brothers.

The author did such an amazing job of transporting the reader back to Rome in 1636. From the sounds, smells, the way people acted and held themselves - you can tell that so much research and time has gone into this book.

The exploration of the abuse Costanza faced at the hands of the Bernini brothers followed by the consequences each party faced was done so well. It honestly had me seething seeing the consequences that Costanza faced for the affair vs the lack of consequences the Bernini brothers faced. I also enjoyed seeing Costanza’s recovery and gaining her physical and mental strength back and wished we had gotten to see more of this.

However, the main reason I gave this 3 stars instead of higher was that it so slow to start. The pace was super slow in the first half of the book whilst we’re watching Costanza and Lorenzo fall in love (which I don’t think was done well enough) that by the time we got to the second and more impactful half of the book, I had lost most of my interest and was mainly reading to just finish the book rather than with any interest in the story.

Overall, it was a good book but just needs faster pacing. If you don’t mind a bit of a slower pace at the start, then this is a really good feminist historical fiction book to read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Dialogue Books for providing with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kayleigh | Welsh Book Fairy · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐳𝐚 | 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 | 𝟒*

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
⟡ Historical fiction
⟡ Based on true events
⟡ Explores art and obsession
⟡ Set in 17th century Rome

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
I’m actually blown away that this is a debut? This reads like somebody who knows exactly what they want to write and how to write it.

What struck me the most was how heavily researched the historical details were. It made the novel entirely transportable to a setting of 17th century Rome where all a woman has to rely on is their reputation.

Another element that I thought was really well written was Lorenzo’s behaviour towards Costanza that served as a portrayal of coercive control. Their relationship began with intensity, quickly turned romantic, then was dominated by Lorenzo’s moods, whimsies, and financial means, dressed prettily of course to entice the much younger Costanza who is captured by Lorenzo’s charm.

Whilst this book is a slow paced, it’s completely memorable. Those who have read Elizabeth Fremantle’s Disobedient will love this story of a woman who rises from the ashes of her life like a phoenix.

𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:
“𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦.”

“𝘞𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴? 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦? 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘶𝘴, 𝘊𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘻𝘢. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨.”

⟡ 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦
⟡ 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫/𝐗

[Zubs Malik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you a fan of historical fiction?

First, full disclosure: when I first saw the cover of this book, I mistakenly assumed it was about Greek mythology—don’t ask me why. But while the cover initially caught my eye, it was the story that held me captive.

I often find that the stories I know the least about end up being the most engaging. This one was no exception. With no prior knowledge of this period or the Bernini brothers, I found myself immersed in a tale that was both educational and entertaining—a true hallmark of a great book.

This is a classic tale as old as time: a beautiful woman drawn in by the temptations of a man. But she is far from a damsel in distress. She’s strong, resilient, and I admired her all the more for it.

"Costanza" tells the story of a young woman who, after enduring a violent attack, is left disfigured and marked by a controlling love affair with a famous sculptor. Her journey is one of love, obsession, heartbreak, and betrayal.

Set in 1630s Rome, the novel is clearly the result of extensive research. The descriptive language is so vivid, you feel as though you’ve stepped into a time machine and are witnessing the events firsthand.

A brilliant debut in historical fiction.

[Jamie Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I look at Susanna again. Her vulnerability is exposed, her loveliness stolen by the eyes of men who believe it their right to possess a woman's beauty."

A magical web of deceit, desire and deplorable actions and summer read that genuinely seems to emit heat at times, vivid and haunting. If you enjoyed The Marriage Portrait, Painter to the King or anything by Neil Blackmore, I can't recommend this more!

A beautiful dissection of gendered desire and the consequences of women living "loosely". The strength of the protagonist is her earnestness. The tragedy of her story is in the dramatic inevitability we feel as readers coupled with her genuine love of Lorenzo, and he IS charming, he DOES love her and we understand this. Meanwhile, the evolution of Matteo and Costanza's relationship is touching in its gentleness and warmth.

Costanza's journey from a vessel of male desire - whether carnal or aesthetic - to her self-realisation of an agent of her own is wondrous (and the confrontation was a nice touch too).