Thoroughly enjoyable. Costanza grows through the book from a young girl on verge of marriage to a fiercely strong woman, rising above the vengeance wrought upon her by her erstwhile lover. Very hard to put this one down - I like historical fiction but generally of a later period than this, so did not expect to become so quickly. immersed in the story. Captivation & engaging, very highly recommended.

Costanza is absolutely unmissable for historical fiction fans; it is as stunning inside as out, I mean just look at that beautiful cover! I had no idea that Costanza Piccolomini was a real historical figure until I read the author's note at the end of the book. Even more astonishing is that this is Rachel Blackmore's debut novel - brava!

The tantalising prologue haunted me throughout the novel and I couldn't read fast enough to discover whose life was in danger and how it came to be. So I stepped back into 17th century Rome and devoured every single perfectly crafted word in this stunningly breathtaking novel.

I was completely riveted as I discovered Costanza's story and my heart went out to her when her marriage didn't turn out quite as she planned. If circumstances had been different, I think she still would have been attracted to sculptor Bernini but she would have been more reluctant to act upon it. Bernini takes advantage of Costanza's situation and moulds her into the woman of his dreams. Of course, he is completely blameless when it all goes wrong as he had been powerless to resist seduction by a temptress!

Magnificent, compelling and powerful, Costanza is an absolute masterpiece filled with passion and betrayal and it evoked such fury in me at the way women were treated and often still are. I really must applaud Rachel Blackmore for giving Costanza such a strong and powerful voice and writing her back into history where she belongs.

I really enjoyed this historical novel set amongst so many artists I admire. Constanza was brave and the perfect mixture of vulnerable and courageous. I loved the marriage dynamics and getting a glimpse into a working household. All the details - fashion, sculpting, food were amazing and it was so easy to immerse myself in this story!

Costanza is a brilliant work of historical fiction that explores art, power and gender in Rome in the 1600. Based on an extraordinary real story, this novel gripped me from beginning to end.

This was a wonderful read, it was fascinating to find out the story of Bernini’s muse. Rome came to life for me with the beautiful writing it was a very powerful read. From poverty to riches, love, lust and revenge. I loved it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Love it when a new historical a story of a woman's experience is published, to give us an insight lens of a strong female's life challenges.

The research was rich & brought to life her experience of being controlled and disfigured by violence in an 'all consuming relationship' with the famous sculpture Bernini. Bernini's brother is absolutely awful.

Blackmore relates this to the ongoing abuse of women, by men who place themselves in roles of power, some 350 years after Constanza's experience.

Continuing on with my current obsession with historical fiction, I saw the cover for Costanza and was immediately drawn to it. Then I read the blurb and I was enthralled. What's one more ARC review to add to the already-massive pile?!

Set in 17th century Rome, Costanza is based on the real story of Costanza Piccolomini, who's been long-forgotten by history - likely because she was a strong-willed feminist icon, a sinner, a temptress...

Woven in such a way that makes every setting come to life, Blackmore vividly describes every aspect of Costanza's life, her passions, her fears, her heartaches in ways that bring everything into sharp focus. Most notably there's the laser precision of realisation that the way women were treated in 1636 Rome isn't a million miles away from how we're treated now.

Being a fiery passionate woman is only a positive in my eyes, not so much in the eyes of the people around Costanza. Her husband's affair is overlooked; her own leads to her vilification. She is betrayed, she is abandoned, and then she is found again. Despite the sadness of Costanza's circumstances, she finds herself in a place where I found hope to return, and her journey to reclaim herself after losing everything was simply beautiful.

I will admit I found Costanza to be a bit of a slog in places, and it took me a little while to finish the book, but it was a gorgeous, evocative read that'll stick with me for time.

Rating: ✨✨✨

A sensual historical novel based on a true story of a feminist icon who has been written out of 17th century Roman history.
“Betrayed, abandoned, banished, Bernini would rather destroy Costanza than let her go, but Costanza is no ordinary woman, from the ashes she will rise”
Beautifully written and very immersive in it’s depiction.
Such a powerful story
Thanks @rachelblackmorewriter @dialoguepublishing & @netgalley for the immersive debut read

Costanza tells the story of a previously overlooked woman, who was the mistress of the famous artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini and later the survivor of a vicious attack and a terrible scandal. Blackmore creates a compelling portrait based on very scant historical records of this figure, and shows an imperfect woman who has the resilience to remake her life after she bears the brunt of social disgrace after the affair is revealed. While the story itself is gripping, she turns this story from being just a snippet of 17th century life by drawing parallels between the different treatment of men and women then and now, both in the story (occasionally using phrasing like 'boys will be boys' which is deliberately very out of place for 17th century Rome and so shows how society continues to have unequal attitudes towards what is acceptable behaviour for men and women) but also in the excellent afterword.

Having a particular affinity for Italian historical fiction, and having enjoyed a couple over the last year ( A Poisoner's Tale being one of them), Costanza had obvious appeal and I was excited to read it.
The atmosphere in this novel is evocative and intriguing. Set in Rome in 1636, the vivid descriptions transport the reader right into the centre of the city. Costanza is newly married and navigating her way through her life. Her husband works in the studio of the larger than life Gianlorenzo Bernini, and one fateful day Costanza and he meet. It's a match to a flame. They begin an affair that burns like a bonfire.
Women at this time have little currency, and Costanza knows she is playing with fire.
Bernini wants to sculpt her, and does so, with terrible consequences for Costanza. She suffers a terrible violence, and subseqent betrayal, but rises again.
This novel is based on a true story, another of the novels that revive women forgotten by history. (The Instrumentalist being another.) It is a very good read, well written and researched. Costanza as a character is captivating and inspiring, and the atmosphere is convincing, as is the situation for women at the time. It is well worth a read.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Costanza by Rachel Blackmore is a wonderful foray into 17th century Rome, strictly ruled by the catholic church and the noble families that battled through the religious hierarchies for prevalance and ultimate power, striving to be the most renowned collectors of the finest art in Europe

Costanza is married to a sculptor, but falls for her husbands teacher, Lorenzo Bernini, against everything that soceity and the church decrees. A fascinating insight into her journey and the culture and machinations of 17th century Rome


Thank you to NetGalley, Dialogue Books | Renegade Books and Rachel Blackmore for this ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Very well written, it is a real page , very interesting and also horrific in parts. I felt I was actually there. A very good debut book.

Lorenzo Bernini is an artist at the height of his power, commissioned by the Pope to produce sculptures for the Vatican. Costanza Piccolomini is the wife of one of the men working for Bernini, beautiful and wilful, her marriage is one of convenience for her husband. When Bernini meets Costanza he falls for her but their passion can only lead to tragedy.
This is a fictionalised account of the story of Bernini's mistress and his madness and jealousy. Whilst I appreciated the feminist slant to the actions, I did not like the way it was hammered home in the author notes at the end. That spoiled what is a rather good piece of historical fiction with its emphasis on different forms of female friendship and rivalry.

The striking cover of Costanza initially caught my eye, and I’m glad it did, as the story inside proved to be equally captivating. Set in a period I knew little about, the book introduces the artistic world of the Bernini brothers and their entanglements with Costanza, the wife of sculptor Matteo. When the renowned Lorenzo Bernini becomes infatuated with Costanza, he offers to teach her about art, which leads to a passionate affair that is both thrilling and tragic.

The book intricately weaves a tale of desire, power, and betrayal, with Lorenzo’s obsession driving him to destructive extremes, while Costanza’s resilience in the face of such adversity shines through. The dynamic between Costanza and the Bernini brothers, particularly with the added danger of Lorenzo’s brother Luigi's interest, creates a tense and enthralling narrative.

Costanza is a remarkable debut, showcasing Blackmore's meticulous research and imaginative storytelling, making it a standout piece of historical fiction that I thoroughly enjoyed.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

Absolutely fabulous read, based on the experiences of Constanza, mistress to Lorenza Bernini. The story is skillfully told and you really feel you are living along with Constanza. She goes from poverty to the high life to a sudden life-changing event. The author explores women's lack of agency in this era - which parallels our lives even today. Shocking, enthralling and simply one of the best books I've read in 2024. 5* rating.

Costanza is the true story of a woman who became the mistress of the famous sculptor Bernini in 17th century Rome and the subsequent dramatic and terrible consequences when Costanza attracts the interest of Bernini's younger brother.
This is a well researched novel which I ultimately enjoyed reading. I found the first part very slow and almost gave up, but persevered after reading other reviews. It is a terrific story and all the better for being true. I can imagine it making a compelling drama series with the highs and lows of Costanza and Bernini's complex relationship and the repercussions, which have a resonance in today's 'Me Too' environment when controlling behaviour, misogny and domestic violence are ever present.
The second part is much faster-paced and the tenderness between women in dire circumstances was very poignant and seemed to ring truer than the romantic (and slow) build up at the beginning.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this novel.

This was a really well researched book with the author painting a perfect picture of this time in history.
A wonderfully written book with great characters.
A must read.

i read this on my commute over a week and really enjoyed it! it was very different to the genres i usually read but i'm so glad i stuck with this, the writing was so gorgeous and i was engaged throughout!

i think if you enjoy historical fiction you will truly love this. the depictions of Rome drew such a clear image and it made me want to research more myself about this era.

thank you so much to netgalley, the publisher and the author for the arc 🫶🏻

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Dialogue/Renegade Books for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: misogyny, sexual assault and rape, child death, abortion, injury, abuse, violence

In Rome in 1636, a respectable woman named Costanza Piccolomini, the wife of a decent sculptor, is mostly happy with her life. Her husband Matteo is kind enough even though they’ve not yet had a child and he seems to have little interest in his wife. Matteo introduces Costanza to the legendary sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who instantly takes an interest in Costanza and begins to teach her about art and history. However, Bernini is known for his intensity, genius and temper and his reputation as a stunning artist beloved by the Pope sits hand in hand with his tense relationship with his brother Luigi. Soon enough, this shared passion turns into an affair between Bernini and Costanza that Matteo sanctions. Bernini is determined to cement Costanza in history through marble but any proof of their affair could lead to Costanza’s ruin. He wants to own Costanza in body, mind and soul for all eternity and make her immortal as his muse. The sculpture is revealed and Costanza is exposed as the lover of Bernini, leading to a scandal that shocks Roman society as the depth of Bernini’s obsession is revealed. After an attack ordered by Bernini leaves her with terrible facial scarring marking her as a seducer, Costanza’s entire life changes as she is punished instead of him. In the middle of everything, Costanza tries to protect herself- and what remains of her reputation- for the future, even as history remembers her as a temptress and the ruin of a brilliant man.

I’d never heard of Costanza Piccolomini before I read this book but now having finished it, and read more about her life, I wish I’d known about her. From the first page, the author establishes the Rome that Costanza lives in, one where artists and nobility live the high life while regular people struggle to survive. She lives somewhat in the middle, bearing a good name and a relatively successful husband, but soon enough Costanza finds herself wanting more. I loved how she deals with her relationships changing as she moves away from her original friends- one of whom is more like a sister to her- and into the shining, ruthless world of Bernini and other artists. It’s a slow build of a story, but as soon as Bernini and Costanza share a scene and fall into a relationship, I found it impossible to look away even as it got more destructive. The author’s writing style works perfectly here to show the double standards held in the 17th century for men and women, that women will remain wives and mothers while men’s behaviour will be accepted as mere eccentricity. I adored the storyline of Costanza learning about art, especially because of her future role as an art dealer. This was a gorgeously written debut with an equally lovely cover, telling the story of a woman who has long been remembered just because of a scandalous sculpture and less because of what she achieved.

Based on the life of Constanza Piccolomini, an art dealer in Rome who's husband works for the legendary sculptor Bernini, this is a stunning feminist tale, sweeping and epic, this has movie adaptation written all over it! This is so lushly written, all the sights, sounds and smells of the period, it's simply outstanding.