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.

This is a well-researched and beautifully written historical fiction exploring the woman and muse, Costanza. When famed sculptor and architect Bernini meets the married Costanza there is immediate attraction, their love affair inspiring his work and causing scandal in the patriarchal and deeply Christian society of 17th century Rome. Inspired by the real historical figures, Blackmore does an excellent job of immersing you in the historical setting, the characters come alive with the motivations and desires of our protagonist chained by the stifling society she exists, where women are viewed often in binary terms, wife or lover.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

It was an interesting and informative read as I know Bernini's works but not his private life. Costanza was a clever and brave woman, she faced scandals and was a free sould.
I enjoyed this well researched and well plotted story.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A debut novel which is a fictionalised account of a real life woman who lived in Rome in the 1660s. Constanza a young married woman is drawn into a dangerous affair with an older man, Lorenzo, a famous sculptor. This was a time where men could act upon their desires with few repercussions, whereas for women there were huge penalties; loss of reputation and even freedom.

Lorenzo wants to possess Constanza and to immortalise her image in marble too. This unapproved act signals the end of their affair and advertises their actions to the wider community. Then learning of a double betrayal he reacts with a violent wish to irrecoverably cause harm to Constanza.

Well written and researched, however I found I did not really engage with the characters and found the story rather slow. It was not until Constanza’s circumstances changed that I became interested in what would happen to her.

I have found myself thinking a lot about the contemporary horrific crime and women’s ongoing vulnerabilities and discrimination which the author describes in an impassioned note at the end of the novel. It was interesting to learn that these were a catalyst for choosing to write her version of Constanza’s story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

‘Seek your own story’

Costanza endeavours to have a better life for herself and, to her detriment, gets entangled with the famous sculptor, Lorenzo Bernini, and his brother, Luigi.
She is a remarkable woman who faces the harsh consequences of societal double standards regarding women and sexuality. Despite enduring hardships, Costanza emerges stronger, becoming a respected and influential art dealer.

Rachel has beautifully portrayed Costanza’s story of love, desire, loyalty, and betrayal. The vivid descriptions of 17th-century Rome create an immersive and atmospheric setting. The narrative is meticulously researched, with the fictional elements seamlessly blending into reality.

This stunningly written piece is a beautiful ode to the formidable Costanza Piccolomini and celebrates the power of sisterhood.

Reading this book reignited my love for historical fiction; it is truly a remarkable piece.

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.

this is SUCH a breath of fresh air when it comes to historical fiction. most i know are set in very popular times but as a lover of rome in all its centuries, it appealed to me as soon as possible. through its fast paced prose & collection of great & in depth female characters, the pages flew by to expose a story fuelled by discussing the relationship between power & love. scandal, betrayal & perseverance are also at the heart of the book, displaying a thorough exhibition of character driven moments & addictive drama. an extremely compelling & important aspect of the novel is how it is ultimately a response to the ongoing abusive behaviour men show to women, a pattern as old as time that cannot be ignored. i think that as it’s a work of fiction based on a real inspirational woman, it’s a perfect attempt to confront the female narratives of the past. costanza is a great character with such individualistic qualities that i find her a role model in her passion of art. i encourage everyone to read this & if not, research the real costanza bernini.

Thank you for providing me with an ARC copy of Costanza.

This was a beautifully written story exploring which was so vividly brought to life and transports the reader directly to 1600s Rome and into the life of Costanza. I loved that this story was based on the life of Costanza who we know little about but who was famously sculpted by Bernini and was part of one of the biggest scandals of the time.

The author was able to arouse a range of emotions throughout the book so get ready to feel all of the sadness, betrayal and anger that goes along with this story. You will love certain characters and hate others but each of them will leave an impression and after reading this you will be left with a lot of thoughts and feelings about the application of this book across all of history and still into modern times.

This book explores the many different ways women have historically and continue to be used and abused by men and although set in the 1600s is still highly relevant today. If you do read this book please read the authors note at the end which puts into perspective the authors motivation for writing this and highlights many of the ways that this book remains relevant today and how what happened to Costanza continues to happen to women everywhere.

I enjoyed this! A nice change up from the fantasy/sci-fi I inhale.
Setting was lush and immersive and felt realistic. I'd of liked a bit more detail of the upper class lifestyle that Constanza was so attracted to though. The pace and writing were good, it picked up quite considerably in the second half. The characters were great, enough depth and complexity. The story was heartbreaking but the strength shown in the later part of the book was a balm. I do enjoy a female voice from history finally getting more than a footnote and I was engaged from the start of this.
Thanks to Netgalley and Renegade Books for the arc, all thoughts are my own and left voluntarily.

Thank you to Renegade Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this accurate piece of historical fiction told from a feminist viewpoint. However, it was mighty odd the way the narrative voice would change from 3rd to 1st person randomly - not even a chapter sub-heading to warn the reader. Instead it felt clumsy, like it was a mistake the editor had missed. It could also have done with more plot and more description about the luxuries and people in the upper-class society circles. It felt like more effort was put into describing the MC’s poor background, rather than what made her attracted to a luxury lifestyle. The book also felt slightly too shallow, like the author had been told to reduce the pages. But at the same time, I am glad that it didn’t drone on with such little plot.

Great character portrayal and I did end up caring for the MC. I imagine this will be enjoyed by historical fiction aficionados.

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 of this book 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.

It is a richly told, absolutely believable period drama, based on the life of Costanza Piccolomini. Diving into the world of the renaissance and being told the stories of its contemporary artists was very romantic. Although right around the middle of the novel, I felt myself waiting for the other shoe to drop (and there were quite some shoes that dropped), I found comfort in the way Rachel Blackmore told the story. There was a release and ease in the way Constanza's life continued. There was so much love and support between women, that combined with the author's notes, absolutely shattered me.
I am in love with the book and this will be one that I will gift. Couldn't recommend more.

Since the beginning of the year when I first heard about Constanza I knew it would be perfect for me. I was really excited when I received an invite from Anne Cater and Renegade Books to be part of this blog tour. Set in seventeenth century Rome, the eponymous Constanza is our heroine, whose life becomes embroiled with that of Sculpter Bernini. Full of heat and passion, theirs is a story of obsession, art and resilience.

I have to admit that I didn’t know anything about Costanza, apart from seeing her sculpture in Florence by Gianlorenzo Bernini. Rachel Blackmore has brilliantly combined fact and fiction with Costanza making her a heroine you can’t help but love and admire. She moved from dutiful wife to passionate lover of one of the most famous artists of the period in Bernini. Like the marble he creates sculptures from, he brings Constanza to life, educating her on art, moulding her into his perfect woman and ultimately putting her on a pedestal from which she can only fall. She shows resilience in the face of adversity, a self belief after betrayal and still finds the beauty in life. Unfortunately for her Rome is a patriarchy and like Icarus, she flies too closely to the sun and her wings got burned.

Rachel Blackmore perfectly captures the zeitgeist of seventeenth century Rome, and masterfully takes the reader there with her descriptive prose. I felt I was experiencing Rome with the characters, seeing the different districts, the buildings, the art, as well as the heat that radiates from the city, the sounds of everyday life and the smells of the city. Rome at this period was a patriarchal city, with Pope and Church at the centre and Rachel Blackmore shows how women were at the mercy of the males in their family, for money, for a place in society, for their reputation. There are acts of sexual violence in this book, but they are dealt with care, consideration and honesty; women were seen as the seducer. I loved the heady mix of fact and fiction, that bended so seamlessly that I had to read the historical note at the end of the book to get my bearings. Rachel Blakemore’s research is impeccable into this period, and into Bernini and his work which adds to the authenticity of the story. I enjoyed looking up arts of work described as well as some of the places visited by the characters.

Costanza lived up to all my expectations and more. It is beautifully written book, with an intelligent and passionate heroine who is forging her own path in a man’s world. The next time I go to Florence I will definitely re-visit the bust of Costanza again and look upon the face of this remarkable woman. Simply stunning!

Contanza was a historical fiction based on true story of Contanza Piccolomini. The story take set at Rome 1636 when gender inequality still become major of social issues. 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" by him.
Her tragic story mostly describe as love passion, betrayal and violence from brothers rivalry. But this book make me understand that her struggles are a symbol of women strength to overcome traumas after abuses.

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 fleshout 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. This book make want read more about her life.

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