Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this gripping novel about Constanza, a woman who has been forced into a life that doesn’t make her happy - she’s in a loveless marriage, her relationships with her family and friends are struggling, she is feeling lost. She is then swept off of her feet, but her new world leads her on a dangerous path.

I really liked this book. I couldn’t help but fall for Constanza and feel her pain. The story was so rich and descriptive - the author’s in-depth research was obvious throughout. The fact that Constanza is a real person, and the misogyny and judgement she faced hasn’t changed much over the years, makes this book even more relevant.

This is really worth a read

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a difficult novel to review without giving anything away.
I was immediately drawn to it as an Italian living abroad, and a lover of Rome. There was significant authenticity in the characters and places described, and it’s a wonderful surprise to read about such a strong female character who really existed and who overcame significantly more than most women of her station and time ever would have.
It would have been helpful for a couple of details to be checked by an Italian in terms of spelling, however this is minor and it was impressive how much research went into this novel as it is.
The story is captivating and unfolds unexpectedly, revealing itself to be a story of power, love, lust and much more.
With many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for this honest review.

Costanza is a historical fiction novel that starts in Rome, 1636. Costanza Piccolomini is a young wife who is married to Matteo. She meets Lorenzo Bernini who is a sculptor and star of Roman society. A fatal attraction is born once they set eyes on each other. They start an affair and Costanza becomes Lorenzo’s mistress. It is dangerous for Costanza’s reputation but the lovers cannot resist each other. Lorenzo completes a sculpture of Costanza which exposes her as his lover. This starts the unravelling of their affair and Costanza’s life.

I had a really good time with this and I’m giving this book 4.5 stars rounded up to a 5. It was a very slow historical novel but I really enjoyed following Costanza especially because I knew nothing about her real life. The writing was very good. This has many parallels to the way women are treated in modern day life and I appreciated that. This novel also had some good historical vibes and it felt like I was in Rome.

This is such a powerful and compelling book. I was hooked from the opening pages and found it increasingly difficult to put down. The story of Costanza Piccolomini, a young woman drawn into the dark orbit of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, has until now been nothing more than a footnote in historical accounts of the famous sculptor’s life. But in this moving novel she comes vividly to life as an intelligent woman seeking more from life than her era and status allow, whose discovery of wider horizons comes at a terrible price. It’s a story that is by turns passionate and terrifying – and ultimately a testament to the strength of human resilience. It deals with issues that are as relevant to women today as they were in mid-seventeenth century Rome but does not fall into the trap of sliding someone with twenty-first century attitudes into anothertime; brave and questing as she is, Costanza is still very convincingly a woman of her time.
The portrayal of life in Rome in 1636 is masterful. Not just the details of life at the time, but the feel of the place, the heat rising from the streets, the sounds of the city, the feel of the marble under the sculptors’ hands. The description of the way the sculptors worked, the strength and delicacy of their art and the tricks of the trade, was particularly fascinating. A huge amount of research must have gone into this book, but it is woven so organically into the story that it never shows, it just feels as though one is living and breathing in another time, another person’s world.
I really respected the way in which violence towards women is handled in this book. At the risk of spoilers, a horrifying act is central to this story, but neither the assault or its consequences are dwelt on in more detail than is essential or used as an excuse for voyeuristic thrills. To me, this made Costanza seem more of a person and less of a victim. It’s her very determination not to be ruled by circumstance that makes this profoundly moving story ultimately life-affirming.
This is a terrific – and important - read. Costanza has spent too long in the shadows. It is time for her to take her place in the sun.

This book was an interesting read, very thought provoking about the treatment of women. It is a historical fiction based on the true story of Costanza.

The first part of the book is quite slow but then a lot happens in quick succession, allowing the characters to grow and develop.

A lot of research went into this book which helps to paint the picture of what Rome was like at the time.

Thanks NetGalley and the author for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

17th century Rome and its a mans world, but Costanza wants her voice to be heard and this is her story, expertly told by Rachel Blackmore. A historical fiction novel based on true events
The wife of the budding sculptor Matteo, she lives a life of drudgery until she meets his boss Lorenzo Bernini. An instant attraction leads her into his life and she becomes his lover taking her to places she could only have dreamt of going to, however others are jealous of her rise and seek ways to bring her down.
It's hard to believe this is a debut novel by Ms Blackmore ( known for her cookery books) it is so well researched and the prose is emotive and evocative of the times. Misogynism is rife throughout the novel, not only in Costanza's world but also with the other women she meets, especially at the latter stages of the novel. The overall feel I got from the book is strength and resilience. It is a long read slow I found at the beginning but most definitely engrossing and well worth a read

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6602449065

Costanza was a beautifully written historical fiction about the mistress of Bernini. I didn’t know anything about Costanza going into this and she became an utterly relateable character, a young woman bristling at the constraints of society. Society’s treatment of women is a key theme with an array of characters to support it. The writing beautifully evoked 17th century Rome, with beautiful depictions of various artwork, not just Bernini’s. I might have liked to more of Costanza’s life after her punishment though.

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!

A ravishing book in every way - good historical fiction, about a woman who was ravished by those who were able to control her body and take what they desired. Costanza is the true story of the beauty who was the muse of the artist Lorenzo Bernini, who lived and worked in Rome in the 17th century. The writing powerfully transports the reader into the life and times of Costanza Piccolomini. Not much is actually known about her, and so this is a reconstruction from the barest mentions in documents of the time. That she really existed, and was the muse and lover of Bernini, whilst being married to Matteo Bonucelli who worked for Bernini, is without doubt; the author has cleverly used the bare facts to write a profound story which raises questions of how women were treated, who they 'belonged' to and of how little control and say they had over their own lives and bodies, and of passion and the lengths to which it drives men. A convoluted story, involving both men plus Lorenzo's younger brother.

I was fascinated by the story, horrified by what happened to Costanza (no spoilers - you'll have to read it!) and was totally involved in the book. It is a wonderful debut novel by Rachel Blackmore - has she really only written cookery books previously? If you enjoy historical fiction, this is highly recommended. I even googled Costanza in order to see the bust Bernini created of her.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC

Costanza by Rachel Blackmore focuses on 17th century Rome and the life of Costanza Piccolomini. It is a book so captivating that I almost couldn't go on reading it at points because it was breaking my heart.

The world of 17th century Rome is brilliantly created and the various characters are wonderfully interwoven to create a vibrant tapestry which provides an ingenious backdrop to the human connections and suffering throughout Costanza's life. The blending of fact and fiction is done carefully and to good effect. The Afterward, Historical Note, and Author's Note all add to the sense of this being a well researched and carefully crafted book.

This was a great read, I love historical fiction, women's history and Rome, so this literary book was perfect. It was a thrilling story- Costanza is the wife of Matteo, who works for the famous sculptor Bernini. I knew of his amazing lifelike sculptures but nothing about his personal life, so this true story was fascinating. It also felt incredibly modern, as the focus is on Costanza herself, her choices, social climbing, affair with Bernini and eventual fall. I loved the historical detail and thrilling plot, which is all based on a real woman. A great adult read.

Really interesting read and character development of Costanza, a woman about who, not much is know. I also want to praise the afterword, it is the only one I have read in its entirety

A compelling read, made more so by the fact that it is based on a true story. A story about how powerless a woman is against powerful men.
Costanza's husband Matteo works with Lorenzo Bernini, a famous sculptor commissioned by the Pope. Although she adores and admires her husband, they are rarely intimate. She cannot understand why he does not want her physically.
When she meets Bernini, there is an instant spark, and the inevitable happens. They embark on a torrid affair. Will the love affair end happily? Or will she find, like so many women, that she is being used?
A page turner.

Rachel blackmore what have you written...... one of the best novels I have ever read. My heart and mind entangled into this story, I experienced a whole range of emotions and was overwhelmed by how it unfolds. I loved this from beginning to end, a marvellous triumph of a novel. Excellent

language and imagery was beautiful but felt very heavy at times and made the read feel extremely slow. an exploration of the treatment of women which left me angry at times . Blackmore is clearly the expert of such a topic, incredibly rich and informative. just feel perhaps too heavy and this hindered my development of interest in the plot itself.

I don't have enough words to describe my love for this book! I am an art lover, so a novel based around the life of Costanza, lover of the sculptor Bernini, caught my eye. It is heartbreaking and comforting in equal measure and tells the story from the female perspective , which is lacking in the usual tales from this time.
I would definitely recommend reading the afterword and notes by the author at the end as these put even more perspective.
This is one of those books that I wish I could erase my memory of, so that I have the opportunity to read it again for the first time.

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.

Based on the true story of Constanza Piccolomini who, as a married woman,, had an affair with Lorenzo Bernini the famous artist and sculptor and later with his younger brother Luigi..
This is the author’s own take on the story which takes place in seventeenth century Rome. I was fascinated with the story and the characters but so disappointed as the tale progressed! No atmosphere! Rome is one of my favourite cities but unfortunately it didn’t come alive and the characters themselves fell flat! Sorry! Did want to be lost in Rome but it just didn’t happen!

Be prepared to be really angry if you read this book. It’s amazing and so well-written but the horrendous treatment of women was rage-inducing.

This is a historical novel set in Italy and follows Costanza who has been married to her husband for four years and his reluctance to go to bed with her is causing her much stress as she’s desperate to have a child. The judgement of her family and neighbours about her not having children causes her great distress. A famous artist called Bernini takes an interest in her although it doesn’t progress to anything physical for many months when she learns the reason for her husband’s lack of interest and Bernini helps her in a time of great need. Costanza embarks on a passionate relationship with Bernini, his obsession with her growing, as does his possessiveness. However a jealous relative does something disgusting that causes Bernini to take drastic action against Costanza.

This is based on true events and the violence towards women in this is horrendous. Women are punished for things that they suffered at the hands of men. The possessiveness of men causes great harm to women, the callousness and selfishness creating great suffering. Women have very little power at this time and are victims of the great hypocrisy of the men around them. It’s not just Costanza, we see the impact on other women who have followed the rules perfectly, but still suffer, while the men have few if any consequences.

This is a passionate, beautifully written book, that’s tense, terrifying and impossible to put down.

I loved this tale of passion and forbidden love in 17th Century Rome. Its imagery was powerful and at times shocking and the characters were energetically drawn. I highly recommend this for lovers of historical fiction.