I absolutely loved reading this and discovering Costanza from a feminist point of view. I couldn't put it down and found the writing so gripping, This has reignited my love for historical fiction. Thank you so much Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book,

I really enjoy social history, trying to establish what really happened to various types of people in the past. Finding books that give a believable account of interesting people is extremely difficult.
I therefore praise Netgalley for allowing me to choose to read this wonderful book.
Lots of the storyline is difficult reading, but then again living in 17th century Rome was not easy for many people.
I learnt so many things from this book. A well written non-fiction account is as good as the reader can get to find out about things of the past, too often non-fiction accounts are by necessity one dimensional.
Not only is this story a brilliant story based upon ghosts of people descending from history, but it is written with such passion, care and understanding that parts of it bring tears to the eyes of those with the hardest hearts.
I also advise the reader to read all the way to the end of the book including acknowledgments. The author explains the why, the how and the wherefore of the books birth to conclusion.
The acknowledgment section is the best written that I have ever read.
My thanks to the author for the hours of enjoyment that the book has brought me, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A transporting historical novel about the downfall of an artist's muse in 1600s Rome. Rich and atmospheric, well written, with a focus on finding Costanza's voice amongst the male-dominated historical record. A little slow paced at times with a fairly obvious direction to the plot, but overall a great novel.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

The cover is absolutely stunning

Based on a true story - This had me dripped from the start

Loved it

I didn't realise until I had finished reading that this is based on a true story, but that just makes Constanza's life even more extraordinary. She was a remarkable woman, progressing from quite an ordinary family, to her modest wedding and then finding her place on a different side of society, always with the determination and strength of character that marked her out as different to her peers. A delightful and engaging read that held my interest throughout.

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!

Constanza is immortalised in marble by the exquisitely talented Bernini, who aged 23 sculpted The Rape of Proserpina, (On display in Rome's Villa Borghese). Author Rachel Blackmore explores the passionate affair between Constanza and Bernini, his growing control over her, and his profound act of violence when he believes himself betrayed. What makes this such a complex and fascinating story is the way Blackmore draws us into Bernini's world and the world of men who are above the law, and gives Constanza her voice to tell us this story. 17th century Baroque Rome is captured in the light, smells, textures and sounds in this visually satisfying read. Rome, with it's double standards is a perilous place for women and I valued the resilience, wisdom and kindness of many of the women in this book.

Historical fiction has to be my favourite genre and I am very much here for the current trend of retellings that finally give women a voice. This is an excellent example.

Costanza Piccolimini, judged a fallen woman by history for her affair with sculptor Lorenzo Bernini finally gets a voice. This is a beautifully paced exploration of Costanzas life and their love affair threaded through with themes of female friendship, jealousy and oppression.

The writing and language is sumptuous and sensual evoking the flirtation and passion between Costanza and Bernini as well as the opulence of upper class Roman society and their gatherings.

Thanks to Dialogue Books and Netgalley for the chance to read an early copy.

Constanza is based on real events with a sprinkle of creative fiction. The story centres around the love triangle of Constanza, Gian Lorenzo and his brother, Luigi Bernini.
When Gian Lorenzo discovered that Costanza was having an affair, he ordered her to be disfigured as punishment; leaving her forever marked and ostracised.
Constanza’s strength and resilience make her a compelling character, however, it’s a bit of a gloomy read.
Recommended for fans of historical fiction

This was really good. I really enjoyed it and I hope that the writer writes more in this style. Thank you to the writer, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to review this book.

4.5 stars rounded up

'When you hold on to the hatred, the resentment, you allow him to live," she taps at her skull, with her finger, the knuckles of which are painfully swollen. 'You give him space in your mind... Paying no dues.'

She really said, "You're letting this dick live in your mind rent free."

I am shocked to see that Blackmore has only written recipe books prior this this because the writing is stunning. Sumptuous and evocative, brilliantly setting a sense of place and the time period without being so historically accurate so as to become unreadable. The only thing that tripped me up slightly was that this was almost entirely written in first person with Costanza as our narrator but occasionally slid into third person with a few other points of view. I think this works ok if the POV change occupies it's own chapter and announces itself, but this sometimes happened in between paragraphs which was a little jarring. Not a big deal though and not enough to damage my enjoyment of the book.

This was a difficult read in terms of subject matter. It's a story about a time period in which women were controlled by the church, made to feel guilt over basic needs, even things that would save their lives, and given so little power and autonomy that women who's husbands died often found themselves in prison for simple lack of options. I found Costanza to be a pretty easy MC to be in the head of, if a little frustrating in her naivete. This was very much the thrust of the plot though, that Costanza was a young, impressionable woman, easily manipulated by those around her, primarily the men that used and then discarded her when she no longer met their needs.

The thing that really elevated this one for me was the exploration of the power of female friendship in the final part, particularly the way we can uplift, support and believe each other when no one else can. Books like this unfortunately remain timely despite the historic time period as violence towards women for simply existing is continually perpetuated. This one is particularly inspired by an attack and murder of a woman in the UK by a police officer. A police officer that was known to be violent by his colleagues. How often dangerous men are known to be dangerous and still protected, allowed to live with their freedom and rights while women suffer. That is really the overall point of the book. Maybe the message got a little heavy handed towards the end but I like a book that knows what it's about.

While Constanza is a work of fiction it’s based on historical facts. A sculptor who instructed his slave to slash his mistress’s face. Leaving her forever marked as a whore.
A beautifully written book of love and betrayal. Friendship and heartbreak.
As the book came towards the end I was disappointed that Constanza would not have closure with Lorenzo (the sculptor), however having read the author’s notes it provided a lot of food for thought.
I Highly recommend this novel for fans of historical fiction,

I enjoyed this story of 17th century Rome. I have visited the city several times and could imagine some of the scenes which was an extra plus. I felt that i was able to engage with Constanza as she changes her life with inevitable consequences.
It is definitely a story enhancing women’s strength and many different roles, and the weakness of the men in her life! In spite of their power,
I felt the end was a slight anticlimax but it was also inevitable.
Recommended

There's the basis of a really interesting novel here, but it's let down by a lack of pace and a rather overly-didactic style. If Blackmore could only pick it up a bit - bring home the menace, the story, the *feeling* of being in Rome at the time - it would work better. I'm afraid I just ended up being not terribly bothered what happened, which was a real pity.

Unfortunately I just couldn't get into this book at all. I really like historical fiction of this period, I just couldn't empathise with Costanza in any way. The relentless misery and misogyny grinds you down, and I found it really hard to slog through to the end. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review of the book.

Costanza is a 17th century young woman married to a sculptor, who is under the tutelage of the great Lorenzo Bernini. This book is based on true facts and people.
17th century Rome is ruled by the Pope and his moral judgements.
However Costanza fall in love with Lorenzo which is against all laws and religious teachings. The book follows her high and her lows.
I loved this book. Well written and documented.
I didn't want it to end.

I really enjoyed this book. It's reignited my enthusiasm for historical fiction. Costanza's strength came through beautifully and the authors prose throughout the book was lovely and fluid, so made the book an easy and engaging read. Thank you for the opportunity of reading this ARC!

4.5 stars. This is exquisite.

Historical fiction is not even one of my favourite genres. I believe it is challenging to strike a balance between a sense of realism and sustain the suspension of disbelief and reinvent a story out of written and well-documented history. But history is written from certain perspectives, and can never be fully known, hence it is part fragmented, incomplete, subjective and inaccurate. In that case, what matters more is a close-enough sense of the period told. I challenged myself with reading this book and it is much more than historical fiction.

It is a feminist story; the story of real-life Costanza Piccolimini told from her perspective. Is she a fallen woman? Is she shaped by her encounter with the Bernini bros? Or is she her authentic self; a fierce woman with agency, competence, resilience and skills?

My most favourite aspect was Blackmore’s vivid style and how she made Costanza come alive. Her inner thoughts and psyche, her stance in life and her realisations, and the brutal context of the times were executed very well. I liked Costanza. Then, the shape of this book was great too. It looks long but it flows, and the chapters are a perfect length each. My least favourite aspect was the ending and the events in the last few chapters, but the epilogue, and the last few sentences by Costanza were amazing.

I am expecting this book to get high ratings and that would definitely be well-deserved. It is beautifully written, Costanza as a character very observant, I really liked her... And yet, this book is not for me. All those men being obnoxious, I couldn't get past that - despite it probably being very near reality.

Making me wonder: can a book be too good written?

I like reading history novels but usually more about British history, especially the Tudors, as they are mad as a box of frogs. Therefore, I didn't know much about this time period and had to Google the protagonists..

Costanza Piccolomini was a 17th century Italian woman living in Rome. She was married at 18, fell in love with a much older sculptor, Lorenzo Bernini, at 22 and also had liasions with his younger brother Luigi. We don't know much about this relationship so the author uses her creative licence to make it non-consensual.

Both brothers were probably typical of the time but are the worst kind of men available - arrogant, egotistical, obsessively jealous, violent and misogynistic. Her husband is the only kind guy in the book, but both Bernini brothers are really bad news - red flag Central as we would say today. One brother uses coercive control, the other rapes her, then the first one orders her face to be slashed in retaliation for her perceived infidelity. (To which a Vatican representative actually says "Boys will be boys.") Back then, women were seen as either Madonna or whore, and after the attack Costanza is forcibly removed from her home and imprisoned in a nun's convent where she has to wash linen all day long, together with other "fallen women". This part is so full of misery that it's really hard to read. She eventually makes it back to her husband and the rest of her life is much better, not that we get to read much about that.

It is very clear that the author uses this story to (rightfully) rail against toxic men. She says in an afterword that she snapped after a vigil for Sarah Everard who was killed by a police officer during lockdown. I absolutely believe that 17th century (and other centuries) men often behaved appallingly because everyone told them of their God-given superiority, and it makes me quite furious to read how little women were respected. However, I can't help but think that the author uses this story to make her point with a sledgehammer, and it makes the story very uncomfortable to read, as it's so miserable. Women say things like
"We are here to bear babies, keep the house and our personages nice, and cause as little wifely grief as possible. That is our pact. For this, men love us well. For what more is needed in life?"
And
"Good women do as their husbands, and the Church, bid."
And men say things like
"I want a wife who is docile and pure, prudent, has no cunning side, beautiful but not vain, of an easy-going nature and such kindness – such capacity for hard work – she is called a gift sent from heaven."
And
"A woman’s self-respect," he had answered, trying not to be irritated by his sister, "lies in her ability to tolerate her husband’s imperfections. However great they may be. Catherine will not have an opinion. I am the master and I make the decisions in this house."

You could basically summarise the plot with this quote:
"My brother would rather destroy you than let you go."

The book is well-written and as well researched as possible when you have not much to work with but maybe I'll keep to #metoo novels about Henry VIII in future. The story is an important one, and it's good to get the woman's perspective but I basically slogged through it, hoping for the sweet release of death, just like Costanza.