I loved this!
Costanza is an innocent, caught up in a world where she can have no power and has no understanding of the precariousness of her position, where love is irrelevant and women are an irrelevance. She rises and falls according to the whim of men, and has no idea how to play the game of life in 17th century Rome, where every decision is based upon money, status and the rule of the Church,
It is however, still a story of the strength and resilience and brilliance of women, who carve their own path in a way that the men can't see or recognise, and earn their own successes - and must keep these to themselves.
This novel is a brilliant light shining on a woman who was a major influence in the life of a man whose fame echoes down the ages, but who had until now nobody to tell her story. The attention to detail and understanding of that period in history, the careful weaving together of many strands that come together to complete the tapestry, the beautiful use of language and clear love of writing shines in every sentence.
A definite must read.

After a slow start, this proved a very worthy read. For fans of historical fiction, this is a must, particularly as it is based on actual events and characters.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC

Rachel Blackmore's "Costanza" is a gripping and evocative tale that follows the life of its flawed yet compelling heroine, Costanza.

Costanza, a woman of fierce determination and complex emotions, navigates a world filled with societal constraints and personal trials. From a young age, she dreams of escaping her humble beginnings and making a name for herself. As she grows older, Costanza faces numerous obstacles, including betrayals, failed relationships, and her own inner demons. While married she falls in love with Gianlorenzo Bernini, a famed sculptor and the relationship threatens to tear her life apart when he decides to do a "good deed" by immortalising her in marble.

Rachel Blackmore does an excellent job of portraying Costanza's complexities, making her a character readers can empathize with, despite her imperfections.

The narrative is rich and engaging, with Blackmore's descriptive prose vividly bringing the historical setting.

Delightful writing, the language and descriptive narration flows smoothly.
The author notes that there may be slight historical inaccuracies but you’re so absorbed in the story, you really don’t notice and could easily forgive them as artistic license even if you did.

If there was one major drawback to this book, it’s that the majority of the interesting parts of the story all happen in the last third. The first two thirds do seem to be unnecessarily long winded and lacking some adventure.

Even so, it’s difficult to deny that the author skilfully traverses trauma, heartbreak and violence so that it’s impactful without being triggering.

Great read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Based on the true story of Costanza Piccolomini, this historical novel is set in 17th century Rome. I didn't realise that Costanza was actually a feminist icon but after reading I can understand why. The descriptions of Rome are so evocative - you can immediately imagine the sights, sounds and smells of daily life there. Costanza is a young wife married to Matteo, a sculptor working in the studio of the infamous Lorenzo Bernini. Upon meeting Costanza and Lorenzo are immediately attracted to each other and as well as his muse, she becomes his lover. When he unveils his sculpture of Costanza it is obvious what has been happening and she loses everything only to be triumphant again. I don't normally read historical fiction but art and Rome tempted me to give it a go and I'm glad that I did. Amazing atmospheric descriptions and fabulous characterisations really enhance the telling of this story. I'm so grateful to Netgalley for letting me read and review this book.

Historical fiction is not one of the genres I would usually chose to read. This book goes back to Shakespeare's times and thus the author is constrained in what she can write compared to modern day settings. I was impressed with how some challenging subjects were well tackled and I did enjoy the book. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Dialogue Books for this eCopy to review

Costanza is based on real events and follows a young wife Costanza as she embarks on an affair with a powerful sculptor Lorenzo Bernini as she discovered a secret about her husband, and needed to borrow a lot of money to save her best friend Giuliana. They fall in love and everything is going well until she becomes his muse and he creates a sculpture of her but this is no modest pious piece, everyone who sees it will know what she is.

There is an intense rivalry between Lorenzo and his younger brother Luigi, this all comes to head one day and Costanza's life is changed forever betrayed by her lover and her friend Costanza nearly gives up but new friends help her carry on

I found the book quite slow in places and many of the characters just seem to disappear

A fascinating but not altogether an easy read. Costanza tells the story, based on real people, of Costanza Piccolomini and her love affair with Lorenzo Bernini. Lorenzo is part of Rome’s elite society favoured by the Pope so when it all goes wrong Costanza bares the brunt.
There is a slow start to this book and Costanza is not a particularly nice character but then again no one else is either.
My biggest disappointment is that it simply ended too soon. It finished up just as Costanza was coming into her own and showing us what an intriguing character she really was.
Would definitely recommend this book, well worth a read.

Thanks to NetGalley.co.uk and the publishers for this ARC.

Set in Rome in 1636, this book is even more amazing as it is actually based on a real life character.
Costanza is a worthy heroine, married to a man who is relatively kind to her but is never going to give her the child she longs for so that she is fully accepted in society and not seen as a barren wife. When Costanza suddenly finds why her marriage to Matteo, a sculptor, is not a real marriage she is tempted by the attentions of Lorenzo Bernini, a renowned sculptor in whose court Matteo is employed.
Lorenzo is enthralled by Costanza but as their relationship deepens he feels trapped by his all consuming love for her. Lorenzo’s brother, Luigi, who is a womaniser and predator of all vulnerable women is jealous of his brother and wants Costanza for himself and will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
In the aftermath, all blame falls at Costanza’s feet and no matter how much she tries to defend herself she finds herself arrested and placed in a convent with other “fallen women”.
It was sobering to see how women were treated during these times. They really had no say in their lives and were at the mercy of any man who wished to control them so it was all the more astonishing to read about Costanza and what she actually managed to achieve in these times.
A thoroughly absorbing historical novel. Thanks to the author and publishers for an ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dialogue Books for the advance reader copy.

I found the first half of this book a bit hard to get into and it was mainly for the male characters and their attitudes. I suppose it is accurate for the time but it meant I couldn’t get into reading the story properly.

I enjoyed the story being centred around Costanza and the aftermath of her mistreatment by the brothers as there always tends to be limited information about the women in history.

If you enjoy all types of historical fiction then I would recommend this book. There’s a good level of world building but the pace is a little slow.

In Costanza, Rachel Blackmore shows us 1630s Rome in all its clamour and precarity, its pomp and glamour, right from its tantalising, sleight-of-hand prologue. Religion was still very much at the heart of most people’s lives, whether the superstitious belief and piety of the ordinary person, or the riches and power of the Curia.
Strong-willed Costanza is prepared to speak her mind and that is perhaps her downfall – she might not otherwise have caught the attention of the superstar sculptor Lorenzo Bernini. And had she been less frustrated by the lack of interest shown by her steady husband Matteo, she might not have reciprocated.
Lorenzo presents as attentive and generous, opening Costanza’s eyes to art and beauty but it’s perhaps her guilelessness, her innocence that he really latches onto. Bernini’s brother Luigi is poisoned from living in the shadow of the genius. The brothers are at odds and a threat has been made, but the violence does not play out as one might expect.
Despite forging connections and achieving some business success, Costanza’s vulnerability as a woman is all too familiar. Men, free to live their lives and pursue their business, are inclined to believe a woman is deceitful and punish her for it. Betrayal can come from all sides – an apparently dear friend, a vindictive neighbour. Based on real people, the story is as brutal as it is compelling.

A really interesting story based on a real person in 17th Century Rome. We get to know Costanza and the struggles she faces, many as a disenfranchised woman in a highly patriarchal society with double standards. She experiences both poverty and high society. Highly recommended reading.

This book burned with a woman’s passion, power and strength.

Blackmore lures you into a 17th century Rome that glitters with wealth and culture, art and beauty. But she also exposes its dark underbelly: of man’s power, the expectation of women’s roles and the delicate balance between respectability and scandal.

Constanza is an utterly fascinating forgotten woman, brought to life vividly within the story. Sharp, passionate and vibrant, her story was real, compelling, and relevant.

The world was utterly immersive, displaying shining ballrooms and fashion, and the everyday lives of Rome’s citizens.

In a world of marble, Costanza Piccolomini comes alive with the author’s touch.

Wow. What a book. Constanza is a married woman who falls headlong in love with her husbands boss, a renowned sculptor. Set a few hundred years ago this book highlights the differences for men and women/rich and poor. She has consequences for her actions which are shocking but she does come through it older and wiser! A real page turner.

Rich historical fiction that reignited my love of the genre, steeped in the beauty of Italy and expertly sculpting the life of a woman by giving a voice to her own story. The retelling of history from the female perspective, gives a glimpse into the real woman Costanza and how the author brings her alive through her writing. We are presented with a fierce MC recounting her own life and leaving the reader questioning history after being shown it through a different lens, an arguable feminist lens that would have created a different legacy for Costanza if she had lived in a different era of time.

Extensively researched, Costanza is a window into seventeenth century Rome and the life of Costanza Piccolomini. There’s a real sense of place in the author’s writing and that is a plus for me. Characters are important, but an authentic background gives the story far more substance. The writer excels at this and the initial pace at which the story begins is an opportunity to take stock of the characters and get a real feel for the way they lived.
Life then was by no means easy for women, and given the way they were treated in those times, Costanza comes across as a brave and determined individual. She challenges, she pushes boundaries. Unfortunately, sometimes this does not work well for her. It means the content of this novel sometimes makes uncomfortable reading, but it was also compelling, and pushed me to finish the story.
A moving tale, well written with believable characters.
I would like to thank Renegade Books, the author and Netgalley for an ARC of Costanza in exchange for an honest review.

As not only a lover of history but also a student of Classical Studies, the premise of this book really intrigued me. I was already aware of the real Bernini from an assignment I did for my degree in Classical Studies so I did enjoy the nod to the famous sculptor. I felt that the book was well-paced, albeit a little slow in the beginning. I loved the characterisation of Constanza as I feel like most women can relate to her struggles on a personal level. I also really enjoyed the showcase of sisterhood and women supporting women. If you like historical novels which have an incredible amount of research in, this is definitely the book for you.

This book is fantastic. I didn’t think I would enjoy being transported to 17th Century Rome but Costanza brings you on a journey where you can see and hear the streets with absolute clarity - a clarity that helps you understand the dangerous situation in which our heroine finds herself.

It’s brilliantly written and I raced through the pages with a growing sense of dread. Women have always had it tough it seems, but the nuances painted throughout this novel regarding the many women we meet were truly fascinating.

A 5 star read for sure.

What an excellent read and a great demonstration that the cult of celebrity is the same now as it was in the 17th century in the centre of the world; Rome.

Whilst I found the book gripping my interest and wanting me to keep page turning, I really was fascinated by the parallels that jumped off the pages about celebrities and power then and now. It seems nothing changes.

An excellent book to have very close to the top of your "books to read" list.

This is a beautifully written novel based on true events in Rome of the 1630s. It’s a difficult read in places as the treatment of women in this time period was abhorrent. The afterword and authors note demonstrates that sadly, the abuse of women continues into the present day. Thought provoking debut novel.