Hi all, I am posting my stop on the blog tour for The Maiden Of Florence by Kate Mezzacappa. Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for the gifted ebook so I could write my honest review.
‘My defloration was talked about in all the courts of Europe. The Prince boasted of his prowess, even as preparations were being made for his wedding, as boldly as if he had ridden across that causeway with bloodstained sheet tied to his lance.’
1584, Italy: Twenty-year-old Giulia expects she will live and die incarcerated as a silk weaver within the walls of her Florentine orphanage, where she has never so much as glimpsed her own face. This all changes with the visit of the Medici family’s most trusted advisor, promising her a generous dowry and a husband if she agrees to a small sacrifice that will bring honour and glory to her native city.
Vincenzo Gonzaga, libertine heir to the dukedom of Mantua, wants to marry the Grand-Duke of Tuscany’s eldest daughter, but the rumours around his unconsummated first marriage must be silenced first. Eager for a dynastic alliance that will be a bulwark against the threat of Protestant heresy beyond the Alps, the Pope and his cardinals turn a blind eye to a mortal sin.
A powerful #MeToo story of the Renaissance, based on true events.
My Review
A historical retelling that has clearly been superbly researched. Set in the late 1500s and told by Guila, the maiden of Florence herself. I haven’t read much of the history of Italy, so I enjoyed learning about this period of time.
Guila is a strong woman who tells the story of her past. It’s a past in which she has been used as a pawn in the power plays of men. Even though she is a victim, she is a strong woman who refuses to let this control her. A part of the story is told by her husband, too, so the reader learns about more than just Guila’s viewpoint.
I love armchair travelling, and Kate Mezzacappa describes Florence, Venice, and Mantua in technicolour. The sense of place was so strong that I felt like I had time travelled back to the 16th century.
The way Guila was used and abused is a sensitive issue and one that is still important today. It may be a rich historical tale, but it’s also got events incorporated within that could have the power to affect readers. So, if anyone has triggers, I advise them to check it out first.
It was my first Italian historical retelling and one I enjoyed more than I expected. Kate Mezzacappa tells a rich and intruiging tale of times gone by.
Purchase Links
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maiden-Florence-Katherine-Mezzacappa/dp/1914148509/
https://www.amazon.com/Maiden-Florence-Katherine-Mezzacappa/dp/1914148509/
Author Bio
Social Media Links
Katherine Mezzacappa is an Irish writer of mainly historical fiction, currently living in Italy. She has published several novels under pen names with publishers Bonnier Zaffre and eXtasy. She works as a manuscript assessor for The Literary Consultancy. Katherine reviews for Historical Novel Society’s quarterly journal and is one of the organisers of the Society’s 2022 UK conference. In her spare time she volunteers with a used book charity of which she is a founder member.
Twitter https://twitter.com/katmezzacappa
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/katherinemezzacappafiction/
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