Costanza by Rachel BlackmoreMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Continuing on with my current obsession with historical fiction, I saw the cover for Costanza and was immediately drawn to it. Then I read the blurb and I was enthralled. What's one more ARC review to add to the already-massive pile?!
Set in 17th century Rome, Costanza is based on the real story of Costanza Piccolomini, who's been long-forgotten by history. She was a strong-willed feminist icon, a sinner, a temptress, and Costanza tells her story...
Woven in such a way that makes every setting come to life, Blackmore vividly describes every aspect of Costanza's life, her passions, her fears, her heartaches in ways that bring everything into sharp focus. Most notably there's the laser precision of realisation that the way women were treated in 1636 Rome isn't a million miles away from how we're treated now.
Being a fiery passionate woman is only a positive in my eyes, not so much in the eyes of the people around Costanza. Her husband's affair is overlooked; her own leads to her vilification. She is betrayed, she is abandoned, and then she is found again. Despite the sadness of Costanza's circumstances, she finds herself in a place where I found hope to return, and her journey to reclaim herself after losing everything was simply beautiful.
I will admit I found Costanza to be a bit of a slog in places, and it took me a little while to finish the book, but it was a gorgeous, evocative read that'll stick with me for time.
Rating: ✨✨✨
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