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The Vatican Princess
- A Novel of Lucrezia Borgia
- Narrated by: Julia Whelan
- Length: 16 hrs and 3 mins
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Publisher's Summary
For fans of Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir, best-selling author C. W. Gortner effortlessly weaves history and drama in this captivating novel about one of the world's most notorious families.
Glamorous and predatory, the Borgias fascinated and terrorized 15th-century Renaissance Italy, and Lucrezia Borgia, beloved daughter of the pope, was at the center of the dynasty's ambitions. Slandered as a heartless seductress who lured men to their doom, was she in fact the villainess of legend, or was she trapped in a familial web, forced to choose between loyalty and survival?
With the ascension of the Spaniard Rodrigo Borgia as Pope Alexander VI, a new era has dawned in Rome. Benefitting from their father's elevation are the new pope's illegitimate children - his rival sons, Cesare and Juan, and beautiful young daughter, Lucrezia - each of whom assumes an exalted position in the papal court. Privileged and adored, Lucrezia yearns to escape her childhood and play a part in her family's fortunes.
But Rome is seductive and dangerous: Alliances shift at a moment's notice as Italy's ruling dynasties strive to keep rivals at bay. As Lucrezia's father faces challenges from all sides, the threat of a French invasion forces him to marry her off to a powerful adversary. But when she discovers the brutal truth behind her alliance, Lucrezia is plunged into a perilous gambit that will require all her wits, cunning, and guile. Escaping her marriage offers the chance of happiness with a passionate prince of Naples, yet as scandalous accusations of murder and incest build against her, menacing those she loves, Lucrezia must risk everything to overcome the lethal fate imposed upon her by her Borgia blood.
Beautifully wrought, rich with fascinating historical detail, The Vatican Princess is the first novel to describe Lucrezia's coming of age in her own voice. What results is a dramatic, vivid tale set in an era of savagery and unparalleled splendor, where enemies and allies can be one and the same and where loyalty to family can ultimately be a curse.
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Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Picky purchaser
- 05-11-16
Compelling story
After spending several months in Italy over the winter, I became enthralled with the Borgia family. I binge watched The Borgias on Netflix and found this book the perfect "second" chapter. It held my complete attention from the first pages. The audio performance was excellent. Pronunciation of Italian was excellent. I recommend this book but suggest some background work on the Borgia family first. It will make this interpretation easier to understand and more meaningful.
36 people found this helpful
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- JohnFern0813
- 05-05-16
A Masterpiece
Brilliantly crafted, masterfully researched and artfully performed. The Vatican princess is one of the top five historical fictions I have listen to.
25 people found this helpful
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- E
- 03-24-18
Borderline porn
A gushing bodice ripper with little to recommend it overflowing with flowery language and sentimentality
16 people found this helpful
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- Lenita Turner
- 04-06-16
Spellbinding!!!
This is a very intriguing story, very well written and dramatically read. So much more drama than if you just read the book. I liked everything about it and hated it have to end. I especially liked the explanations of what happened to the characters after the story ended.
15 people found this helpful
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- Britni
- 06-14-16
Not What I Expected
I just finished Rival Queens before this and absolutely loved it. I had hoped that this book would be similar, a history of the time period based on strong, factual evidence. My expectations were too high. The Vatican Princess was a historical fiction written in first person, only loosely based on history. In retrospect, I really should have realized this based on the title and the description. But I didn't, and I was very disappointed. This was a story of a silly, naive little girl in a corrupt family that just happened to be based on real people. I recommend you temper your expectations as I did not.
32 people found this helpful
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- Ashley Seaton
- 05-19-16
Loved It!
The plot picked up very quickly, and once it did, I had difficulty pausing it to go about my daily life. Performance was excellent! Will definitely listen again.
9 people found this helpful
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- Cat Morgan
- 08-12-16
Absolutely LOVED it!
I've read a lot of books on the Borgias, mostly fiction but nonfiction as well; this book moved me like none of the others. I didn't think it was possible to shock me any further with their stories but Gortner did, and he did it very skillfully. This is my third Gortner, and I'll definitely be reading the rest of his historicals.
I laughed at parts, even snorted, surprised that I issued that sound and could hear it over the story. I gasped and I even cried, and I missed it when I wasn't listening it to it.
The narrator did a fantastic job, and she is also to be commended. I will look for her again.
This is one of the best audible books I have ever enjoyed, and I heartily recommend to you.
6 people found this helpful
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- JM
- 04-23-17
Fifty Shades of Grey set in the 15th century
More can I say? This novel is reminiscent of the soap operas of old. It could've been entitled, Days of our Lives. Not much historical information ---primarily this is a trashy dimestore novel.
17 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 08-06-16
Worth Listening To
It took me a couple of chapters to get into the novel, but once I did I could not stop listening. The only complaint I have is the speaker's male voicing- I found it a bit annoying.
4 people found this helpful
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- Gabriela Roulston
- 05-01-16
Great read
Exciting, suspenseful, and heartbreaking. It is hard to imagine really how strong women had to be back then. Great story.
7 people found this helpful
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- Trudi
- 05-27-16
An emotional whirlwind of a story
Listening to Lucrezia's story made me feel so lucky to live in today's world. Whatever we think of today's politicians we are worlds apart from the savagery of the past. This story is written beautifully, the descriptions of surroundings, people and the emotions they felt made me feel as though I was there witnessing it. I couldn't wait to listen every day and I regret I have finished it too fast. I definitely recommend it to anyone wanting an exciting, often shocking read.
2 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 06-17-17
A bit slow to start
I was very excited when I read the reviews of this book it sounded perfect- but all the action happens in the last third of the book and there were times I almost gave up on the way there. Glad I didn't though .
1 person found this helpful
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- Lisa Carlton
- 11-21-16
Not overly impressed
The book itself was a well referenced history however I did find the American narration and pronunciation very cartoonish.
1 person found this helpful
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- Gabby
- 06-20-18
Couldn't stop listening
A very enjoyable historical novel it managed to keep me enthralled from the start
Well written and well narrated
The American accent of the narrator didn't detract from the story I found myself engrossed in.
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- janet
- 09-30-16
Better to read the book
Would you try another book written by C. W. Gortner or narrated by Julia Whelan?
Yes by this author
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Vatican Princess?
Nothing outstanding.
Would you be willing to try another one of Julia Whelan’s performances?
No - poor choice. Little knowledge of the book's context and pronunciation was hit and miss on words in both English and Italian. Should have had an appropriate ethnic voice.
If this book were a film would you go see it?
I prefer to read the book not the adaptation one gets with a film.
Any additional comments?
The story was spoiled by the poor narration.