Borgias Series - Kate Quinn

Written by Kate Quinn
Read by Leila Birch, Maria Elena Infantino, Ronan Vibert
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 64 Kbps
Unabridged

The Serpent and the Pearl
Borgias Series, Book 1
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Release date: August 6, 2013
Duration: 16:39:19

Rome, 1492. The Holy City is drenched with blood and teeming with secrets. A pope lies dying and the throne of God is left vacant, a prize awarded only to the most virtuous—or the most ruthless. The Borgia family begins its legendary rise, chronicled by an innocent girl who finds herself drawn into their dangerous web…

Vivacious Giulia Farnese has floor-length golden hair and the world at her feet: beauty, wealth, and a handsome young husband. But she is stunned to discover that her glittering marriage is a sham, and she is to be given as a concubine to the ruthless, charismatic Cardinal Borgia: Spaniard, sensualist, candidate for Pope—who is passionately in love with her.

Two trusted companions will follow her into the Pope’s shadowy harem: Leonello, a cynical bodyguard bent on bloody revenge against a mysterious killer, and Carmelina, a fiery cook with a past full of secrets. But as corruption thickens in the Vatican and the enemies begin to circle, Giulia and her friends will need all their wits to survive in the world of the Borgias.

Quinn’s engaging historical fiction follows the infamous Borgias, the family of Pope Alexander VI, including the mistress he took just before his election to the papacy. The engaging story is told by three main characters. Each character’s sections are read by a different narrator; Leila Birch and Ronan Vibert give strong performances, immersing the listener in their respective characters. The sections from the point of view of the pope’s mistress are voiced by Maria Elena Infantino, whose performance is somewhat lackluster. Infantino sounds as if she is reading the words for the first time, with no real attention to the pacing or emotions of Quinn’s words. These choices counteract the good work done by Vibert and Birch, making this a disappointing listen overall. J.L.K. © AudioFile 2013,

The Lion and the Rose
Borgias Series, Book 2
Length: 18 hrs and 1 min
Publisher: 2013 Penguin Audio

As the cherished concubine of the Borgia Pope Alexander VI, Giulia Farnese has Rome at her feet. But after narrowly escaping a sinister captor, she realizes that the danger she faces is far from over—and now, it threatens from within. The Holy City of Rome is still under Alexander’s thrall, but enemies of the Borgias are starting to circle. In need of trusted allies, Giulia turns to her sharp-tongued bodyguard, Leonello, and her fiery cook and confidante, Carmelina.

Caught in the deadly world of the Renaissance’s most notorious family, Giulia, Leonello, and Carmelina must decide if they will flee the dangerous dream of power. But as the shadows of murder and corruption rise through the Vatican, they must learn who to trust when every face wears a mask…

In this sequel to The Serpent and the Pearl, Kate Quinn dives back into the dangerous world of 15th-century Rome and the scheming household of the Borgias. Three members of the household find themselves as pawns in Rodrigo Borgia’s quest for glory in the papacy. Giulia Farnese, the Pope’s mistress, wants to raise her daughter in a loving family where she won’t be corrupted by political intrigue. Leonello, a dwarf who serves as Giulia’s unlikely bodyguard, hides behind his caustic wit but harbors secret passions of his own. Carmelina, the cook, has escaped from a life in a nunnery and wants only to ply her trade in peace. But when a dangerous member of the Borgia family uses his powerful connections to force Giulia, Leonello, and Carmelina to his will – and even to kill – they must work together to find a way to escape without bringing the wrath of the Pope down upon their heads.

Kate Quinn’s plot twists are always a delight, driven by characters so different yet so fully believable in their passions and motivations. No protagonist in this book is entirely immune to corruption or temptation, but each has the capacity for kindness and compassion as well. Just when I thought I knew where the tale was going, not one but two unlikely love affairs blindsided me completely – unexpected, yet fitting perfectly into the fabric of the story. A truly satisfying novel is like a large-scale collage image, where the pieces look distinct when seen from up close, yet come together into a larger picture when you step back to view them all at once. The Lion and the Rose is one of those masterful books that offers this startling – and perfect – shift of perspective….HNS - Historical Novel Society