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The Poisoner Mysteries #3
The Borgia Mistress
Mistress of death Francesca Giordano--court poisoner to the House of Borgia--returns to confront an ancient atrocity that threatens to extinguish the light of the Renaissance and plunge the world into eternal darkness. As the enemies of Pope Alexander VI close in and the papal court is forced to flee from Rome, Francesca joins forces with her lover, the brilliant and ruthless Cesare Borgia to unravel a conspiracy that strikes at the heart of Christendom. But when a shattering secret from her past imperils her precarious hold on sanity, only Francesca's own courage and resolve can draw her back from the brink of madness to save all she values most.
416 pages, Paperback
First published May 22, 2012
28 people are currently reading
1477 people want to read
About the author
Sara Poole
6 books244 followersSara Poole is the pen name of a NY Times bestselling author who is branching out to write historical novels.
Her long-time fascination with Renaissance Italy and with the Borgias in particular has led her in this new direction. It corresponds nicely with her interest in botany as especially regards the poisonous plants flourishing all around us. Sara lives in the Northeast with her husband and a menagerie of animals who are discouraged from nibbling on anything outside.
Her long-time fascination with Renaissance Italy and with the Borgias in particular has led her in this new direction. It corresponds nicely with her interest in botany as especially regards the poisonous plants flourishing all around us. Sara lives in the Northeast with her husband and a menagerie of animals who are discouraged from nibbling on anything outside.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
September 7, 2017
2.75 stars
Dear fans of the series, you shall have to forgive me for my lack of enthusiasm regarding book 3. I dig historical fiction/mysteries but this one just didn't intrigue me.
Dear fans of the series, you shall have to forgive me for my lack of enthusiasm regarding book 3. I dig historical fiction/mysteries but this one just didn't intrigue me.
September 29, 2013
Well now, THAT was one hell of an ending. Didn't see the Cathar heresy popping up. Still, I was hoping for an epic confrontation between Francesca and that mad monk Morozzi. That means there jus HAS to be another novel in the works.
Granted, the appearance of Mother Berndette and her knowing Francesca's history wasn't all that surprising and of course I'd long suspected her motives. However that didn't get in the way of the breakneck pacing and of my admiration of Francesca. She really is a marvelous creation and very real. It is apparent to me those who criticize her characterization as being "too modern", are unaware of women's history and frankly, history in general. Though Francesca Giordano is fiction, there were many women in the past who not only chafed against the restrictions placed upon their gender, but defied them--with varying degrees of success. A wise and politically savvy man as Rodrigo Borgia, would not have been stupid to turn away any assistance that kept him in power, including a female poisoner.
Granted, the appearance of Mother Berndette and her knowing Francesca's history wasn't all that surprising and of course I'd long suspected her motives. However that didn't get in the way of the breakneck pacing and of my admiration of Francesca. She really is a marvelous creation and very real. It is apparent to me those who criticize her characterization as being "too modern", are unaware of women's history and frankly, history in general. Though Francesca Giordano is fiction, there were many women in the past who not only chafed against the restrictions placed upon their gender, but defied them--with varying degrees of success. A wise and politically savvy man as Rodrigo Borgia, would not have been stupid to turn away any assistance that kept him in power, including a female poisoner.
March 15, 2015
Treći nastavak romana o Francesci Giordano, dvorskoj trovačici pape Borgije vjerno prikazuje povijesne činjenice i likove, te uvlači čitatelja u napeti misterij o obitelji Borgia, dijeleći njihove intimnosti i intrige koje ih obavijaju.
Vrlo dobar povijesni triler, preporuka!
Vrlo dobar povijesni triler, preporuka!
February 4, 2019
Sara does a good job of setting the time period in relation to other things going on in the world — for example, the discovery of the New World. There are intriguing plot twists, and overall, holds the reader’s attention and is an easy read.
September 25, 2013
This book was bloody amazing. Renaissance Italy is now officially my favourite genre of historical fiction, followed closely by Renaissance England – sorry, Philipa Gregory. You can’t make me love Tudor and Renaissance England more than I do Italy. The world of Renaissance Italy is fascinating, wonderful, beautiful, colourful, vicious, and downright sexy. And The Borgia Mistress encompasses what I love most about any historical fiction in Renaissance Italy; the families, be it the Medici, the Sforza, the Este, or the Orsini. In this case, it was the intriguing, deadly Borgia family.
For some reason I’ve always loved reading any interpretation of Cesare Borgia; he fascinates me. Yes, he was a ruthless killer, ambitious and cunning, but most interpretations try to show his humanity within that darkness. And I’m drawn to that, I’ll admit it; dark characters, characters that you know have a darkness inside them, but still you cannot help but feel something for them. And Sara Poole was a master of making that darkness come to life in more than one of her characters, and was also brilliant in making their humanity come to life with it.
Francesca is the court poisoner for the Borgia’s, and lover to the notorious Cesare Borgia – don’t you just love that name? Francesca is in an occupation which requires no small amount of skill and cunning, and she’s good at what she does. Well, aside from the strange fact that – except in certain dark moods – Francesca Giordano has a deep fear of blood. Seeing Francesca’s story unfold was amazing, coming to understand with her how her past has affected her present and her future – and her fear of blood. Francesca was a character I know that some will find hard to like; she’s a sensuous, capable woman, who knows she has darkness in her, and accepts it – which is why she’s drawn to Cesare. But Francesca is also a little scared of that darkness, and you come to understand that her work as protector and poisoner does not make up all of who she is. She can be kind and caring and funny as well, and I simply loved her as a heroine.
Cesare is a character I always love to read about. In The Borgia Mistress he was young, ambitious, and had a dry humour at times that was quite fun. Like Francesca he accepts the darkness within himself, and can be coldly, ruthlessly practical at times. He loves Francesca in his own unique way; being a young man of power and influence many woman would, as the author puts it, “fall at his feet”, but he continues to return to Francesca’s bed. The sweetest thing in the book – and I use the term “sweet” loosely - is how he truly cares about helping Francesca through her troubles and her nightmares, of which there are plenty. And the other thing that was great about Cesare as a character was – yes, I have to say it – his fighting skills, his athleticism, his youthful energy and skilful swordplay. Yes, I am one of those girls who swoon at any mention of sword-fighting skills. So, combine that with charm, good looks, ruthlessness, and an intriguing darkness? Definitely my kind of character.
Still, if you want a better example of ruthless practicality, Rodrigo Borgia would be the prime example. Utterly committed to seeing his family rise to the top, I loved Sara Poole’s interpretation of him as a very brave man. And really, wouldn’t you have to be? Always knowing that there are people with assassins on their payroll licking their lips in anticipation? And Poole – at least to an extent – doesn’t really present him as a bad man either. He’s just ruthless, practical, committed to family, politically adept, and very much to the point.
I was really interested in Poole’s depiction of Lucrezia Borgia. Truly, it was a marvellous new depiction; Lucrezia is only thirteen years old, already married, but her bride-groom has been refused permission by Rodrigo Borgia to consummate the marriage in the traditional way, as Lucrezia is too young. And this of course is Poole’s explanation for the rumours of incest in the Borgia family; that Rodrigo refused the consummation because he wanted Lucrezia to himself. Sara Poole clearly disbelieves these rumours, as Francesca is disbelieving and infuriated by them – not to mention that young Lucrezia goes wild with fury when her husband implies there might be truth in the rumours. Thirteen year old Lucrezia was a feisty girl, very intelligent for her age, very capable, and already very beautiful; you could easily see how she would grow to be a formidable woman.
Now to the most amusing and most annoying character of the entire book; the Spaniard, Herrara. He’s hot-blooded, hot-tempered, and in my not-so-professional opinion, possessing an excess of testosterone. Which is often expressed in violent actions, loud insults, and trying to decide what’s best for other people. But being an envoy of Queen Isabella and King Philip of Spain, the way his character was intimately connected to the plot put a delightful extra thread into the delicate weaving of the historical backdrop.
The plot was richly woven, and set on the backdrop of turbulent Renaissance Italy, you never really knew what was going to happen next. Sara Poole’s writing is superb, and I won’t shy from saying that she made me cry several times. Some authors can just make you feel the pain or joy of their characters, and for me at least Sara was one of those. Someone more practiced at actively trying to guess the ending or some of the events might have been able to see it coming, but I just let The Borgia Mistress take me along for the ride; and what a ride it was.
The ending was just breath-taking. Though I had suspected David about a chapter before Poole suggested it was him, I had come to round to thinking it wasn’t him. And it wasn’t, thank goodness. But I never suspected who it was, I never saw it coming – I don’t want to spoil anything, but the climax of the book was stunning, and wrenching. What I found truly astonishing about this book was that it used something I’ve only seen in one other historical fiction about Renaissance Italy – a prologue that seems completely unconnected to the rest of the book, until the very end, and the book leaves you wondering where on Earth the connection is going to be made. Seeing as the prologue was over two hundred years before, I knew it couldn’t be a character connection, so I was almost giving myself a headache by the end, trying to puzzle it out. But of course it made perfect sense once Poole dropped the bombshell.
I wonder if Sara Poole is going to write another in The Poisoner Mysteries series? Because personally, I would love to see how she handles the later years of the Borgia, the older Lucrezia and Cesare, all the wonderful stories that could be squeezed out of the Borgia history. Hopefully she just keeps writing and writing and writing about them… but I mustn’t get my hopes up. Still, I’d love to see how Sara Poole would handle the death of Cesare – now that would be a story worth reading.
Funnily enough, I haven’t actually read the first two in the series; I didn’t even realize that there were another previous two until after I’d finished. It doesn’t really matter, the book makes sense as a stand-alone. But enough from me. I enjoyed The Borgia Mistress immensely, and for any lovers of good historical fiction set in Renaissance Italy, this is a must read.
For some reason I’ve always loved reading any interpretation of Cesare Borgia; he fascinates me. Yes, he was a ruthless killer, ambitious and cunning, but most interpretations try to show his humanity within that darkness. And I’m drawn to that, I’ll admit it; dark characters, characters that you know have a darkness inside them, but still you cannot help but feel something for them. And Sara Poole was a master of making that darkness come to life in more than one of her characters, and was also brilliant in making their humanity come to life with it.
Francesca is the court poisoner for the Borgia’s, and lover to the notorious Cesare Borgia – don’t you just love that name? Francesca is in an occupation which requires no small amount of skill and cunning, and she’s good at what she does. Well, aside from the strange fact that – except in certain dark moods – Francesca Giordano has a deep fear of blood. Seeing Francesca’s story unfold was amazing, coming to understand with her how her past has affected her present and her future – and her fear of blood. Francesca was a character I know that some will find hard to like; she’s a sensuous, capable woman, who knows she has darkness in her, and accepts it – which is why she’s drawn to Cesare. But Francesca is also a little scared of that darkness, and you come to understand that her work as protector and poisoner does not make up all of who she is. She can be kind and caring and funny as well, and I simply loved her as a heroine.
Cesare is a character I always love to read about. In The Borgia Mistress he was young, ambitious, and had a dry humour at times that was quite fun. Like Francesca he accepts the darkness within himself, and can be coldly, ruthlessly practical at times. He loves Francesca in his own unique way; being a young man of power and influence many woman would, as the author puts it, “fall at his feet”, but he continues to return to Francesca’s bed. The sweetest thing in the book – and I use the term “sweet” loosely - is how he truly cares about helping Francesca through her troubles and her nightmares, of which there are plenty. And the other thing that was great about Cesare as a character was – yes, I have to say it – his fighting skills, his athleticism, his youthful energy and skilful swordplay. Yes, I am one of those girls who swoon at any mention of sword-fighting skills. So, combine that with charm, good looks, ruthlessness, and an intriguing darkness? Definitely my kind of character.
Still, if you want a better example of ruthless practicality, Rodrigo Borgia would be the prime example. Utterly committed to seeing his family rise to the top, I loved Sara Poole’s interpretation of him as a very brave man. And really, wouldn’t you have to be? Always knowing that there are people with assassins on their payroll licking their lips in anticipation? And Poole – at least to an extent – doesn’t really present him as a bad man either. He’s just ruthless, practical, committed to family, politically adept, and very much to the point.
I was really interested in Poole’s depiction of Lucrezia Borgia. Truly, it was a marvellous new depiction; Lucrezia is only thirteen years old, already married, but her bride-groom has been refused permission by Rodrigo Borgia to consummate the marriage in the traditional way, as Lucrezia is too young. And this of course is Poole’s explanation for the rumours of incest in the Borgia family; that Rodrigo refused the consummation because he wanted Lucrezia to himself. Sara Poole clearly disbelieves these rumours, as Francesca is disbelieving and infuriated by them – not to mention that young Lucrezia goes wild with fury when her husband implies there might be truth in the rumours. Thirteen year old Lucrezia was a feisty girl, very intelligent for her age, very capable, and already very beautiful; you could easily see how she would grow to be a formidable woman.
Now to the most amusing and most annoying character of the entire book; the Spaniard, Herrara. He’s hot-blooded, hot-tempered, and in my not-so-professional opinion, possessing an excess of testosterone. Which is often expressed in violent actions, loud insults, and trying to decide what’s best for other people. But being an envoy of Queen Isabella and King Philip of Spain, the way his character was intimately connected to the plot put a delightful extra thread into the delicate weaving of the historical backdrop.
The plot was richly woven, and set on the backdrop of turbulent Renaissance Italy, you never really knew what was going to happen next. Sara Poole’s writing is superb, and I won’t shy from saying that she made me cry several times. Some authors can just make you feel the pain or joy of their characters, and for me at least Sara was one of those. Someone more practiced at actively trying to guess the ending or some of the events might have been able to see it coming, but I just let The Borgia Mistress take me along for the ride; and what a ride it was.
The ending was just breath-taking. Though I had suspected David about a chapter before Poole suggested it was him, I had come to round to thinking it wasn’t him. And it wasn’t, thank goodness. But I never suspected who it was, I never saw it coming – I don’t want to spoil anything, but the climax of the book was stunning, and wrenching. What I found truly astonishing about this book was that it used something I’ve only seen in one other historical fiction about Renaissance Italy – a prologue that seems completely unconnected to the rest of the book, until the very end, and the book leaves you wondering where on Earth the connection is going to be made. Seeing as the prologue was over two hundred years before, I knew it couldn’t be a character connection, so I was almost giving myself a headache by the end, trying to puzzle it out. But of course it made perfect sense once Poole dropped the bombshell.
I wonder if Sara Poole is going to write another in The Poisoner Mysteries series? Because personally, I would love to see how she handles the later years of the Borgia, the older Lucrezia and Cesare, all the wonderful stories that could be squeezed out of the Borgia history. Hopefully she just keeps writing and writing and writing about them… but I mustn’t get my hopes up. Still, I’d love to see how Sara Poole would handle the death of Cesare – now that would be a story worth reading.
Funnily enough, I haven’t actually read the first two in the series; I didn’t even realize that there were another previous two until after I’d finished. It doesn’t really matter, the book makes sense as a stand-alone. But enough from me. I enjoyed The Borgia Mistress immensely, and for any lovers of good historical fiction set in Renaissance Italy, this is a must read.
January 10, 2021
I have loved this series, and the final book was no exception. This is historical fiction at its very best!
This author has a wonderful way of writing complex, conflicted characters who take action and accomplish things - the laudability of those things are debatable, but this is fiction after all - despite their own doubts and demons. The very doubts these characters have about the choices they feel they have to make are exactly what makes those characters so irresistible to a reader.
I have adored Francesca from the first chapter of the first book, and I have never stopped loving her as a strong female character who is in a unique and difficult position in a world filled with men who believe themselves to be infallible. She manages her role as the Pope's poisoner with intelligence, strength and determination, even when she doubts herself and the wisdom of the things she needs to do.
The other thing I have loved about this series is that each book had its own suspenseful story line that led to a dramatic and intense ending that ramped up the suspense to a fever pitch as the ending drew near, with the reader not sure how things were going to end up. Each of the three books in this series, I flew through the last few chapters because I had to know how things were going to work out. The excitement and uncertainty in each book was enhanced by a strong pacing that made it virtually impossible to put the book down once you'd gotten to a certain point in the plot.
The writing of this author is also excellent. It is easy to read, while still having a flow and an intelligence, as well as a subtle humour that breaks the tension at key points with cheeky conversations, usually between Francesca and one of the others in the Pope's household about the craziness that surrounds those who surround the Borgia Pople.
This entire series was 5-stars for me. I'm only sorry that it's over as there are only 3 books in the series. Highly recommended for those who like strong female protagonists, stories about the Borgias, and well-written, entertaining historical fiction.
This author has a wonderful way of writing complex, conflicted characters who take action and accomplish things - the laudability of those things are debatable, but this is fiction after all - despite their own doubts and demons. The very doubts these characters have about the choices they feel they have to make are exactly what makes those characters so irresistible to a reader.
I have adored Francesca from the first chapter of the first book, and I have never stopped loving her as a strong female character who is in a unique and difficult position in a world filled with men who believe themselves to be infallible. She manages her role as the Pope's poisoner with intelligence, strength and determination, even when she doubts herself and the wisdom of the things she needs to do.
The other thing I have loved about this series is that each book had its own suspenseful story line that led to a dramatic and intense ending that ramped up the suspense to a fever pitch as the ending drew near, with the reader not sure how things were going to end up. Each of the three books in this series, I flew through the last few chapters because I had to know how things were going to work out. The excitement and uncertainty in each book was enhanced by a strong pacing that made it virtually impossible to put the book down once you'd gotten to a certain point in the plot.
The writing of this author is also excellent. It is easy to read, while still having a flow and an intelligence, as well as a subtle humour that breaks the tension at key points with cheeky conversations, usually between Francesca and one of the others in the Pope's household about the craziness that surrounds those who surround the Borgia Pople.
This entire series was 5-stars for me. I'm only sorry that it's over as there are only 3 books in the series. Highly recommended for those who like strong female protagonists, stories about the Borgias, and well-written, entertaining historical fiction.
October 11, 2022
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS SERIES!
It's dark in completely new level, which is kinda refreshing.
Francesca's character is very opposing. She isn't deceiving herself about her dark nature. She is not afraid to do as she pleases and is not worrying what other people think about her, which is impossible to say for other people in that time. And most important, she's not so girly.
I hate it when they are too girly.
I realy like Cesare and his Pocco joke. He is always there for her and he always pops out out of nowhere to help her. He is trust worthy and skeptic, and dark as Francesca. They really get each other and they really should be together. When he says he really cares for her… AWWW *____*
Descriptions are not lame and too long. I hate it when writers describe one detail over few pages. That’s boring, nobody wants to read that.
There wasn’t the moment when I got bored reading these books. There is one action after another, and every one of them is connected and makes sense.
I just regret sex scenes were poor on details and very short, like it didn’t happen. To correct myself… they weren’t short. The whole action happened in two-three sentences. And I would like to hear details about Francesca’s and Cesare’s relationship. Not just facts, but the emotional attachment also.
I hope there will be another sequel ’cause story isn’t finished yet. Francesca has to catch Morozzi and revenge her father. She has to accept her dark side, and Cesare, also.
Sara, please write another book :) And this time, make it hot!
It's dark in completely new level, which is kinda refreshing.
Francesca's character is very opposing. She isn't deceiving herself about her dark nature. She is not afraid to do as she pleases and is not worrying what other people think about her, which is impossible to say for other people in that time. And most important, she's not so girly.
I hate it when they are too girly.
I realy like Cesare and his Pocco joke. He is always there for her and he always pops out out of nowhere to help her. He is trust worthy and skeptic, and dark as Francesca. They really get each other and they really should be together. When he says he really cares for her… AWWW *____*
Descriptions are not lame and too long. I hate it when writers describe one detail over few pages. That’s boring, nobody wants to read that.
There wasn’t the moment when I got bored reading these books. There is one action after another, and every one of them is connected and makes sense.
I just regret sex scenes were poor on details and very short, like it didn’t happen. To correct myself… they weren’t short. The whole action happened in two-three sentences. And I would like to hear details about Francesca’s and Cesare’s relationship. Not just facts, but the emotional attachment also.
I hope there will be another sequel ’cause story isn’t finished yet. Francesca has to catch Morozzi and revenge her father. She has to accept her dark side, and Cesare, also.
Sara, please write another book :) And this time, make it hot!
June 8, 2020
*****SPOILERS******
Where did Morozzi go?? He just disappeared and we met a whole new villain who was both, unlikely yet not surprising. I was really hoping to see the end of Morozzi's reign of terror but alas, that was not the case.
The change of scenery was both refreshing but also a little disappointing... I really grew to love the city of Rome as laid out by Poole.. it was comfortable and I knew where everything was.
Even outside of Rome, I was happy to see a reappearance of some of my favorite characters.. notably, Vittoro. I wish Rocco and Nando would have been in this novel too, I really like the relationship created with that trio and I was anxious to see how it progressed but I guess we are to just assume they are happy with the life they are creating with the glass maker's daughter.
I'm also growing to dislike Cesare. He seemed whiny and jealous is this story and it was really unbecoming on him. His jealousy of Rocco is getting old and he even seemed to have an issue with David that went deeper than just the fact that he is Jewish.
All in all this novel read a lot better than the other two.. it didn't take as long to reach climax BUT it was a vastly different story than we saw in the first two novels. Morozzi's story is still wide open and I'm anxious to know how it ends (if we ever do).
In conclusion, while the story was enticing and exciting on its own, it did not fit as a follow up to the first two novels in the trilogy.
Where did Morozzi go?? He just disappeared and we met a whole new villain who was both, unlikely yet not surprising. I was really hoping to see the end of Morozzi's reign of terror but alas, that was not the case.
The change of scenery was both refreshing but also a little disappointing... I really grew to love the city of Rome as laid out by Poole.. it was comfortable and I knew where everything was.
Even outside of Rome, I was happy to see a reappearance of some of my favorite characters.. notably, Vittoro. I wish Rocco and Nando would have been in this novel too, I really like the relationship created with that trio and I was anxious to see how it progressed but I guess we are to just assume they are happy with the life they are creating with the glass maker's daughter.
I'm also growing to dislike Cesare. He seemed whiny and jealous is this story and it was really unbecoming on him. His jealousy of Rocco is getting old and he even seemed to have an issue with David that went deeper than just the fact that he is Jewish.
All in all this novel read a lot better than the other two.. it didn't take as long to reach climax BUT it was a vastly different story than we saw in the first two novels. Morozzi's story is still wide open and I'm anxious to know how it ends (if we ever do).
In conclusion, while the story was enticing and exciting on its own, it did not fit as a follow up to the first two novels in the trilogy.
April 9, 2019
In the 3rd book of The Poisoner Mysteries, Francesca and the papal court relocate to the Italian countryside to avoid a summer of plague in Rome. There Francesca uncovers a plot to kill a high level Spanish noble who is part of the court, but who is behind the plot and can she stop it before its too late? Also, a stranger appears with some answers to Francesca's past. Will these answers be the breaking point for the poisoner?
So it has been a very long time since I read the first two books in the series, but this book had Francesca doing a lot of out of character things (at least from what I can remember from her character from the other books). This book also called for some editing. There were entire passages that were repeated in multiple chapters.
But, I did enjoy the book. It was a fast-paced read with lots of steamy romance, intrigue, and suspense to keep you on your toes. I liked the change of setting, which brought a fresh perspective to the story. I also liked the exploration of addiction through the book. It was a fun read but it also addressed a lot of serious issues. It does appear that this is the last in the series which is disappointing as there are still many questions to be answered, but at least the main mystery was wrapped up.
So it has been a very long time since I read the first two books in the series, but this book had Francesca doing a lot of out of character things (at least from what I can remember from her character from the other books). This book also called for some editing. There were entire passages that were repeated in multiple chapters.
But, I did enjoy the book. It was a fast-paced read with lots of steamy romance, intrigue, and suspense to keep you on your toes. I liked the change of setting, which brought a fresh perspective to the story. I also liked the exploration of addiction through the book. It was a fun read but it also addressed a lot of serious issues. It does appear that this is the last in the series which is disappointing as there are still many questions to be answered, but at least the main mystery was wrapped up.
March 15, 2020
While this was a faster read than the previous two Poisoner Mysteries...I think it was an entirely different story! Different villain, different plot, different characters masquerading under the same name...and nothing ever ended! A whole new plot...vague and confused...came to the forefront of the pages...but, everything that had been written in the previous 600ish pages was mostly forgotten and ignored. The only real reason I read this volume was to find out what happened...and as it turns out, I still don't know...because the story took a bizarre detour to Viterbo under the watchful eyes of the Cathers...and still it didn't end...Borgia's alive and still Pope...Francesca's alive and still poisoner...
Lots of blood, gore, and murder...but, little else!
Lots of blood, gore, and murder...but, little else!
September 13, 2023
The Borgia Mistress was definitely a book that I sat down and read (once and then a few years later)! The intricate backstory and love affair with Cesare Borgia was enthralling. I think their personalities really complimented each other and wanted Sara to push more scenes of them in the story. The inner turmoil of Francesca was very thought out and reflective. I think she thought herself unworthy of real love because of her profession. Which to me was a bit dramatic, but understandable. I thought it would go in the way of forbidden romance, but it actually surprised me with political warfare and an unsuspected villain.
January 3, 2017
This third book in the Poisener Mysteries was a bit of a disillusion. I found the link to the Cathars highly unbelievable, the plot very predictable (I new almost right from the beginning when Francesca enters the gates of Viterbo who would be the assassin) and it annoyed me that a new storyline is started before the old one (with Morozzi as the bad guy) has finished.
Furthermore I learned that the series is discontinued after this book, with both storylines unsolved.
Furthermore I learned that the series is discontinued after this book, with both storylines unsolved.
September 26, 2019
This story is set in Italy in 1493 and features the Borgia family mainly Pope Alexander VI and his son , Cesare Borgia. The main character is Francesca who protects the pope and his family because of her knowledge of poisons. Francesca knows someone is out to kill the pope but is having a hard time finding the killer among so many people. The story invokes the time period well. The book was an easy read.
March 22, 2018
I really didn't like this one as much as the other two. We still haven't gotten a resolution about her father's murder and I knew the culprit long before the ending.
I did like learning about Francesca's background though.
I did like learning about Francesca's background though.
September 30, 2019
It’s history of Borgia families and religious fight the lady Francesca who served him as mistress is fantastic person between good and evil who tries to save life however Borgia blames and suspect her in murders . I am impressed by this novel by Sarah Poole very much
February 8, 2018
It has been awhile since I read book 2 in this series and I forgot how much I liked Francesca as a character and the authors writing style. Overall it was an interesting read.
July 23, 2020
Best in the trilogy! Can't wait for Poole's next one!!!
January 28, 2021
Papa i njegova trovačica učiniće sve kako bi zadržali moć u rukama porodice Borđija...
February 11, 2021
A good entertaining read. I hadn't realized it was part of a series so would have preferred to have read them in order. BUT it stood alone well enough and I enjoyed it.
September 3, 2021
Setting was great, but the plot was a little underwhelming for it’s whodunnit storyline.
Read
July 22, 2024Third in a series... whoops
March 29, 2025
Fast -paced good fun. The title implies another type of book but this is more thriller/mystery than anything and I like my mysteries to be historical. Good immersions into times past.
June 26, 2012
Author Sara Poole continues her Borgia novels in The Borgia Mistress, the continued adventures of Borgia family poisoner Francesca Giordano. These days, the Borgias are quickly becoming the hot new property in the historical fiction world. Propelled by the Showtime series The Borgias, it seems like more and more novels try to work the Borgia name in to their titles of the sake of a perceived connection (that especially seemed to be the case with this series when it jumped from Poison to Borgia Betrayal and Borgia Mistress).
The tale of the Borgia mistress of death continues, but this time she must confront her own dark past and an ancient evil that could destroy the world -or even worst, end the reign of the Borgias. Even as the Borgia family is forced to flee Rome, Francesca fights to overcome her darkness and nightmares with the help of her lover, Cesare Borgia.
Hum, it's hard to know what to say about this one. It's a good book, but not an amazing book. Yet, I really was excited about the opportunity to learn a little more about Francesca's past and how it has molded her into the unexpected woman that she has become. It helped to give her a much stronger sense of character and personality than in any of the previous novels. The wonderful depictions of the Renaissance Italy continue, the plots against Borgia continue to amaze, and the politics are as strong as always.
Yet, there wasn't much here that was new. I guess this didn't bother me that much (in fact, it shouldn't have bothered me at all), but there was something about it that left Borgia Mistress wanting. I wanted more. Despite the extended character development of Francesca, I still wanted more out of this book. I feel like there just wasn't much here that's new to the series. I just feel like this series could use some new life.
Despite that, Borgia Mistress is satisfying for fans of previous novels and fans of Borgia-era historical fiction.
The tale of the Borgia mistress of death continues, but this time she must confront her own dark past and an ancient evil that could destroy the world -or even worst, end the reign of the Borgias. Even as the Borgia family is forced to flee Rome, Francesca fights to overcome her darkness and nightmares with the help of her lover, Cesare Borgia.
Hum, it's hard to know what to say about this one. It's a good book, but not an amazing book. Yet, I really was excited about the opportunity to learn a little more about Francesca's past and how it has molded her into the unexpected woman that she has become. It helped to give her a much stronger sense of character and personality than in any of the previous novels. The wonderful depictions of the Renaissance Italy continue, the plots against Borgia continue to amaze, and the politics are as strong as always.
Yet, there wasn't much here that was new. I guess this didn't bother me that much (in fact, it shouldn't have bothered me at all), but there was something about it that left Borgia Mistress wanting. I wanted more. Despite the extended character development of Francesca, I still wanted more out of this book. I feel like there just wasn't much here that's new to the series. I just feel like this series could use some new life.
Despite that, Borgia Mistress is satisfying for fans of previous novels and fans of Borgia-era historical fiction.
April 20, 2012
“The Borgia Mistress: A Novel” by Sara Poole is a historical fiction story that takes place in Rome around the year 1493. The lead character, Francesca Giordano, is the court poisoner to House of Borgia and Rodrigo Borgia who becomes Pope Alexander VI. Francesca’s father was a prisoner to the House of she was raised in the household along with Borgia’s son, Cesare Borgia, who eventually becomes Francesca’s lover. Francesca has to unravel a conspiracy that threatens to tear apart Pope Alexander’s rule and possibly Christendom. To get to the heart of the conspiracy, she has to find an assassin who was sent to attack the Pope. While trying to locate the assassin, Francesca’s sanity is at stake and she wonders if she is going mad.
This is the third installment in the Poisoners series by Ms. Poole. I did not read the first two. Although I felt that I did miss some of the backstory by not reading them, I did not feel that they were needed to enjoy this story. I love historical fiction and it is books like this that reaffirm why I love them. Ms. Poole blends fictional characters and real people seamlessly in this novel. She has definitely done her research and found a way to breathe new life into it.
I did find the book a bit slow in the beginning (perhaps because I did not read the first two books in the series), but around halfway it really picked up and I couldn’t put it down until I was finished. Francesca is a sympathetic character who you find yourself caring about, even though her primary job is to poison enemies of the Pope. I definitely want to read the first two books in this series. It was well written and a pleasure to read.
**This book was received for free through Goodreads First Reads. That in no way influenced my review.**
This is the third installment in the Poisoners series by Ms. Poole. I did not read the first two. Although I felt that I did miss some of the backstory by not reading them, I did not feel that they were needed to enjoy this story. I love historical fiction and it is books like this that reaffirm why I love them. Ms. Poole blends fictional characters and real people seamlessly in this novel. She has definitely done her research and found a way to breathe new life into it.
I did find the book a bit slow in the beginning (perhaps because I did not read the first two books in the series), but around halfway it really picked up and I couldn’t put it down until I was finished. Francesca is a sympathetic character who you find yourself caring about, even though her primary job is to poison enemies of the Pope. I definitely want to read the first two books in this series. It was well written and a pleasure to read.
**This book was received for free through Goodreads First Reads. That in no way influenced my review.**
June 26, 2013
Facts taken from this book.
Jove---the Supreme Being in the universe. He who commandeth and controleth all. He is to be respected and revered, His will is to be obeyed always.
15th century, Rome, the Pope was called Jove.
In ancient Roman religion and myth, Jupiter (Latin: Iuppiter) or Jove is the king of the gods and the god of sky and thunder
Jove is probably an anglicization of the Old Latin Jovis which translates into English as Jupiter, the Roman King of Gods. In eighteenth and nineteenth century England, it was considered a great offense to say "By God". Instead, men would say "BY Jove". Jove is an alternative name for the Roman god Jupiter. By saying "By Jove!", they could be saying "By God!", without committing a social offense.
The Cathars were dualist heretics who probably presented the greatest doctrinal challenge faced by the Catholic church in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The word Cathar comes from the Greek katharos, meaning pure. They Cathars professed that there are two principles, one good and one evil, and that this world, the material world, is evil. Catharism finally vanished from the stage of history by the end of the 14th century.
Alexander VI, Rodrigo Borgia (born 1431, Játiva, near Valencia—died Aug. 18, 1503, Rome), corrupt, worldly, and ambitious pope (1492–1503), whose neglect of the spiritual inheritance of the church contributed to the development of the Protestant Reformation.
He persuaded Michelangelo to draw plans for the rebuilding of St. Peter’s Basilia.
Niccolò Machiavelli, used Cesare (Rodrigo's son) as the model for his classic on politics The Prince.
Jove---the Supreme Being in the universe. He who commandeth and controleth all. He is to be respected and revered, His will is to be obeyed always.
15th century, Rome, the Pope was called Jove.
In ancient Roman religion and myth, Jupiter (Latin: Iuppiter) or Jove is the king of the gods and the god of sky and thunder
Jove is probably an anglicization of the Old Latin Jovis which translates into English as Jupiter, the Roman King of Gods. In eighteenth and nineteenth century England, it was considered a great offense to say "By God". Instead, men would say "BY Jove". Jove is an alternative name for the Roman god Jupiter. By saying "By Jove!", they could be saying "By God!", without committing a social offense.
The Cathars were dualist heretics who probably presented the greatest doctrinal challenge faced by the Catholic church in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The word Cathar comes from the Greek katharos, meaning pure. They Cathars professed that there are two principles, one good and one evil, and that this world, the material world, is evil. Catharism finally vanished from the stage of history by the end of the 14th century.
Alexander VI, Rodrigo Borgia (born 1431, Játiva, near Valencia—died Aug. 18, 1503, Rome), corrupt, worldly, and ambitious pope (1492–1503), whose neglect of the spiritual inheritance of the church contributed to the development of the Protestant Reformation.
He persuaded Michelangelo to draw plans for the rebuilding of St. Peter’s Basilia.
Niccolò Machiavelli, used Cesare (Rodrigo's son) as the model for his classic on politics The Prince.
June 4, 2012
This was overall an enjoyable read that left me wanting more.
Compared to the previous two books in this series, I wasn't terribly impressed; the adventure plot was rather too predictable (especially for those that prefer the Chekhov's Gun school of plot-writing), and I felt there was too much wishy-washy "oh my life is hard, I am such a bad person, wah wah PTSD and family and relationship dramaz!!" on Francesca's part. The supporting characters that Poole developed so well over the last couple of books (Vittoro, Renaldo, even Lucrezia) felt like afterthoughts in this one, thrown in because she needed to move the story along *somehow*, and there was far too little of Il Papa for my taste.
There were definitely some very excellent bits of story, and the occasional unexpected twist in the plot - but Ms. Poole has mastered the art of dramatic irony, and as a result I spent a rather large portion of the book mentally screaming at Francesca for being a blind idiot. For those that enjoy internal struggles for the protagonist, with an adventure plot as almost more of a side-quest than a main story, this is an excellent read. I personally felt it was an entertaining vignette in Francesca's life, and thought it might have done better as a short story.
I look forward to the next books in the series (because I hope there will be more than one more), though I'm somewhat split as to why - partially because I really love this protagonist and want to spend a long time in her world, and partially because I'm hoping the next story will be better.
Compared to the previous two books in this series, I wasn't terribly impressed; the adventure plot was rather too predictable (especially for those that prefer the Chekhov's Gun school of plot-writing), and I felt there was too much wishy-washy "oh my life is hard, I am such a bad person, wah wah PTSD and family and relationship dramaz!!" on Francesca's part. The supporting characters that Poole developed so well over the last couple of books (Vittoro, Renaldo, even Lucrezia) felt like afterthoughts in this one, thrown in because she needed to move the story along *somehow*, and there was far too little of Il Papa for my taste.
There were definitely some very excellent bits of story, and the occasional unexpected twist in the plot - but Ms. Poole has mastered the art of dramatic irony, and as a result I spent a rather large portion of the book mentally screaming at Francesca for being a blind idiot. For those that enjoy internal struggles for the protagonist, with an adventure plot as almost more of a side-quest than a main story, this is an excellent read. I personally felt it was an entertaining vignette in Francesca's life, and thought it might have done better as a short story.
I look forward to the next books in the series (because I hope there will be more than one more), though I'm somewhat split as to why - partially because I really love this protagonist and want to spend a long time in her world, and partially because I'm hoping the next story will be better.
February 14, 2017
This trilogy kind of suffers from a second book slump, but I enjoyed the final installment immensely.
I do, however, feel that Francesca was uncharacteristically trusting of our villain. It seemed so unlike her.
I do, however, feel that Francesca was uncharacteristically trusting of our villain. It seemed so unlike her.
August 19, 2012
As the enemies of the new Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia) close in, he is forced to flee Rome. His poisoner, Francesca Giordano, goes with him. Her Jewish friend, David, tags along in the disguise of a court jester. He has informed her that his spy network has discovered that there is a new (and highly sophisticated) assassin on his way to kill the Pope. Such an event would throw all of Europe into chaos as the various power struggles ensue. It would also allow Savonarola--a religious fanatic--to rise to power and threaten both the Jews and Francesca. With the fear of being burned at the stake as a witch haunting her, she strives to find and eliminate this assassin and keep both the Pope, and herself, alive. In the meantime, her nightmare has returned with a vengeance and she battles her fear of slowly going insane while attempting to perform her job. Add to the mix the appearance of a holy nun who brings tales of her long-dead mother and all hell breaks loose in Francesca's mind.
August 27, 2015
3 1/2 stars
Something went wrong!This trilogy was all going so splendidly....silly, but splendidly entertaining. The bad guy escaped in the nick of time in book 2 with a Mwahahaha!!!
Suddenly, in book 3, he didn't even get a mention and instead a new bad 'guy' was imported. Aside from all kinds of nonsense about the Cathars - well, I gave Ms Poole license to entertain me despite previous historical howlers, so I guess I have to overlook this nonsense too - why did the story do a 90 degree turn and end up in a completely different place? This was meant to be the last of a trilogy - so what happens now? Does Ms Poole after all intend to write another? Or are we just to forgive the original bad guy? *shakes head in puzzlement*
Additionally, the bounds of my credulity were so badly stretched by a number of issues that I was unable to enjoy this volume as much as the first 2. Our heroine had also turned into a nitwit.
Sweet Ladies! Fine Gentlemen! Stop at the end of volume 2, I prithee!
Something went wrong!This trilogy was all going so splendidly....silly, but splendidly entertaining. The bad guy escaped in the nick of time in book 2 with a Mwahahaha!!!
Suddenly, in book 3, he didn't even get a mention and instead a new bad 'guy' was imported. Aside from all kinds of nonsense about the Cathars - well, I gave Ms Poole license to entertain me despite previous historical howlers, so I guess I have to overlook this nonsense too - why did the story do a 90 degree turn and end up in a completely different place? This was meant to be the last of a trilogy - so what happens now? Does Ms Poole after all intend to write another? Or are we just to forgive the original bad guy? *shakes head in puzzlement*
Additionally, the bounds of my credulity were so badly stretched by a number of issues that I was unable to enjoy this volume as much as the first 2. Our heroine had also turned into a nitwit.
Sweet Ladies! Fine Gentlemen! Stop at the end of volume 2, I prithee!
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