The Borgia Confessions

A Novel

By: Alyssa Palombo

Narrated by: Eva Kaminsky, Tim Campbell

Length: 13 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's Summary

"Under Palombo’s skillful hand, the entangled world of the Borgias comes vividly to life, exposing the dark facets of class structure and the all-consuming greed that comes with ambition - and love." (Heather Webb, internationally best-selling author of Last Christmas in Paris and Meet Me in Monaco)

During the sweltering Roman summer of 1492, Rodrigo Borgia has risen to power as pope. Rodrigo’s eldest son Cesare, forced to follow his father into the church and newly made the Archbishop of Valencia, chafes at his ecclesiastical role and fumes with jealousy and resentment at the way that his foolish brother has been chosen for the military greatness he desired.

Maddalena Moretti comes from the countryside, where she has seen how the whims of powerful men wreak havoc on the lives of ordinary people. But now, employed as a servant in the Vatican Palace, she cannot help but be entranced by Cesare Borgia’s handsome face and manner and finds her faith and conviction crumbling in her want of him.

As war rages and shifting alliances challenge the pope’s authority, Maddalena and Cesare's lives grow inexplicably entwined. Maddalena becomes a keeper of dangerous Borgia secrets, and must decide if she is willing to be a pawn in the power games of the man she loves. And as jealousy and betrayal threaten to tear apart the Borgia family from within, Cesare is forced to reckon with his seemingly limitless ambition.

Alyssa Palombo's captivating new novel, The Borgia Confessions, is a story of passion, politics, and class, set against the rise and fall of one of Italy's most infamous families--the Borgias.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Griffin

©2020 Alyssa Palombo (P)2020 Macmillan Audio

Critic Reviews

"[A] vivacious tale of power and love set in 1492... Excavating the personal relationships and petty disagreements that fueled Pope Alexander VI’s controversial reign, Palombo’s enticing tale will please fans of Sharon Kay Penman." (Publishers Weekly)

"Readers looking for an immersive, light, romantic read will enjoy this book." (Booklist) 

“Palombo has crafted a sweeping and surprisingly sympathetic portrait of Cesare Borgia, one of history’s most notorious "bad boys,” and the world surrounding him. [A] dark Renaissance parable about the intertwining of lust and power. If you’re as fascinated with all things Borgia as I am, you won’t want to miss this one!” (Kris Waldherr, author of The Lost History of Dreams and Bad Princess)

A beautifully told story

This book was a fantastic reimagining of the Borgia stories. From start to finish, this was hard to stop listening to. The characters are wonderfully flawed and the resulting drama is exciting and moving.