Review of Costanza by Rachel Blackmore

Rome, 1636: In the scorched city of Rome, the cobbled streets hum with gossip and sin...’

I just know that Costanza has been on EVERYONE’S anticipated reading list since it was announced. This is the fictional retelling of a respectable young woman pulled from the rubble of ancient Rome and the talented Rachel Blackmore is here to give her her voice. When Costanza Piccolomini meets famed sculptor, Gianlorenzo Bernini, the sparks are immediately intense and very quickly turn into a whirlwind romance, an illicit affair. Whereas Costanza wishes to keep their tryst under wraps, Gianlorenzo wishes to possess her as his own, as a person and as his muse. When Gianlorenzo unveils a sculpture of Costanza she becomes a whore in the eyes of her community. What transpires is a story many women experience, whether they’re from the 16th century or the 21st century, where our identity is claimed and used by others and where our safety is not guaranteed amongst our peers - where we fall at the feet of men who wish to love us to death, quite literally. Costanza’s story is a heart-breaking and enraging one. Where the world sees Gianlorenzo Bernini as a world-class sculptor and architect, Costanza’s story is tainted by the scar of infidelity and punishment in exchange for a man’s honour. Costjanza is a work of historical fiction, yet it echoes the life of many women across the world, past and present. It is unputdownable, brilliant, important and truly unforgettable. 

Review by Danielle.

Costanza was published on 01/08/24 by Renegade Books.

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