The Serpent and the Pearl: A Novel of the Borgias: 1 Paperback – 6 August 2013

Really enjoyed this book and also the sequel. Although some reviews criticized the addition of protagonists who weren't actually figures in history and not just about the Borgias I found it all interesting to immerse the story in 15th century life. I liked all the portraits of the characters whether actual historical persons or those who just made a good story. I also bought the sequel and enjoyed it as much as the first. They may not be all about historical fact, but they are not , afterall , biographical text books. These are novels for reading enjoyment

I came to this series by way of Kate Quinn's more modern historical fiction - The Alice Network, The Rose Code, The Diamond Eye, and The Huntress. While Roman history is not as familiar to me as WWII history, I still found this an engaging read, and Kate Quinn obviously does a great deal of research, which she weaves into an interesting narrative.

I don't review books very much but I am in love with Kate's writing and this book blew my mind. There are three POV characters, which as everyone knows means that at least one's perspective will be overwritten and boring but for the first time in my life I was enthralled by them all. The character of Giulia takes the most beautiful woman in Rome and makes her a relatable and adorable viewpoint for the Borgia's and their machinations but in my view the real power comes from Leonello, a dwarf written very much in the style of Tyrion Lannister, whose bitterness and occasional compassionate insight make him a delight to read and Carmelina, who is one of the most wonderful female characters I have encountered in any book ever, with her independence but also total obsession with her craft, which means that for her the main events of the story are mostly told as asides that get in the way of her cooking. I cannot state with words how much I love this character - she feels real to me and resonates with me and while I sometimes can't manage to like her, somehow that just makes me respect her more. This is not a love story, or if it is, it is so confusingly written that I wouldn't have guessed the final pairings for the most part of the book. That is a good thing, because life is chaotic and confusing like that and this book is wonderful, with its twists and secrets and you can't tell who the heroes and the villains always are but they are portrayed skillfully, even secondary characters who often become far more significant later on than you would think when first encountering them. All I can say is read this book. I promise you won't regret it.

A great book that I couldn’t put down. As a lover of historical fiction, this is one of the best I have read in a long time

All my audio reads are usually in first person narrative, it feels like the protagonist is with me telling her/his story. This book had three key players. Giulia, Leonello and Carmelina were all brought to life by 3 wonderful readers. They had the right accents, and each told their story clearly and with the right amount of wit and emotions.They couldn't tell their stories without Kate Quinn doing an excellent job of writing them. She was able to mix fact with fiction and made me fall in love with those three, they were written in such a way that made me feel for their different circumstances. From Giulia's hurt and disappointment on her wedding night to Carmelina's first impression of Rome with the smells (rot - maybe you need the audio to appreciate her reaction). From romance to murder, mystery to corruption and betrayal to friendships, this book had it all.Set in a time in history that I was unfamiliar with it was a joy to take this ride with Giulia, Leonello and Carmelina. I've heard of the Borgia's before and how corrupt they were and this book has me wanting to learn more. The cultural side during that time period was interesting and informative also, I especially enjoyed the cooking aspect of the novel.I finished this book with an urgent need to bake a torte and am now toying with the ideal of rereading The Iliad. Also wondering when the companion cookbook is coming out.