Download Light on Lucrezia fb2

Originally seen on The Bookish Owl (http://www.thebookishowl.net/?p=5689)

Going into this book, I had no idea that this was the second book in the series. I started Light on Lucrezia with a bit of trepidation since I wasn’t sure if I would understand the story as it was a sequel, following Madonna of the Seven Hills, the first book in Jean Plaidy’s Lucrezia Borgia series. However, it was soon evident that this book could be read as a stand-alone because there was no confusion, not even a hint that another book preceeded it.

Plaidy introduces a new image of Lucrezia; instead of the sexy, murdering vixen she history normally portrays her as, she is a misunderstood girl who feels very much alone. I enjoyed this new perspective on Lucrezia since it presented her as a normal human being rather than some otherworldly creature of Satan the Borgias are normally viewed as.

However, that is where the fun in this book stops. Starting with Lucrezia’s character, she was the very definition of Mary Sue. Radiant, charming, witty and intelligent, she was flat and unrealistic. I did pity her when her during her miscarriages but apart from that, I felt nothing. Her difficulties and problems did not stir me and I was irritated with her lack of nerve. She willingly went along with everything her father, Rodrigo, and her brother, Cesarae, planned. She accepted everything they said even though deep down, she knew that it was somehow wrong and illogical. Being in her head wasn’t fun because while the events of the book were interesting and even enjoyable to read, Lucrezia was just a dull and vapid character. Completely lifeless and uninspired, her perspectives were soporific.

Lucrezia’s innocence was the very definition of exasperating. During the first parts of the book, this was what sets her apart from the rest of her family. Whereas the rest were vipers and cunning snakes, she was content to lark around and talk to people. However, it becomes vexing halfway into the book since she was completely aware of her father and Cesarae’s evildoings yet she didn’t act in order to stop it. She was indifferent and apathetic, satisfied with sitting around and crying for all the deaths that had taken place without actually acting to stop it.

Even after her beloved husband was killed by her brother, she was still the same. She had moments of distrust and anger but in the end, she accepted that her brother was her husband’s murderer. Blood does run thicker than water but come on, she was a Borgia and she should have a spine at the least.

The other issue I had with this book was its historical accuracy. As a historical fiction novel, it is granted that the author will take some liberties with the names, dates and events in order to fit into the storyline but this book read like a fanfiction of the hit TV series, The Borgias. True, there isn’t much known about the Borgias and their lives but since the book covers a lengthy passage of time, it would have been better if the author had included some real and recorded events. Apart from the characters, the entire thing seemed to have been dreamed up. The dates are confusing too since no specific year was mentioned and I was forced to try to deduce what part of the 15th century we were in.

The monotony of the book made it an even lengthier read. Nothing happened, merely an endless cycle of Lucrezia marrying somebody then falling in love, justifying her father and her brother’s actions, having a baby then somebody dying. 300 pages full of the same thing happening over and over again with only the people and the settings as the difference.

Light on Lucrezia was a disappointing read and quite frankly, a waste of my money. I will not be back for Jean Plaidy’s other books.

I bought this book because I read The Vatican Princess by C. W. Gortner and I wanted a follow-up on the story of Lucrezia. It takes place from July 1498 to June 1508, and the epilogue takes place June 1519. This Lucrezia was very different from that one; she was childlike, and I couldn't understand why people liked he for no reason other than being pretty. But, because this book told the story from other people's point of view, it did provide a follow-up on the historical events.

Let me just mention real quick...if you're thinking of reading this, you DEFINITELY should read 'Madonna of the Seven Hills' first. That book follows Lucrezia from the day she's born to the day of her second marriage to Alfonso of Aragon. 'Light on Lucrezia' picks up right where it left off, with her marriage to Alfonso, brother of Sanchia of Aragon (wife of Lucrezia's younger brother, and mistress to her older one).

Lucrezia's story is such a sad one. She's never able to be truly happy, and it seems whenever she is, there is always someone there to destroy it. Most of the time it's her brother Cesare's doing, but once he dies there are others who step in to make Lucrezia's life as uncomfortable as possible. I think Ms. Plaidy has done a wonderfully realistic job of telling Lucrezia's story. She's avoided turning this into a nasty tabloid rendition of the story that only focuses on rumor and debauchery, and instead chose to get inside Lucrezia, telling how she feels towards those she loves and why she behaved the way she did. Most of the time it's because she had no other choice.

I will admit, this book was a bit more slow-going than some of the others I've read by Ms. Plaidy. It took me almost 2 weeks to read this because it was just too easy to put it down. It didn't have that 'I've just GOT to know what's going to happen next!' urgency to it that some of her other books have. This didn't take away from the story in any way though.

Overall, if you're a fan of the Borgias or if you're planning on watching the Showtime Series 'The Borgias' and are looking for a book to introduce yourself to this incredibly dysfunctional family before the show starts, then I absolutely recommend these two books. However, if you're looking for the trashy version of this family's life, then you'll have to look elsewhere. Ms. Plaidy keeps the story classy and realistic.

I've watched the Showtime series The Borgias, but I didn't expect that out of Plaidy. She usually delivers something decidedly less showy than what many are used to.

Having said that this book was pretty average for me. The beginning, starting with her second marriage, was a part of the high left over from the previous book Madonna of the Seven Hills: A Novel of the Borgias. But that high didn't continue. I don't know if it's because after the death of her husband and her melancholy got to me or if it's because after that things were really just kind of less spectacular in her life. I felt like the book was a bit longer than need be for some reason I can't really put my finger on.

I'm not saying the book is boring, it's not. Just it didn't have the same drive to me as the first. I did learn a lot of a person I didn't know before. And Plaidy doesn't just always focus on the main character. She developed Cesare Borgia very well. You're just as afraid of him as everyone else was, and less so after a few mishaps.

Plaidy is a good writer and this book shouldn't be passed up. It just doesn't fully measure up to the first one for me.