Rome in 1636, and Costanza Piccolomini is a respectable young wife — until she meets Gianlorenzo Bernini, the famed sculptor and star of Roman society, whose jet-black gaze matches his dark temper. From the second they set eyes upon each other, a fatal attraction is born.
Their secret love burns with a passion that consumes them. But with every stolen kiss and illicit tryst, Costanza’s reputation is at stake.
Meanwhile, Bernini has a dangerous desire: he wants to make Costanza immortal. He vows to possess her not just in body and soul, but also in marble.
When Bernini unveils his sculpture of Costanza, she is exposed as his lover, marking the undoing of their affair — and the beginning of a scandal which will rock Roman society.
For Bernini would rather destroy Costanza than let her go.
Betrayed. Abandoned. Banished. This was meant to be the end of Costanza’s story. But Costanza is no ordinary woman: from the ashes, she will rise.
Costanza by Rachel Blackmore is published on 1 August, 2024.
Interested in the historical background to Rachel’s book? Have a look at Slashing the face: punishing unfaithful women in Italy by Deborah Swift.
There’s more historical fiction in our round-up of over 180 books coming out this year.
