#Blogtour Costanza by Rachel Blackmore

It's an absolute pleasure to take part in the Blogtour Costanza by Rachel Blackmore. This book is going on my favourites of the year list.

About the Author

Born in Birmingham, Rachel spent her childhood in the Northeast, then the Midlands. She studied history at King's College London, where her fascination for women's history took root. After a brief stint in politics, Rachel built a career in corporate communications. In 2021, she was runner-up in the Harper's Bazaar Short Story Competition and won the Irish Writers Centre 2022 Novel Fair. Rachel lives in London with her three teenagers, two cats and one dog. Follow @rjblackmore1 on Twitter

About the book

History calls her a Muse. Temptress. Fallen woman. This is her story.

It’s 1636 and Rome hums with gossip and sin. Costanza Piccolomini is a respectable young wife - until she meets world-famous sculptor Gianlorenzo Bernini, 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. And Bernini has a more dangerous desire: he wants to immortalise Costanza in marble. When Bernini unveils his sculpture of Costanza it marks 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 is a dizzying and sensual historical novel that brings to life a feminist icon who has been written out of history.

Review

I came away from this story, a retelling of a moment in history captured in art, with the feeling that the winner tells the history and it's always men doing the writing. Also that great art, memorable deeds and life-changing moments in history always excuse the misdeeds and whitewash the crimes.

Seen from the perspective of Costanza the Bernini brothers emerge as the predators they most certainly were. Passion, muse, inspiration all sound rather romantic and exciting for all parties involved, right? It sounds a little different when those words are exchanged for coercion, blackmail, non-consensual acts or possessive behaviour. Having someone carve up a women's face to deconstruct the beauty at the core of said inspiration is unforgivable, to try and destroy her reputation and life equally so.

It all sounds so reminiscent of the kind of misogynistic and abusive crimes we see in modern times, which of course just proves endemic and ingrained the violence and mistreatment of women and girls is in all societies. Interesting how everything is framed with such a dainty brush of romanticism. Oh how the great man was tortured, inspired and captivated by insert any woman/girl - poor man couldn't control himself and wasn't to blame for insert crime against woman/girl.

Loved this book. Brilliantly written with a touch of historical nuance, a deep sense of poetic beauty and both the consumerism and power of artistic talent. The author bows to the lasting legacy of creativity whilst simultaneously asking whether the legacy and talent should ever warrant erasing the truth.

Give this a Medici or Rome tv series development and it is guaranteed to be a hit, between the visual beauty of the art and the passion of the characters - it would be an intriguing venture. Equally important would be taking the core of this retelling and giving the power back to Costanza - where it belongs.

Buy Costanza at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Renegade Books; pub date 1st August 2024 / HB / £18.99. Buy at Amazon com.

#Blogtour The Porcelain Maker by Sarah Freethy

It's a pleasure to take part in the Blogtour The Porcelain Maker by Sarah Freethy.

About the Author

Sarah Freethy is first time novelist. She has been writing for television for the past three decades. Freethy has worked as an Executive Producer in factual TV and series as varied as Big Brother and Country House Rescue, to Clive James’ Postcard from Havana and TFI Friday.  In 2020, she was a Script Consultant on two broadcast drama series, Before We Die (Channel 4) and Professor T (ITV) for Eagle Eye Drama. Sarah is a keen artist and photographer, as well as being a collector of vintage ephemera and odds and sods. Follow @freethy on X

About the book

Germany, 1929. - When Max, a Jewish architect, and Bettina, a beautiful and celebrated German avant-garde artist, meet at a party, their attraction is instant. In love with each other and the art they create, their talent transports them to the dazzling lights of Berlin. But Germany is on the brink of terrible change, and their bright beginning is soon dimmed by the rising threat of Nazism. 

When Max is arrested and sent to the Dachau concentration camp, it is only his talent at making the exquisite porcelain figures so beloved by the Nazis that stands between him and certain death. At first, Bettina has no idea where Max has been taken but when she learns of his fate, she is determined to rescue him whatever the cost. 

Now, a lifetime later, Bettina’s daughter, Clara, sets out on a journey to uncover the truth about her identity. As she weaves together the fabric of her past, she discovers the terrible secret her mother wanted hidden forever. Two lovers caught at the crossroads of history. A daughter’s search for the truth… 

Powerfully moving and beautifully written, The Porcelain Maker is a testament to enduring love and courage.

Review

Clara has managed to trace a certain amount of porcelain figures to an auction, the figures are the key to discovering something about her past. A secret that has been kept hidden from her, because the truth is too painful for everyone involved. Her hope is that the owner of said figurines can point her in the right direction - if not, then she may never discover the truth.

Although there are certainly comparisons to be drawn between the stories written by Morris, at least this author is clear on source material, and about the fictional aspects of it. There is no attempt to use a very traumatic historical narrative to enhance, instead fact and fiction run respectfully hand-in-hand to create a good read.

Aside from the tragic and traumatic story of Clara's search for the truth about her origins, I think there is a poignant element highlighted and encapsulated in the pieces of porcelain, and indeed the path they travel. The destructive stance the Nazi regime took towards all variations of the arts is one mirrored often in fascist, authoritarian and regimes led by dictatorships.

The free thinkers, the creative, the solution seekers and those who both influenced and spoke to all senses with their creations and expressions via any medium possible. Of course any restrictive regime would limit freedom and voice, whether that be via the written word, painted picture, sculpture or music. The oppressors weren't opposed to using the value of said art to enhance their pockets and portfolios though.

It's a story steeped in trauma, humanity and the natural desire to uncover the fabric of our heritage and parentage. Unfortunately that doesn't always gel well with the people guarding any secrets. I enjoyed the read and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

Buy The Porcelain Maker at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Simon and Schuster Uk; pub date 23 May 2024 - Paperback - £9.99. Buy at Amazon com. 

The Missing Matisse by Pierre Henri Matisse

The author comes from what one would call French royalty of the art world. He has literally hobnobbed with some of the most talented artists of the twentieth century.

Aside from the historical content and context, I thought the way Pierre suffers after the loss of his identity was the most intriguing aspect of the story. It's as if the name change sends him into a complete identity crisis.

As the story unfolds we hear about the unusual circumstances of his birth, and why he legally was never considered a Matisse. I think his parents, the Matisse family and some of the Leroy family did him a great injustice. Pierre was stuck in a legal loophole, and despite the fact it remained that way throughout his life because of his legal father, I do think both of his biological parents should have stood up for him. I do take the emotional and violent events of WW2 into consideration, however I do think they owed him a conversation and clarification within his real family.

His whole life is subconsciously steered by this identity crisis and he doesn't find any kind of inner peace until he turns around and tells the world who he really is.

I'm not sure it would have been the same for a boy from a lesser known family. The name Matisse is synonymous with creativity, passion, colour and the diverse world of art. I think Pierre wants people to acknowledge his own talent and also the long line of creative people he stems from. Most importantly he wants the same acknowledgement from the Matisse family, albeit subconsciously.

It is an interesting read, especially from an historical point of view.

Buy The Missing Matisse at Amazon UK or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.

Fire Colour One by Jenny Valentine

I really enjoyed this little gem of a book. I think it may strike a chord with teen and young adult readers.

It combines the complexity of a vitriolic separation, the strained relationship between mother and daughter, the rekindled relationship between father and daughter, and the mindset of an arsonist. It also shows a connection via art, and in doing so teaches the reader about the subject.

Valentine has described the mentality of a firebug to a tee. The emotions, the feeling of release, the sense of power, the fascination and the peace after the fact.

How trauma and stress makes her retreat and use the fire as a coping mechanism. In a way it is also an excellent tactic to annoy and exact revenge on those around her.

Watching the relationship between Iris and Ernest be re-built within a few days left a feeling of nostalgia and sadness. Lost time can never be regained, and in a way I feel this was the author's way of shouting out to parents in divorce situations.

The parents, who are right-fighters and use their children as weapons against the other parent. The ones who end up alienating the child from one parent. Leaving aside the fact there are certainly situations, such as abuse of any kind, where keeping a parent away from a child is perhaps in the best interest of the child.

In this story it is about control and using Iris or rather her absence, as a weapon against Ernest. Hannah is only motivated by greed, money and the need for complete and utter control. She starts playing Iris and Ernest off against each other, well at least she thinks she is. There seems to be no maternal instinct at all. In fact she as far as Hannah is concerned Iris needs to be a non-factor when it comes to Ernest.

The end is nothing less than poetic justice. Possibly the dream of every teen in similar situations.
I really liked the way Valentine was able to relate to how a teen like Iris would feel and react. A really good read.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.

The Witch of Painted Sorrows by M.J. Rose

Sandrine is a shy woman, bound by the restrictions society has laid upon her, and yet traumatic events have encouraged her to run away from those restrictions.

She feels an intimate connection to the house her grandmother has suddenly vacated.

That connection turns out to be something quite sinister and frightening.

It awakens her passion, her emotional and physical needs, and her sensuality. But is it her or is it the house?

In the blink of an eye Sandrine becomes a completely different person. A whole new personality, which doesn't go unnoticed by her grandmother. Suddenly she is daring, brave, confident and ready to discover and embrace her newly found emotions.

The literary strength of this author is definitely more evident in the amorous scenes in the books. She has a talent for the pulse quickening sensual moments, I can't fault her for those at all.

However the same can't always be said for the rest of the story. Where the sensual scenes are full of emotion, prose and enticing imagery, the surrounding story is a little less stellar. It is as if two stories are mixed into one, but one of them is a slightly amateurish fantasy with continuity errors and superfluous information, and the other is more of a romantic and erotic nature.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.