(To be posted on Amazon.co.uk when the book is released)

This has an old-fashioned air about it, not surprising given that it was first published in 1979. It's a political novel rather than a bodice-ripper style romance but it does pander to a conventional view of the Borgias as being decadent, debauched and incestuous. It may not be a good book to anyone lacking knowledge of the politics of Europe at the start of the sixteenth century: Holland makes no concessions (which I liked) to the complex negotiations between the Italian city states, Spain, France and Naples, and doesn't even date the start of her story: we have to bring our own understanding given Cesare Borgia's conquests (it opens in around 1501).
There are instances of the usual unhistorical Americanisms (‘garbage’, ‘gotten’), and an obliqueness in the characterisation: we see the Borgias through the eyes of Nicholas Dawson, an English secretary to the Florentine ambassador. So this is very different in style to Sarah Dunant’s Blood and Beauty which is vivid and, to some extent, revisionist: all the same, as an avid Borgia ‘fan’ with a penchant for Cesare, I enjoyed Holland’s take on the period.

Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley.
So this isn’t really about the Borgia’s, though it takes place during the time and the Forgeries show up every so often. If you are thinking the Showtime series though, you will be disappointed.
But that doesn’t mean it is a bad book.
It is far more of a political plotting novel than anything else. The central character isn’t a full Italian and finds him caught up in the machinations that occur in the Italy of the time. Nicholas Dawson is out of place not only because of his otherness but because of his sexual preference. This allows Holland to use him in a way that a using a Borgia could not allow. It also allows for the exploration of corruption and power plays. While not a bodice ripper by any means or a “set the record straight” work of historical fiction, City of God captures the feeling of the Borgia court extremely well and claustrophobic way. Holland’s book is worth reading simply for this. This is something few historical fiction novels do today, centering more on the point of view of a victim of bad press. Holland’s way is far more entertaining.