Last but never least, thanks to all my readers near and far. Thank you for reaching out to me via email and social media to let me know what my books have meant to you. Your words have kept me going on many occasions. Thank you so much for making it possible for me to continue doing what I love.
ALSO BY ALYSSA PALOMBO
The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel
The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence
The Violinist of Venice
PRAISE FOR ALYSSA PALOMBO
“Handsome. Intriguing. Dangerous. Seductive. [This] is everything you want in a book—it’s a romance, a page-turner, and a ride deep into the sumptuous and tumultuous time of Renaissance Italy.”
—Crystal King, author of The Chef’s Secret, on The Borgia Confessions
“Alyssa Palombo’s deft and delicate prose makes a gorgeous contrast against the visceral and cutthroat world of the Borgias. Dark and decadent, The Borgia Confessions is mesmerizing from start to finish.”
—Meghan Masterson, author of The Wardrobe Mistress
“Palombo has crafted a sweeping and surprisingly sympathetic portrait of Cesare Borgia, one of history’s most notorious ‘bad boys,’ and the world surrounding him. [A] dark Renaissance parable about the intertwining of lust and power. If you’re as fascinated with all things Borgia as I am, you won’t want to miss this one!”
—Kris Waldherr, author of The Lost History of Dreams and Bad Princess, on The Borgia Confessions
“Under Palombo’s skillful hand, the entangled world of the Borgias comes vividly to life, exposing the dark facets of class structure and the all-consuming greed that comes with ambition—and love. I was utterly engrossed from page one. A colorful and suspenseful novel, The Borgia Confessions is packed with complex characters and political intrigue, and will leave readers hungry for more.”
—Heather Webb, internationally bestselling author of Last Christmas in Paris and Meet Me in Monaco
“Marrying forbidden love, devoted friendship, and the supernatural with Palombo’s signature passion for music, storytelling, and heartbreaking choices, The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel enchants with a concoction of love, longing, and loss plucked from the bones of one of our most enduring and haunting legends.”
—Erin Lindsay McCabe, USA Today bestselling author of I Shall Be Near to You
“Strikingly feminist … a compelling narrative that is difficult to put down.”
—Publishers Weekly on The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence
“Palombo skillfully blends historical facts with innovative and colorful fiction, creating a delightful, fast-paced romance that is sure to please music lovers and romance readers alike.”
—Shelf Awareness on The Violinist of Venice
About the Author
ALYSSA PALOMBO is the author of The Violinist of Venice, The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence, and The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel. She is a graduate of Canisius College with degrees in English and creative writing. A passionate music lover, she is a classically trained musician as well as a big fan of heavy metal. When not writing, she can be found reading, hanging out with her friends (and her dog!), or traveling. She lives in Buffalo, New York, where she is always at work on a new novel. You can sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Prologue: Cesare
Part One: The House of Borgia
Chapter 1. Maddalena
Chapter 2. Cesare
Chapter 3. Maddalena
Chapter 5. Maddalena
Chapter 6. Cesare
Chapter 7. Maddalena
Chapter 8. Cesare
Chapter 9. Maddalena
Chapter 10. Cesare
Chapter 11. Cesare
Chapter 12. Maddalena
Chapter 13. Cesare
Chapter 14. Maddalena
Chapter 15. Cesare
Chapter 16. Maddalena
Chapter 17. Cesare
Chapter 18. Maddalena
Chapter 19. Cesare
Part Two: Angels of the Apocalypse
Chapter 20. Cesare
Chapter 21. Maddalena
Chapter 22. Cesare
Chapter 23. Maddalena
Chapter 24. Cesare
Chapter 25. Maddalena
Chapter 26. Cesare
Chapter 27. Maddalena
Chapter 28. Cesare
Chapter 29. Maddalena
Chapter 30. Cesare
Chapter 31. Maddalena
Chapter 32. Cesare
Chapter 33. Maddalena
Chapter 34. Cesare
Chapter 35. Maddalena
Part Three: Sancia of Aragon
Chapter 36. Cesare
Chapter 37. Maddalena
Chapter 38. Cesare
Chapter 39. Maddalena
Chapter 40. Cesare
Chapter 42. Cesare
Chapter 43. Maddalena
Chapter 44. Cesare
Chapter 45. Cesare
Chapter 46. Maddalena
Chapter 47. Cesare
Part Four: Cain and Abel
Chapter 48. Cesare
Chapter 49. Maddalena
Chapter 50. Cesare
Chapter 51. Maddalena
Chapter 52. Cesare
Chapter 53. Maddalena
Chapter 54. Cesare
Chapter 55. Maddalena
Chapter 56. Cesare
Chapter 57. Maddalena
Chapter 58. Cesare
Chapter 59. Maddalena
Chapter 60. Cesare
Chapter 61. Maddalena
Chapter 62. Cesare
Chapter 63. Maddalena
Chapter 64. Maddalena
Chapter 65. Cesare
Part Five: City on Fire
Chapter 66. Cesare
Chapter 67. Maddalena
Chapter 68. Maddalena
Chapter 69. Cesare
Chapter 70. Maddalena
Chapter 71. Cesare
Chapter 72. Maddalena
Chapter 73. Maddalena
Chapter 74. Cesare
Chapter 75. Maddalena
Part Six: Deadly Sins
Chapter 76. Cesare
Chapter 78. Cesare
Chapter 79. Maddalena
Part Seven: Duke Valentino
Chapter 80. Maddalena
Chapter 81. Cesare
Chapter 82. Maddalena
Chapter 83. Cesare
Chapter 84. Maddalena
Chapter 85. Cesare
Author’s Note
Acknowledgments
Also by Alyssa Palombo
Praise for Alyssa Palombo
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
First published in the United States by St. Martin’s Griffin, an imprint of the St. Martin’s Publishing Group
THE BORGIA CONFESSIONS. Copyright © 2020 by Alyssa Palombo. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.
www.stmartins.com
Cover design by Danielle Christopher
Cover photographs: woman © Lee Avision/Arcangel; city © kiorsergey/Shutterstock.com
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Names: Palombo, Alyssa, a
uthor.
Title: The Borgia confessions / Alyssa Palombo.
Description: First edition. | New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2020.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019035016 | ISBN 9781250191205 (trade paperback) | ISBN 9781250621863 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781250191212 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Borgia family—Fiction. | Italy—History—1492–1559— Fiction. | GSAFD: Historical fiction.
Classification: LCC PS3616.A3563 B67 2020 | DDC 813/.6—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019035016
eISBN 9781250191212
Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.
First Edition: February 2020